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VHAC Pulse: New Leadership, Statewide Engagement, and Advancing STEMI Care
- 11 minutes ago
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VHAC Welcomes Dr. Petra Lynch as Eastern Regional Lead
The Virginia Heart Attack Coalition (VHAC) is pleased to announce Petra Lynch, M.D., as the newest Regional Lead for Virginia’s Eastern Region.
Dr. Lynch is an interventional cardiologist with Sentara Cardiology Specialists who primarily serves patients on the Peninsula while supporting hospitals throughout the Sentara system. Her clinical interests include women’s cardiovascular health, heart-disease prevention, high-risk obstetric cardiology, and the care of patients with complex medical needs.
Her approach to medicine emphasizes listening to patients, understanding the many factors affecting their health, and developing individualized treatment plans grounded in evidence-based care. Dr. Lynch also works collaboratively across specialties to address important community health needs, including maternal mortality and cardiovascular risks associated with pregnancy and postpartum complications.
As Eastern Regional Lead, Dr. Lynch will help strengthen communication, engagement, and collaboration among hospitals, clinicians, emergency medical services agencies, and other cardiovascular care partners throughout the region. Her clinical expertise and commitment to improving community health will be valuable as VHAC continues working to advance coordinated, timely, and high-quality cardiovascular care across Virginia.
“We are excited to welcome Dr. Lynch to the VHAC leadership team. Her passion for collaboration, prevention, and patient-centered cardiovascular care will be an important asset to the Eastern Region and our statewide network.”
Please join us in congratulating Dr. Petra Lynch and welcoming her to this important leadership role.
Join Cardiovascular and EMS Leaders from Across Virginia at the 2026 VHAC Statewide Meeting
The Virginia Heart Attack Coalition invites healthcare professionals and partners from
across the Commonwealth to attend the 2026 VHAC Statewide Meeting, taking place October 21–22, 2026, at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden in Henrico, Virginia.
This annual gathering brings together EMS professionals, physicians, nurses, data managers, healthcare leaders, and statewide partners who are committed to improving cardiovascular systems of care throughout Virginia.
The event begins with a Networking Social on Wednesday, October 21, from 6:00–8:00 p.m. The social will give attendees an opportunity to reconnect with colleagues, establish new partnerships, and participate in a special presentation by Reed Smith, M.D.
The full-day Statewide Meeting will be held Thursday, October 22, from 8:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m. The program will feature regional reporting, statewide data, clinical education, workgroup progress, and discussions focused on strengthening the coordination of cardiovascular care across Virginia.
Featured Program Highlights
The meeting will open with a State of the State address presented by Peter K. O’Brien, M.D., CPPS, FACC, followed by updates from VHAC’s regional leaders representing Central, Eastern, Northwestern, Southern, Western, and Northern Virginia.
Attendees can also expect:
A statewide VHAC and EMS data review
Regional updates from across the Commonwealth
A panel discussion with cardiovascular and healthcare partners
Clinical case discussions and educational programming
Dedicated EMS and science-focused content
Opportunities to connect with sponsors and statewide partners
Rapid-fire updates from VHAC’s active clinical workgroups
Workgroup presentations will address current efforts involving EMS education, direct-to-cath-lab processes, thrombolytics, cardiogenic shock, and pulmonary embolism response teams.
The meeting will also feature a keynote presentation by Aman A. Shah, M.D., of Cooper University Health Care–Camden, along with a closing educational session led by Cary Strosnider, BSA, FPC, LifeEvac Flight Paramedic and Outreach Coordinator.
Attend In Person or Virtually
In-person participation offers the fullest opportunity to engage with presenters, regional representatives, sponsors, and fellow cardiovascular and emergency-care professionals.
A virtual attendance option will also be available for the October 22 meeting for those who cannot travel to Richmond.
Whether you have been actively involved with VHAC for years or are looking for new ways to connect with Virginia’s cardiovascular community, the Statewide Meeting provides an important opportunity to learn, collaborate, and contribute to the future of cardiovascular care across the Commonwealth.
Registration is now open.
Registration Is Open for the 2026 VCSQI Fall Quarterly Meeting
The Virginia Cardiac Services Quality Initiative invites members and partners to attend the 2026 VCSQI Fall Quarterly Meeting on Thursday, October 22, 2026, at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden in Henrico, Virginia.
The Fall Quarterly Meeting will bring together Virginia’s cardiac surgery and cardiology professionals, quality leaders, data specialists, administrators, and organizational partners for an evening of education, collaboration, and shared learning.
Meeting Schedule
Networking Hour4:00–5:00 p.m.
Dinner Service5:00–5:30 p.m.
VCSQI Fall Quarterly Meeting5:30–7:30 p.m.
The networking hour provides attendees with dedicated time to connect with colleagues from across the Commonwealth before dinner and the formal meeting program begin.
During the meeting, VCSQI will share organizational updates, highlight developing partnerships, and explore opportunities to strengthen the use of data and collaboration in advancing cardiovascular quality improvement.
The program will also introduce attendees to Biome, VCSQI’s new database partner, and highlight the advantages this partnership can offer participating organizations. The conversation will examine opportunities to better connect clinical information, administrative data, benchmarking, and quality-improvement efforts.
Representatives from the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association are also expected to participate in the program, creating an opportunity to explore how UB-04 administrative data can complement clinical registry data and provide a broader understanding of cardiovascular care, resource use, and patient outcomes.
This meeting represents an important point in VCSQI’s continued development. Members will have the opportunity to learn more about the database transition, hear directly from key partners, ask questions, and consider how expanded data capabilities can support local and statewide improvement efforts.
Who Should Attend?
The meeting is especially relevant for:
Cardiac surgeons and cardiologists
Program and service-line leaders
Quality-improvement professionals
Registry and data managers
Hospital administrators
Advanced practice providers and nurses
VCSQI workgroup members
Organizational and statewide partners
Both in-person and virtual registration options are available at no cost.
Join VCSQI for an engaging evening focused on connection, partnership, data, and the next phase of cardiovascular quality improvement in Virginia.
Registration is now open.
Complete the VHAC Participant Registration and Engagement Form
The Virginia Heart Attack Coalition is strengthening how we document participation, communicate with partners, and recognize the organizations actively contributing to Virginia’s cardiovascular systems of care.
Hospitals, EMS agencies, private practices, and other cardiovascular partners are asked to complete the VHAC Participant Registration and Engagement Form.
Virginia’s Emergency Medical Services regulations support coordinated local and regional EMS planning, specialty-care hospital triage, quality management, and accountability. VHAC’s participation framework helps hospitals, EMS agencies, clinicians, and other partners contribute to these broader statewide coordination and quality-improvement efforts.
The VHAC participation framework helps organizations demonstrate meaningful engagement through attendance and involvement in statewide, regional, and quality-improvement activities.
VHAC Participation Expectations
Organization Category | Statewide Meetings | Regional Meetings | Workgroup or Initiative |
Hospitals—Data Submitting | At least 75% | At least 75% | Participate in at least one |
Hospitals—Non-Data Submitting | At least 75% | At least 75% | Participate in at least one |
EMS Agencies | At least 75% | At least 75% | Participate in at least one |
Private Practices | At least 50% | At least 50% | Participate in at least one |
These expectations are intended to move participation beyond simply being included on an email distribution list. Active participation means attending meetings, remaining connected to regional activities, and contributing to at least one VHAC workgroup, committee, project, or initiative.
Why the Form Matters
Completing the Participant Registration and Engagement Form allows VHAC to:
Maintain accurate organizational and participant records
Confirm each participant’s region and professional affiliation
Communicate statewide and regional meeting information
Connect participants with relevant workgroups and initiatives
Track organizational participation against VHAC expectations
Identify gaps in regional and statewide representation
Recognize organizations that remain actively engaged
Demonstrate the strength and reach of Virginia’s cardiovascular care network
Each organization should identify the individuals who will represent it at statewide meetings, regional meetings, workgroups, and other VHAC activities. More than one representative may participate, allowing responsibilities to be shared across clinical, EMS, administrative, quality, and data teams. The combined participation of these representatives will reflect the organization’s overall engagement with VHAC.
Who Should Complete the Form?
The form should be completed by current and prospective participants representing:
Hospitals and health systems
EMS agencies and regional EMS councils
Cardiology and other private practices
Physicians, nurses, and advanced practice providers
Quality-improvement and program leaders
Data and registry professionals
Administrators and service-line leaders
VHAC workgroup, committee, and project participants
Please complete the form even if you have participated in VHAC previously. Updated information is needed to ensure that your current organization, role, region, contact information, and engagement interests are accurately recorded.
Your Participation Matters
A strong statewide cardiovascular system requires consistent involvement at every level. Statewide meetings provide a shared forum for education, data review, and strategic alignment. Regional meetings help partners address the needs and challenges within their communities. Workgroups and initiatives turn shared priorities into practical tools, protocols, education, and improvement activities.
Completing the form is the first step toward ensuring that you and your organization are appropriately connected, represented, and engaged.
Complete the VHAC Participant Registration and Engagement Form today:
Thank you for helping VHAC build a more connected, accountable, and actively engaged cardiovascular community across Virginia.
Now Available: VHAC Lytic Algorithm
The Virginia Heart Attack Coalition is pleased to announce the availability of the VHAC Lytic Algorithm, developed by the VHAC Thrombolytics Workgroup to support timely, coordinated decision-making for patients presenting with STEMI at facilities without on-site PCI capability.
The algorithm outlines a practical workflow for early ECG interpretation, heart alert activation, thrombolytic screening, transport assessment, communication with the receiving facility, adjunctive treatment, repeat ECG, and transfer to a PCI-capable center. It is intended to help hospitals and EMS partners reduce avoidable delays while maintaining appropriate clinical screening and coordination.
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