Heart Failure Society of America Announces New CEO

ST. PAUL, Minn., May 29, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Heart Failure Society of America (HFSA) has announced that Michele Blair, an experienced healthcare leader, has been chosen by the executive council as the society's new CEO. The HFSA provides a forum for those interested in heart function, heart failure research and patient care.  Ms. Blair will be responsible for overseeing the society's current activities and the groups' expansion into advocacy and move of the Society's headquarters to Washington, DC in the coming months.

Ms. Blair has spent 25 years advocating for various healthcare organizations including the Orange County Psychiatric Association and the California Chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians. She also has experience leading successful grassroots and media outreach campaigns, including the Orange County initiative campaign to secure funds from the National Tobacco Settlement for healthcare in Orange County, known as Measure "H."

Until recently, Ms. Blair served as the Executive Director and CEO of the Orange County Medical Association, an organization that includes over 2300 physicians and residents in Southern California. Ms. Blair oversaw the association's activities including promoting the science and art of medicine, and advocating for the protection of public health.

"Leading the Heart Failure Society of America is a great opportunity," said Blair. "I look forward to working with the talented leadership and members of the society, and bringing my previous experience into my new role. I hope to build on everything the society has accomplished over the last 18 years and provide leadership and expertise as we expand our focus and mission."

In addition to her work with various medical organizations, Ms. Blair created a small business advocacy and communications firm working with elected officials, private companies and non-profit organizations, and served in various positions in the California State Legislature.

About Heart Failure

Heart failure is a progressive condition in which the heart muscle becomes weakened after it is injured, most commonly from heart attack or high blood pressure, and gradually loses its ability to pump enough blood to supply the body's needs. Many people are not aware they have heart failure because the symptoms are often mistaken for signs of getting older. Heart failure affects from 4.6 to 4.8 million individuals in the United States. Demographic and clinical evidence strongly suggests that the prevalence of heart failure will increase throughout the next decade. Ten to 15 years ago heart failure was considered a "death sentence;" however, recent advances in treatment have shown that early diagnosis and proper care in early stages of the condition are key to slowing, stopping or in some cases reversing progression, improving quality of life, and extending life expectancy. For more information on heart failure, please visit www.abouthf.org.

About the Heart Failure Society of America

The Heart Failure Society of America (HFSA) is a nonprofit educational organization, founded in 1994 as the first organized association of heart failure experts. The HFSA provides a forum for all those interested in heart function, heart failure research and patient care. The Society also serves as a resource for governmental agencies (FDA, NIH, NHLBI, CMS). The HFSA Annual Scientific Meeting is designed to highlight recent advances in the development of strategies to address the complex epidemiological, clinical and therapeutic issues of heart failure. Additional information on HFSA can be found at www.hfsa.org.

SOURCE Heart Failure Society of America