VHAC Statewide Meeting

Join the Virginia Heart Attack Coalition for our upcoming Statewide Meeting, bringing together EMS professionals, physicians, data managers, and healthcare leaders from across the Commonwealth.

Location: Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden

Event Schedule:

• Networking Social

  📅 October 21 | 🕔 6:00 – 8:00 PM

• Full Day Statewide Meeting

  📅 October 22 | 🕣 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM

This year’s meeting will feature a State of the State address from Peter K. O'Brien, along with regional updates and focused sessions designed to strengthen systems of care across Virginia.

Attendees can expect:

• Regional reporting from across all VHAC regions

• Workgroup updates on EMS education, cardiogenic shock, thrombolytics, PERT, and direct-to-cath lab initiatives

• A featured keynote speaker (to be announced)

• Clinical case discussions on acute MI and late-presenting STEMI

• Dedicated EMS and science tracks

• VHAC data review and interactive learning sessions

• Time to connect with sponsors and statewide partners

Can’t attend in person?

You can still join us virtually for the October 22 meeting:

👉 https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/sDykg6gDThCvqGuYIEfOIA

Full agenda and additional details will be shared soon.

Sponsorship Opportunities available:

Interesting in sponsoring this event? Please contact:

Sherri White, Chief of Operations & Quality Virginia Cardiac Services Quality Initiative (VCSQI)

Virginia Heart Attack Coalition (VHAC)

Sherri@vcsqi.org 

(804) 495-1080

Draft Agenda

Wednesday, October 21, 2026

6:00-8:00 PM

Networking Social

Special Presentation: Reed Smith, MD

Thursday, October 22. 2026

8:30-9:00 AM - Breakfast

9:00 – 9:30 AM

State of the State

Peter K. O'Brien, MD, CPPS, FACC

Medical Director, Centra Stroobants Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory

Chief Quality Officer, Centra Heart and Vascular Institute

Co-founder and Steering Group, Virginia Heart Attack Coalition

9:30 – 10:15 AM

Regional Reporting

-          Central – Megan Vaughan, MSN, RN, Bon Secours Richmond Heart & Vascular Institute

-          Eastern – Petra Lynch, MD, Sentara Cardiology Specialists

-          Northwestern – Patrick Stafford, MD, University of Virginia

-          Southern –Maegan Sholes, Centra Lynchburg

-          Western – Melanie Johnson, Carilion Clinic

-          Northern –  TBD

10:15 – 10:30 AM - Break

10:30-11:15 AM

Statewide Data Review — VHAC + EMS

Eddie Fonner, VCSQI Executive Director, Chief Data Analyst

Amanda Loreti, System Optimization Specialist, Office of Emergency Medical Services

11:15 -12:00 PM

Panel Discussion

12:00 – 1:00 PM - Lunch

1:00 – 1:45 PM

Keynote Presentation:

Aman A. Shah, MD, Cooper University Health Care-Camden

1:45 – 2:00 PM - Break

2:00 - 2:55 PM

Workgroup Updates (Rapid Fire)

1. EMS Education – Bob Page, EMS Educator

2. Direct to Cath Lab – Manu Kaushik, MD, Bon Secours Richmond Heart & Vascular Institute

3. Thrombolytics – Michael Kontos, MD, Virginia Commonwealth University 

4. Cardiogenic Shock – Chalak Berzingi, MD, Carilion Clinic

5. PERT – Michael Kelley, MD, Carilion Clinic

2:55 – 3:00 PM

Closing Remarks

Peter K. O'Brien, MD, CPPS, FACC

3:00 – 4:00 PM

Educational Session

Cary Strosnider BSA, FPC

LifeEvac Flight Paramedic & Outreach Coordinator