IBHRE Announces Vanguard and Ambassador of the Year Awardees

IBHRE Announces IBHRE Vanguard and Ambassador of the Year Awardees
Board recognizes trailblazers in electrophysiology and cardiac device education.

Apr. 26, 2024, Washington, DC – The International Board of Heart Rhythm Examiners today announced recipients of its 2024 IBHRE Vanguard and Ambassador of the Year awards. This year, IBHRE honors two contributors whose expertise in electrophysiology have been instrumental in advancing the Board’s certification program—Andrew Hordes, MD, FACC, FHRS, CCDS and Sarah Fritzsche, BS, CCDS, CDRMS.

“These IBHRE-certified specialists have been highly involved in our efforts to advance the Board’s mission,” said Tracy Lofty-Brown, chief executive officer, IBHRE.  “Their time and expertise have a significant impact on the growth and development of this organization.”

IBHRE Vanguard Award Recipient— Andrew Hordes, MD, FACC, FHRS, CCDS
Dr. Hordes is a staff cardiologist for The Heart and Vascular Center in the Appalachian Regional Healthcare System in Boone, NC. The only electrophysiologist in the system, Hordes 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, he has been an investigator in multicenter clinical trials for devices, leads and therapies, and currently serves as a Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at Brown University Medical School. Since 1989, Dr. Hordes 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.  

Dr. Hordes has made notable contributions to IBHRE.  Since 2020, he has served as an IBHRE Ambassador and currently chairs the IBHRE Ambassador Program. In his role, he restructured the program to increase productivity by establishing several tasks forces. In addition, he is instrumental in developing IBHRE professional development offerings, including webinars and panel discussions presented during Heart Rhythm Society’s annual meetings.

“IBHRE certification has been instrumental in my career development,” said Hordes.  “Consequently, it is professionally rewarding to know that my contributions impact the field of heart rhythm management.”

Ambassador of the Year—Sarah Fritzsche, BS, CCDS, CDRMS
Exhibiting a passion for patient care and educational innovation, Sarah Fritzsche is a Product Education Manager at Murj, a device clinic based in Greenville, SC. A dedicated cardiac electrophysiology and rhythm management professional, Fritzsche spearheads learning and development initiatives using Murj’s cloud-based software solution. She has earned several professional credentials, including IBHRE’s Certified Cardiac Device Specialists (CCDS), the Cardiac Device Remote Monitoring Specialist (CDRMS), and the Fellow Heart Rhythm Society (FHRS).

“Serving as an IBHRE Ambassador is a great honor and a wonderful learning experience,” commented Fritzsche. “Receiving this award is deeply humbling and a highpoint in my career. I am profoundly grateful.”

In her role as an IBHRE Ambassador, Fritzsche serves as a mentor in IBHRE’s mentorship program, and participates in the CCDS Job Task Analysis Annual Study.  As a member of the Professional Resources Task Force, she was instrumental in the revamping of IBHRE’s Cardiac Device Education and Self-Assessment (CDESA) Course V.2. 

Selected by IBHRE staff and ratified by the IBHRE Board of Directors, recipients of the IBHRE Ambassador of the Year and IBHRE Vanguard awards are acknowledged for their valuable contributions to IBHRE, including work on committees, task forces, and special projects.  Since 2016, IBHRE has honored IBHRE-certified specialists who promote excellence in the field of heart rhythm management by encouraging peers to learn, adopt and practice according to higher professional standards.  IBHRE Ambassadors, advise these practitioners on how they can advance their skill level through IBHRE certification, obtain professional resources, and gain access to mentoring opportunities.

Dr. Hordes and Ms. Fritsche will be recognized at the IBHRE Ambassadors’ Meeting & Recognition Ceremony during Heart Rhythm 2024 in Boston, MA on May 17, 2024 at 1:00 p.m.

About the International Board of Heart Rhythm Examiners
The International Board of Heart Rhythm Examiners^® has set the standard for global certification in heart rhythm management since 1985. IBHRE offers competency certification to physicians and allied professionals to provide quality patient care in cardiac pacing and electrophysiology. Certifications offered are the Certified Cardiac Device Specialist (CCDS), the Certified Cardiac Device Specialist- Japan Device Representative (CCDS-JDR) , the Certified Electrophysiology Specialist (CEPS), the Certified Electrophysiology Specialist – Adult (CEPS-A), the Certified Electrophysiology Specialist – Pediatric (CEPS-P), and the Cardiac Device Remote Monitoring Specialist (CDRMS).

Learn more about IBHRE at IBHRE.org.