VHAC REGIONS
The Virginia Heart Attack Coalition is a statewide organization consisting of six regions across the Commonwealth of Virginia. The regions and regional leaders are as follows:
PCI AND ACTION HOSPITALS
The map above shows Virginia hospitals that provide PCI 24/7 by VHAC region.
Click the above image to enlarge or view the interactive Google map
REGIONAL LEADS
Welcome to the Virginia Heart Attack Coalition's Regional Leads page. Our dedicated Regional Leads are at the forefront of advancing STEMI (ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction) care in their respective VHAC Regions and across the Commonwealth. These distinguished healthcare professionals provide vital leadership and guidance to ensure the highest standards of cardiac care are achieved.
Meet our esteemed Regional Leads:
Central
Michael Kontos, MD
Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center
Dr. Michael Kontos, MD is a cardiology specialist in Richmond, VA. Dr. Kontos completed a residency at Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center. He currently practices at MCV Associates Physicians - General/Vascular and is affiliated with VCU Medical Center Main Hospital. He accepts multiple insurance plans. Dr. Kontos is board certified in Cardiovascular Disease.
Regional Lead
Eastern
Regional Lead
Robert C. Bernstein, MD
Sentara Healthcare
Dr. Robert C. Bernstein is a cardiologist in Norfolk, Virginia and is affiliated with multiple hospitals in the area, including Chesapeake Regional Medical Center and Sentara Leigh Hospital. He received his medical degree from Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University and has been in practice for more than 20 years.
Northern
Catherine “Cat” Moore, RN, BSN
UVA Community Health
Catherine “Cat” Moore, RN, BSN is a registered nurse with 13 years of experience in Emergency Medicine. Prior to her nursing career, she served her community as an EMS provider. She obtained her bachelors in the Science of Nursing through Chamberlain University and has held positions in leadership within her organization. She is currently the STEMI Coordinator for UVA Community Health, helping to enhance cardiac interventions and care within the community. A native to Virginia, her hobbies include reading, camping and spending time with family.
Regional Lead
Northwestern
Josh Fischer, MD
Cardiovascular Associates of Charlottesville, PLC
Dr. Fischer is a native of Buffalo, NY and completed his undergraduate and medical school training at the University at Buffalo. He completed a residency in Internal Medicine at the University of Virginia, and stayed on to complete a Cardiology and Interventional Cardiology Fellowship at the University of Virginia. He is board certified in Cardiology and Interventional Cardiology by the American Board of Internal Medicine.
Regional Lead
Larry Gimple, MD
University of Virginia
Dr. Gimple has an outpatient practice in cardiology and works in the myocardial infarction (MI) clinic. He is currently the director of clinical cardiology and the quality director for UVA Heart and Vascular Center, working to assure the best possible care across all UVA Health services.
Regional Lead-Alternate
Southern
Peter O'Brien, MD, FACC
Centra Lynchburg
Peter O’Brien, M.D., F.A.C.C. is board certified in ABIM Interventional Cardiology and ABVM Endovascular and Vascular Medicine, with a special interest in carotid, peripheral and coronary artery disease. After earning his medical degree from the University of Virginia, he completed his internship and residency at the University of Virginia Hospital. He performed fellowships in cardiovascular disease and interventional cardiology at the Wake Forest University-Bowman Gray School of Medicine and in peripheral vascular intervention at the Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center in Charlotte, NC. He loves caring for the Lynchburg community because \"this is my home, and caring for friends and neighbors is a privilege and a chance to give back to my community.\" When he is not providing care at the Heart and Vascular Institute, he likes to spend his time, with family. Dr. O’Brien is a founder and co-chairman of the Virginia Heart Attack Coalition, Medical Director of Madaktari Africa and Medical Director of the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory at Centra Stroobants Heart Center.
Regional Lead
Western
Chalak Berzingi, MD
Carilion Clinic
Dr. Berzingi is a graduate of the University of Baghdad, College of Medicine, 1988. He completed his Internal Medicine residency at the University of Saladin in Erbil, Iraq and Prince George’s Hospital Center in Cheverly, Maryland. After completing a general cardiology fellowship at West Virginia University in Morgantown, WV and an Interventional Cardiology fellowship at Virginia Commonwealth University- Medical College of Virginia in Richmond, VA, he accepted a faculty position at West Virginia University in Morgantown, WV from 2012-2020. Currently, he is employed as an interventional cardiologist and an Associate Professor of Medicine in the General Cardiology and Interventional Cardiology Fellowship Programs at Carilion Clinic’s Cardiovascular Institute in Roanoke, VA. He is the western regional medical director for VHAC (Virginia Heart Attack Coalition). He is a member of the International Committee of SCAI, a published author in peer reviewed journals, an investigator in high risk PCI, acute myocardial infarction and cardiogenic shock. He has served on the ABIM’s Standard Setting Committee for the Maintenance of certification exam of interventional cardiology (2017), and on the international committee of SCAI (2018-2021) and made presentations internationally in Istanbul, Turkey Sept 2019; and Cairo, Egypt Nov 2019. The scope of his practice is mostly clinically indicated and complex percutaneous coronary interventions, including: diagnostic coronary angiography; left heart Cath, right heart Cath, Swan Ganz Cath; temporary pacemaker; coronary angioplasty and stent; intracoronary imaging with IVUS and OCT; intracoronary physiology with iFR and FFR; coronary atherectomy with rotational atherectomy and orbital atherectomy; intracoronary laser; use of Impella device for hemodynamic support; ultrasound guidance and micro-puncture needle for access; radial artery access for PCI; large bore access and closure; pericardiocentesis; use of intracoronary stent graft and coils; PCI of high risk lesions to include left main, bifurcation lesions, and chronic total inclusions.
Regional Lead
