June 12, 2001 - President of Midwest Heart Specialists Receives Award for Volunteer Service in Chicago's Community
DuPage CountyElmhurst
Naperville
Winfield
Downers Grove
President of Midwest Heart Specialists Receives Award for Volunteer Service in Chicago's Community
June 12, 2001
Naperville, IL
Vincent Bufalino, MD, President and CEO of Midwest Heart Specialists, was recently recognized by the American Heart Association for his 20 years of volunteer service in preventing and treating heart disease,
The first-ever C'ouer d'Or or "Heart of Gold", award was presented at the American Heart Association's 19th Annual Heart Ball. The award is intended to recognize an individual's professional accomplishments and personal commitment in reducing disability and death from heart disease and stroke.
Dr. Bufalino's volunteer service and commitment to preventing heart disease began with his board position on the DuPage County affiliate chapter of the American Heart Association. As the national incidence of heart disease increased, so did Dr. Bufalino's dedication to improving heart-health.
"We live in a country where 42 percent of children have high cholesterol, 3,000 new teenagers begin smoking everyday and the chance of surviving a heart attack without swift access to an automatic defibrillator is five percent," Dr. Bufalino said. "Our work can affect these numbers. Our dedication can improve the health of this nation."
Today, hundreds of heart disease prevention programs are in place around the country.
Aggressive education aimed at children and adults alike underscores the
importance of risk factor modification in preventing heart disease and
stroke. At the same time, community CPR and automatic external
defibrillator programs are on the rise, increasing the chances of
survival for the 1.5 million Americans that will have a heart attack
this year.
"The challenges we have before us are real," noted Bufalino at the annual fundraiser that raised more than $500,000 for the AHA's advocacy, research and education programs. "But together with the American Heart Association, we in the cardiology community are all well-equipped, eager and anxious to bring the best care to our patients – one at a time."
Midwest Heart Specialists is a 35 member private practice in the western suburbs of Chicago. Cardiac sub-specialties include electrophysiology, interventional cardiology, radiology and clinical diagnosis and treatment. MHS physicians are on staff at four area hospitals and have clinics in Yorkville, BolingBrook, Kishwaukee and Sandwich.