ABC PAD Initiative

In an ongoing effort to shine the spotlight on underserved disease states, the ABC successfully launched a new initiative in March 2018 focused on disparities in diagnosis and initial treatment of Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) among the African American population.

The ABC 2018 Roundtable: Addressing PAD Diagnosis and Treatment Disparities in African Americans was designed with a goal of convening 16 diverse stakeholders including physicians, community leaders and advocacy experts to meaningfully address challenges and barriers to diagnosis and initial treatment of PAD in the African American population.

Accomplishments of Initiative to date:

(March 2018) The first step in this Initiative included a Roundtable to develop a deeper and well-rounded understanding of PAD-related challenges from patient, provider and community perspectives and to identify five actionable recommendations/solutions.
- This Roundtable was effective in bringing together patient advocates and advocacy organizations, healthcare providers (including specialists in vascular surgery, interventional cardiology, podiatry, and cardiology) and leaders from faith-based communities.

(April 2018) An initial infographic summary of the Roundtable proceedings is published.

This highly collaborative Initiative would not have been possible without the continued insights and involvement of the talented and dedicated volunteers who represent many different sectors and organizations. The ABC is particularly grateful to be able to work with these individuals towards shared goals.

Roundtable Co-chairs

Foluso Fakorede, MD
Interventional Cardiologist
CEO, Cardiovascular Solutions of Central Mississippi

Lee Kirksey, MD, MBA
Vice Chairman, Department of Vascular Surgery
Sydell and Arnold Miller Heart and Vascular Institute,
Walter W. Buckley Endowed Chair
The Cleveland Clinic

ABC PAD Roundtable members

Roundtable Participants

Andre Artis, MD, MBA, FACC, FASCI, Board Member, Association of Black Cardiologists

Zaneta Batchelor, Healthcare Lobbyist and Market Strategist, Larry J Overton & Associates

Mark A. Creager, MD, FAHA, Director, Heart and Vascular Center, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Anna Gundlach Huber Professor of Medicine, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth

Millicent Gorham, PhD, MBA, FAAN, Executive Director, National Black Nurses Association

Aaron Horne, MD, MBA, Board Member, Association of Black Cardiologists

Barbara Hutchinson, MD, PhD, FACC, President (2016-2018), Association of Black Cardiologists

Dan Jones, DPM, Podiatry Specialist, Comfort Podiatry Group

Bishop Jerry L. Maynard, PhD, Cathedral of Praise

Mary McGowan, MHRM, CEO, Women Heart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease

Elizabeth Ofili, MD, MPH, FACC, Professor and Director Clinical Research Center, Morehouse School of Medicine

Sue Peschin, MHS, President and CEO, Alliance for Aging Research

John Romans, CEO, Biomedix

Felix Sogade, MD, FACC, FHRS, Chairman of the Board (2016-2018), Association of Black Cardiologists

Mary L. Yost, MBA, President, The Sage Group LLC

The ABC would like to thank the following sponsors for their unrestricted support of the Roundtable:
Cardiovascular Systems Inc. and Janssen Pharmaceuticals

We believe that good health is the cornerstone of progress. We are firm in our resolve to make exemplary health care accessible and affordable to all, dedicated to lowering the high rate of cardiovascular disease, including stroke, in minority populations and committed to advocacy and diversity. We are guided by ethical principles in all transactions and strive for excellence in our training and skills.

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