Dear Colleague & Friend, As ACC.08 approaches, it is a bittersweet time for me. As this meeting marks the end of one exciting role, it also marks the beginning of another. In a few weeks, I will hand over the reins of President of the New Mexico Chapter to Dr. Michael McGuire. I have had many meetings with Mike over the past few months, and am extremely impressed by his ideas, his energy and his vision for the future. When I came on as ACC Governor for the State of New Mexico, it was a non-chapter state. After seeing the benefits of other chapters, discussing with the many exceptional cardiologists around the state what a chapter in New Mexico could do, and feeling their enthusiasm, it was the obvious next step to organize into an official ACC Chapter. I was pleased to be able to accomplish this with the help of many exceptional people, and am delighted that I am handing over the reins of the Chapter to a very capable and visionary leader, in the truest sense of the word. The New Mexico Chapter is in good hands. But this end starts a new beginning, as I will be taking on the reins of Chair of the ACC Board of Governors (BOG). I am excited and humbled by this honor. Serving as the 42nd Chair of the Board of Governors - and only the 2nd woman chair - I follow in the footsteps of many notable cardiologists, some of whom have gone on to be President of the College. However, I am most humbled by the caliber of the members which whom I am privileged to serve. The BOG is the only body of leadership in the College that is elected by their colleagues. The cardiology community has made known the respect and trust they hold for each of these members. They have inspired a shared vision of what tomorrow could be and challenge others to help make it happen. During my service on the BOG, I have learned much from these colleagues and have seen what working together, despite differences, can accomplish. The Door to Balloon (D2B) project was one shining example. This project was stewarded through the BOG, and the goal of reaching 200 hospitals in one year exceeded expectations and was committed to by over 1,000 hospitals! As Chair of the Board of Governors for 2008-2009, I am committed to continuing this level of commitment and dedication to improving our advocacy efforts, embracing quality initiatives to improve patient care, and making certain that every member of ACC realizes the impact they can have on improving the state of healthcare in our country by becoming involved. I look forward to seeing many of you in Chicago at ACC.08. Feel free to share your thoughts with me. I value your views. All best wishes, Jane Jane E. Schauer, M.D., Ph.D., F.A.C.C. President, New Mexico ACC Chapter Jane E. Schauer, MD, PhD, Chapter President Jane E. Schauer, Chapter President Jane Schauer received her undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire in Nursing. She worked as a neonatal intensive care nurse, specializing in infants with congenital heart disease, and later became director of an adult inpatient cardiac rehabilitation program. Dr. Schauer went on to receive her PhD in exercise physiology in 1990 from the University of Wisconsin - Madison, specializing in exercise biochemistry. Research was conducted at the University of Wisconsin Enzyme Institute under the guidance of Vilas Professor of Biochemistry, Henry Lardy, a member of the National Academy of Sciences. Summer research funding was provided by the National Institutes of Health. Dr Schauer attended medical school at the University of Wisconsin - Madison funded by the school's MD/PhD program. She went on to complete Internal Medicine Residency and Cardiology Fellowship at Wisconsin as well. For the past eight years, Dr. Schauer has been a member of the Presbyterian Heart Group in Albuquerque, New Mexico specializing in non-invasive cardiology. Dr Schauer started the Adult Congenital Clinic in New Mexico in conjunction with Pediatric Cardiology Associates. In addition to serving as the ACC Governor from New Mexico, Jane also serves on the BOG Steering Committee. She is currently Chair-elect for the Board of Governors and, in that capacity, serves on the Executive Committee and the ACC Board of Trustees. janeschauer1@msn.com Michael R. McGuire, MD, Incoming Chapter President Michael McGuire has practiced in New Mexico since 1979, practicing both noninvasive and invasive (non-interventional) cardiology. He has been in solo practice as well as a member of two New Mexico groups and a short association with a West Texas group. This has provided exposure to allow understanding of medical practice issues in multiple venues which directly impact cardiology in this state. Leadership experience in hospital and medical society positions ion Roswell has afforded political contacts with state and national legislative representatives. Dr. McGuire is Board Certified in Cardiovascular Diseases and has been an FACC for 29 years. Harvey J. White, MD., Councilor Dr. Harvey White, interventional cardiologist with New Mexico Heart Institute and Medical Director for the Heart Hospital of New Mexico, has dedicated himself for the past 15 years to direct patient care, clinical research initiatives, and leadership activities designed to improve New Mexico's cardiovascular health care system. Dr. White has participated in multiple clinical trials and is the cofounder of the Carotid Stent Research Program in New Mexico distinguished by an early recruiting effort, which stands in the top ten in the country. Dr. White previously served New Mexico as its ACC Governor from 2002 to 2005. harvey.white@medcath.com Jonathan Abrams, MD, Councilor Dr. Abrams is a master clinician and seasoned teacher who is widely appreciated for his dynamic style and comprehensive understanding of clinical pharmacology that translates into wise therapeutics. He is equally versed in valvular heart disease, cardiac physiology, and the clinical exam of the patient. He received is education at the Univerity of California, San Francisco, and is currently a professor at the University of New Mexico. His areas of specialty and research include cardiovascular pharmacology, therapy of stable angina pectoris, congestive heart failure, blood lipid abnormalities, and coronary artery disease valvular disease. Dr. Abrams served as ACC Governor for New Mexico from 1984 to 1987. jabrams@salud.unm.edu Kathleen Blake, MD, Councilor Dr. Blake attended the University of Chicago Medical School and did her residency and was awarded a fellowship at Stanford University, Standford, California. Her specialty is in Electrophysiology, and she is board certified in Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Disease, and Electrophysiology. She serves as an assistant clinical professor at the University of New Mexico. kblake@swcp.com Abinash Achrekar, MD, FIT Representative Dr. Achrekar attended college at UC Berkeley, public health school at Yale University, and medical school at Michigan State University. He has completed Internal Medicine residency at the University of New Mexico, and is now a Cardiology fellow at the same institution. Dr. Achrekar currently is the Western representative on the Council of Associates for the American College of Physicians. He will complete his fellowship in 2009 and plans to practice Cardiology in New Mexico and to continue working with the ACC. aachrekar@salud.unm.edu Linda Martinez, CCA Representative Linda Griego Martinez, MSN, RN, APRN-BC, CMC is a clinical nurse specialist with Presbyterian Heart Group in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Linda has been in nursing for 30 years. The majority of years have been spent in critical care. .She is a CCRN alumnus and currently is certified as an advanced practice nurse in adult health with a subspecialty in cardiac medicine. She has a particular interest congestive heart failure management. limarti@phs.org