Dr. Anne Curtis Elected President of Heart Rhythm Society

    WASHINGTON, April 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Anne B. Curtis, MD, is being named
 president of the Heart Rhythm Society (Society), the leading professional
 society for cardiac arrhythmia professionals and the primary information
 resource on heart rhythm disorders.  Dr. Curtis, director of cardiology and
 CEO of heart services at the University of South Florida in Tampa, FL, will be
 elected to the post during Heart Rhythm 2005, the Society's 26th Annual
 Scientific Sessions May 4-7 in New Orleans.
     "I'm honored to take on this leadership position that has been filled so
 admirably and capably by my predecessors," says Dr. Curtis.  "I look forward
 to tackling the many challenges facing electrophysiolgists today and keeping
 up with the advances of tomorrow to ensure the finest patient care."
     Dr. Curtis is the Society's third woman president, and joins the American
 College of Cardiology and NIH's National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute as
 major cardiology organizations headed by women.
     With the prevalence of heart rhythm disorders increasing in women, Dr.
 Curtis is leading a special session focusing on women and heart disease during
 the Scientific Sessions.
     "Anne brings a wonderful set of skills and knowledge to move the Society
 forward and advance our mission of improving the care of patients by promoting
 research, education and optimal health care policies," says James Youngblood,
 the Society's executive director.
     A Brooklyn native, Dr. Curtis earned her medical degree from Columbia
 University.  She currently leads 14 clinical studies on medical devices and
 heart rhythm disorders as a principal or co-investigator, and has authored 86
 scientific papers and 70 book chapters or reviews.
 
     The Heart Rhythm Society is the international leader in science,
 education, and advocacy for cardiac arrhythmia professionals and patients, and
 the primary information resource on heart rhythm disorders.  Its mission is to
 improve the care of patients by promoting research, education and optimal
 health care policies and standards.  Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the
 Society was incorporated in 1979, and has a membership of over 3,500
 physicians and associated professionals in over 65 countries around the world.
 
 

SOURCE  Heart Rhythm Society