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| Aileen M. Ferrick, ACNP, FHRS has been in the field of electrophysiology for 28 years. |
My Society is...
A unique and diverse organization with collaboration of physicians, scientists, allied professionals of varied clinical levels, Society staff members and industry to provide education, support, leadership and networking opportunities to accomplish a key goal, providing state of the art practice for the care and management of individuals with arrhythmias and associated cardiac disease.
When and why did you decide to join the Heart Rhythm Society? Do you remember how you heard about the Society?
I heard about the Heart Rhythm Society, NASPE then, through the leaders of the Society back in the early 80s — Seymour Furman, John Fisher, Doris Escher. They encouraged us to join. I remember early meetings where we met in the Hilton Hotel in NY to review unusual pacemaker printouts. The big discussion was pacemaker-mediated tachycardias. We have come a long way. I was an early member and let it lapse as I was involved in other cardiac care and having children, attending school, etc… I rejoined in the 90s, and have been more and more involved in the society since then. I believed then and still feel now, that it is where the cutting edge of EP practice is collaborated and communicated. The Society provides a great network of resources for the care of arrhythmia patients.
Why did you decide to enter the field of electrophysiology?
It was in 1981. I was working in the CCU and electrophysiology was a new frontier in the care of our patients and had the opportunity to join the EP group at Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY with John Fisher, MD. At that time we were utilizing anti-arrhythmic meds and serial EP testing. The level of care required for EP patients, including psychosocial needs was great. I wanted to be part of that team.
How has membership in the Society been of value to you and/or your practice?
- Education, especially the Scientific Sessions.
- Networking with other members. I believe the collaboration of physicians with AP members is unique and a major benefit that the society has to offer.
- Translating ideas into initiatives to promote better practice. For example, the APs identified a need to bring education to APs rather than have them depend on attending the scientific session, which is difficult because cutbacks in resources. We instituted a plan and hatched the AP Regional Education Program, which has been a great success and so well supported by the society.
What Society project (task force or committee-related) have you most enjoyed working on? Why?
I really enjoy the Strategic Planning Task Forces. The first one I attended was directed by Michael Caine, MD and the second was with Mark Estes, MD. Out of the meeting in 2008 a core value identified was the need for including addressing the issues of patients and their caregivers. I became co-chair of the Patient and Caregivers Task Force whose ideas were presented at the Board of Trustees (BOT) meeting in May. We have been asked to continue our working group to plan implementation of our strategic goals. I have enjoyed this process because, as a professional organization we are addressing the needs of our patients in regard to education, advocacy, resources and collaboration between arrhythmia patients and the EP experts, as they express their needs. It is a great initiative by the society and I am enjoying being part of this groundbreaking process.
Are there any Heart Rhythm Annual Scientific Sessions memories you would like to share?
I would have to say the first year I was the Allied member of the Program Committee. It was such a rewarding experience to see the work and effort of putting an AP program together and coming to fruition. I remember meeting Sy Furman. I believe it was the last HRS Scientific Session program he was able to attend before he died. He was so proud of my involvement and so happy that I had become a working volunteer and he had express his hope that I would continue. Now as I am participating on the BOT, I often think of him and our interaction during those sessions. I think it was 2005, but I would have to look that up.
What is one of your favorite cities and why?
Boston, MA. It is a city offering a lot as far as history, entertainment and restaurants that is small enough to maneuver and large enough to handle convention services for the Scientific Sessions and for me it is an easy drive or train ride to attend from New York. San Francisco, CA has similar characteristics. Although, it is a longer distance to travel.
Do you have any hobbies?
Boating. I have two adult children who grew up near the Long Island sound and are competent sailors. We have been fortunate to live near the sound with boating access as well as owning a country house in the Adirondacks on Lake George. So we have the ability to boat and fish in both salt and sweet water. We also hike, cross-country ski and snow-shoe in the mountains.
More from Aileen M. Ferrick
I have been involved in the care of arrhythmia patients for, dare I say it, 28 years. It has been a privilege to experience and witness the growth in technology, research and practice in the field of cardiac electrophysiology to see the impact advances have made on the care of all cardiac arrhythmia patients. I am grateful for my choice to enter into this sub-specialty as an AP. I am happy to have had the opportunity to volunteer with this great society and am excited to serve as a BOT member. If I can make any contribution to the direction of the Society’s efforts I will feel I have accomplished a lot in my professional career as a nurse practitioner.
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