An Ascension Indiana physician has begun serving as President of the American College of Cardiology (ACC).
Mary Norine Walsh, MD, FACC, Medical Director, Heart Failure and Cardiac Transplantation, and Director, Nuclear Cardiology, at the St. Vincent Heart Center, in the Ascension Indiana Ministry Market, began her term during the organization's recent 66th Annual Scientific Session in Washington, D.C. In her 25 years of membership in the ACC, Dr. Walsh has been active both locally and nationally, serving as President of the Indiana Chapter and serving on and chairing multiple committees.
"Dr. Walsh's leadership comes at a crucial time in medicine," said Ed Fry, MD, Cardiologist, St. Vincent Heart Center, who also leads Ascension's Cardiovascular Service Line Excellence Council. "Her talents, experiences and values are 'just what the doctor ordered.' She has long been a visionary with a focus on person-centered and team-based care that is guided by science and research, but is applied with compassion and collaboration. We are so proud of her and excited for this next step in her storied career. All of us at St. Vincent Medical Group Cardiology, St. Vincent and the entire Ascension family are honored to call her colleague, partner and friend."
"Volunteering as a member of the ACC has been a very important part of my life. I realized early on that the mission and vision of the college meshed with my own and I really found a 'home' at ACC," Dr. Walsh said. "To succeed the many gifted leaders who are past presidents of the college is truly a dream come true for me. I am so inspired by the dedication of so many of our staff and members who contribute their talents to make our organization better. It is truly my honor to take the helm and lead this year."
As president, Dr. Walsh plans to focus on equipping ACC members with the tools to navigate the changing healthcare environment as it moves from being volume-driven to value-driven. She hopes to engage more members in advocacy efforts.
"Team-based care has been a passion of mine in my own practice, and the college will continue to have a focus on this in the next few years to come," Dr. Walsh said. "Working in teams will allow us to better serve the populations of patients whose care we undertake."
Dr. Walsh is actively involved in clinical research in heart failure, nuclear cardiology and systems approaches for quality initiatives in the practice setting. She is the 2014 recipient of the Wenger Award for Medical Leadership and has been elected by her peers for inclusion in Best Doctors in America annually since 2005.
"Dr. Walsh is highly respected and is an integral part of the Cardiology team at St.Vincent," said Blake Dye, President, St. Vincent Heart Center. "Her knowledge, experience and passion will help the ACC seek new opportunities that will lead to better care and transform the lives of patients."
The American College of Cardiology is a 52,000-member medical society that is the professional home for the entire cardiovascular care team. The college's mission is to transform cardiovascular care and to improve heart health.
