IBHRE Leadership Spotlight: George Van Hare, MD, FHRS, CCDS, CEPS

Dr. George Van Hare, MD, FHRS, CCDS, CEPS

Dr. Van Hare currently serves on IBHRE’s Board of Directors and serves as Pediatric Chair for IBHRE’s Physician EP Test-Writing Committee. Prior to assuming his current role as Director of Pediatric Cardiology at Washington University in St. Louis, Dr. Van Hare was a practicing academic pediatric electrophysiologist at the University of California San Francisco, Case Western Reserve University, and Stanford University. He is a past-president of the Pediatric and Congenital Electrophysiology Society, and is currently Treasurer and Secretary of the Heart Rhythm Society and HRS Consulting Services. He was previously the principal investigator for a 5 year National Institutes of Health (NIH) funded multi-center clinical study of catheter ablation in children entitled “Prospective Assessment after Pediatric Cardiac Ablation.” Dr. Van Hare has previously served on the question-writing committee for the IBHRE Pacing Examination for Physicians. 

 

Why did you decide to enter the field of pacing/electrophysiology?

I was inspired to go into pediatric cardiology as a 4th year medical student by Jerry Liebman, the first pediatric cardiologist in the state of Ohio. I did a project with him on ventricular septal defects which required me to read about 500 electrocardiograms and about 250 vectorcardiograms (vectors!) It amazed me how much you could figure out about patient's heart based on a piece of paper in your hand. As a resident, we were caring for postoperative congenital heart surgery patients in the pediatric intensive care unit, and postoperative arrhythmias were fairly common (they were doing Mustard procedures for transposition). I was impressed that the electrophysiologists always seemed to be the smartest guys in the room. I started my pediatric cardiology fellowship at UCSF and found that I was the only fellow who enjoyed arguing about ECGs with the attendings. It was suggested that I pursue the specialty. There was no pediatric EP at University of California, San Francisco at the time, but Mel Scheinman and his team worked across the hall from our cath lab and I was fortunate to be able to train with them and then start the pediatric program in San Francisco.

What do you like most about the field of pacing/electrophysiology?

When you think about it, electrophysiology really is the best specialty in cardiology. Our echocardiography colleagues make diagnoses and measure velocities, but they can’t intervene. Our interventional cath colleagues can certainly fix things, but rarely these days have the opportunity to make a new, previously unsuspected diagnosis in the catheterization laboratory. We have the best of all possible worlds, being able to deductively reason our way to the patient's diagnosis and then fix the problem. Often a single heartbeat recorded during an electrophysiology study proves the suspected diagnosis and allows us to address the problem. I get to cure kids. What could be better?

What factors influenced your decision to follow the leadership path?

I got involved with IBHRE with the express purpose of advancing the field of pediatric electrophysiology as a distinct specialty. For me this started when I took the NASPExam MD Pacing Examination in 2005 and recognized an opportunity for improving the quality and sophistication of the pediatric and congenital heart disease questions. After I passed, I called Chuck Love, who is now IBHRE President, and told him that I thought there was an opportunity to improve the exam. He fell into my clever trap, and asked me to join the question-writing committee. After several years writing pacing exam questions, I was in the right place at the right time when the Physician EP examination was proposed, and was able to participate in creating the modular examination with pediatric and adult components. Being on the Board was always one of my career goals.

What are you looking forward to the most during your tenure?

I’d like to see us further deepen the relationship between IBHRE and the pediatric EP community, and further solidify the identification of the pediatric EP exam as the international standard. Furthermore, a similar but much larger opportunity exists to do the same internationally with the adult EP examination. While IBHRE has its own mission and vision, it is also a part of HRS and is an incredibly important element in HRS’s long-term goals. I believe that IBHRE is one of the most important means by which HRS will be able to have an impact on heart rhythm care globally.

What words of encouragement do you have for individuals hesitant about becoming IBHRE certified?

Taking the examination for me was scary, and fear motivated me to study really hard. It is actually a pretty rigorous examination. It’s one of the best things I’ve ever done professionally, however, because I learned a huge amount in the process. I’m very proud of my Certified Cardiac Device Specialist (CCDS) designation.

What was the last book you read?

“Parkland” by Vincent Bugliosi, the attorney who prosecuted Charles Manson and also wrote “Helter Skelter.” Like many people my age and older, I remember where I was when I heard about JFK’s assassination. I was in 3rd grade and had stayed home from school, having convinced my mother that I was sick. Our next door neighbor ran over to tell us. We were glued to the TV for the next several days, and I also remember seeing Oswald get shot on live TV.

Are there any Heart Rhythm Annual Scientific Sessions memories you would like to share?

The device companies used to put on big parties on the Wednesday evening. Intermedics had the reputation of holding the biggest and craziest. I have a clear memory of models (male and female) in togas standing on pedestals. People back then were not as fixated on relationships with industry groups. The bands at these events were great: Koko Taylor in Chicago, Charlie Daniels in Nashville, the Fabulous Thunderbirds in SF, I think. Those were the days…

What is one of your favorite cities and why?

Istanbul. I have a great relationship with a number of cardiologists there, and in particular, Alpay Celiker at Acibadem University. I get to go every two years to co-direct a pediatric EP course and do procedures with Alpay. It’s an amazing city, very ancient with a huge amount of history, but vibrant and exotic.

Do you have any hobbies?

I sing in my church choir and play in a bluegrass band. We do mostly bluegrass gospel and are very good vocally and pretty good instrumentally. Not enough time to practice!

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