Volunteers Increase Pledge Commitments to Support Society Endowments

Douglas P. Zipes, MD, FHRS and Eric N. Prystowsky, MD, FHRS have increased their pledges, directing their contributions to the endowments bearing their names.

November 5, 2008 —Two of the Society’s Past-Presidents displayed their dedication to the Heart Rhythm Society’s mission by increasing their pledge commitments. Douglas P. Zipes, MD, FHRS and Eric N. Prystowsky, MD, FHRS both upgraded their pledges to the Ambassador donor level committing $50,000 each to the Heart Rhythm Foundation and directed their contributions to the endowments bearing their names: the “Douglas P. Zipes Lectureship” and the “Eric and Bonnie Prystowsky Clinical Research Fund.” Building these endowment funds will help continue a legacy of promoting excellence in the fields of electrophysiology and cardiac rhythm management.

Douglas P. Zipes, MD, FHRS (left) and Eric N. Prystowsky, MD, FHRS (right) are Ambassador donors to the Heart Rhythm Foundation after committing $50,000 each to the endowments bearing their names.

In 2004, Charles Antzelevitch, Ph.D., FHRS; Jose Jalife, MD, FHRS and Michael R. Rosen, MD, FHRS established the “Douglas P. Zipes Lectureship” to honor Dr. Zipes and his service as the Chief of the Cardiovascular Division at Indiana University School of Medicine after he retired in June of that year. Those three doctors raised the seed money for this endowment.

With his recent pledge increase, Dr. Zipes, the 11th president of the Society, took the final step necessary to fully fund the lectureship. The endowment can now sustain the annual lectureship and continue to bring innovative speakers to the Heart Rhythm Society’s Annual Scientific Sessions. Past speakers have included Jeffrey Saffitz, MD, Ph.D; Peng Sheng Chen, MD; Silvia Priori, MD, Ph.D and Michael R. Rosen, MD, FHRS.

In October, Dr. Prystowsky, the Society’s 23rd president, raised his pledge commitment and permanently endowed the “Eric and Bonnie Prystowsky Clinical Research Fund.” The Fund will promote excellence in clinical research by annually presenting the “Eric N. Prystowsky Clinical Research Award” to the best research abstract from the categories of clinical electrophysiology, devices, catheter ablation and tachycardia.

Other Society members achieving special donor level status with significant pledges or contributions this last year include:

Chairman Level ($25,000 donation)

• Mrs. Lawrence D. (Danise) German and Family in memory of Lawrence D. German, MD

Founders Level ($10,000 donation)

• Richard Wu, MD
• Bruce Lindsay, MD, FHRS
• William G. Stevenson, MD, FHRS and Lynne W. Stevenson, MD
• Mr. Martin Moggre on behalf of Freeman Company

Learn more about how you can help support the Heart Rhythm Society and Foundation’s missions and initiatives by contacting Betsy Bogdansky at (202) 464-3454, bbogdansky@HRSonline.org or Ashleigh Covington at (202) 464-9854, acovington@HRSonline.org. Or donate online — your contribution will enable the Society to be the primary resource for healthcare professionals and the voice of support for patients with cardiac arrhythmia disorders.

About the Heart Rhythm Foundation
The mission of the Heart Rhythm Foundation is to enhance the prevention and treatment of cardiac rhythm disorders by supporting the research, education and advocacy efforts of the Heart Rhythm Society. Its goal is to promote a culture of giving in service to this mission.