IBHRE Ambassadors Elect Hordes New Program Chair

Electrophysiologist brings experience as practitioner and educator to the post.

July 11, 2022, Washington, DC – The International Board of Heart Rhythm Examiners is pleased to announce that Andrew Hordes, MD, FACC, FHRS, CCDS, has been elected Chair of the IBHRE Ambassador Program. Elected by fellow Ambassadors, Hordes assumes the role from his predecessor, Laurie Newmark, RN, CCDS, of CardiacRMS, whose two-year term ended June 30.   Dr. Hordes’ term began July 1 and will end June 30, 2024.

“I am excited to welcome Dr. Hordes to this leadership post,” said Tracy Lofty, IBHRE chief executive officer. “He brings fresh ideas to the Ambassador Program that I believe will enhance our current initiatives and inspire new ones.”

IBHRE Ambassadors carry out a critical role in helping heart rhythm management professionals elevate their knowledge and validate their skills. In addition to serving as a mentor to practitioners pursuing an IBHRE certification, Ambassadors are official liaisons to pacing and electrophysiology communities in the U.S. and abroad.

“Dr. Hordes is a seasoned and highly-skilled practitioner who embodies the qualities we look for in IBHRE Ambassadors,” added Lofty. “We are indeed fortunate that he’s such a dedicated member of the IBHRE community.”

Dr. Hordes serves as a staff cardiologist for The Heart and Vascular Center in the Appalachian Regional Healthcare System in North Carolina. The only electrophysiologist in the system, he supervises the cardiac device clinic and, in doing so, actively implants CIED’s and troubleshoot devices on a daily basis.  Over the past 30 years, Dr. Hordes has been an investigator in multicenter clinical trials for devices, leads and therapies.  Since 1989, he has been involved in the evolution and development of concepts and technologies as an active CIED implanter in the field, and has served on consulting panels for Telectronics, Intermedics, Biotronik and Medtronic.

“I am honored to be elected by my peers to this position,” said Hordes.  “IBHRE’s Ambassador Program is a valuable resource to heart rhythm practitioners, and I look forward to doing what I can to take it to the next level.”

Prior to his tenure with Appalachian Regional Healthcare, Dr. Hordes was CEO and President of Blackstone Cardiology Associates in Rhode Island for 10 years. He has mentored and trained device nurses and nurse practitioners who remain actively involved with hands-on device checks and remote monitoring. Currently, he supervises a device clinic with three device nurses who follow approximately 2500 patients.

He is also a dedicated educator having delivered numerous lectures to medical students, residents, and fellows while serving as a Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at Brown University Medical School.  As such, he twice received Brown’s highest teaching award, and has served as an invited lecturer at Medtronic, Intermedics, St. Jude, Guidant and Biotronik.

About IBHRE
IBHRE is a self-governing organization that provides competency certification in the fields of cardiac rhythm device therapy and cardiac electrophysiology. Certification exams are developed and administered to assess the scientific foundation, clinical skills, and technical knowledge practitioners and industry experts require to provide and facilitate safe quality patient care in the management of arrhythmias.

Since 1985, IBHRE has set the standard for global certification in heart rhythm management and recognizes cardiac care professionals who are skilled in this unique specialty.  By earning an IBHRE certification, heart rhythm professionals have demonstrated professional excellence in their field.  These professionals make up more than 10,000 physicians and allied professionals worldwide and have earned one or more of the following credentials:

• Certified Cardiac Device Specialist (CCDS)
• Certified Cardiac Device Specialist – Japan Device Representative (CCDS-JDR)
• Certified Electrophysiology Specialist (CEPS)
• Certified Electrophysiology Specialist – Adult (CEPS-A)
• Certified Electrophysiology Specialist – Pediatric (CEPS-P)
• Cardiac Device Remote Monitoring Specialist (CDRMS)

Learn more about IBHRE’s certification programs at IBHRE.org.