Dr. Steven Fera has been elected governor of the Rhode Island Chapter of the American College of Cardiology. He works in private practice at South County Cardiology Associates and is on the medical staff at South County Hospital. He specializes in invasive cardiology and cardiac pacing. He is board-certified in internal medicine and cardiology and is a fellow of the American College of Cardiology and a member of the American Heart Association.
PBN: How has your involvement in the ACC helped you professionally?
FERA: It has evolved since 1987, when I became a member. Most of my early involvement was taking advantage of the group’s many educational opportunities: seminars, conferences and the national annual meeting. With 30,000 members, the ACC has a lot to offer to its membership. Rhode Island became a chapter about eight years ago, and there was a need for representation on the executive council. I was among the first members. Now, I preside over the executive council and serve as a representative for practicing cardiologists in Rhode Island.
PBN: What kind of education does the ACC provide?
FERA: The ACC has a journal that is very authoritative on new research and new developments. The college is a leader in the guidelines for disease management.
Something new comes out every week that affects my patients and my practice. The technologies are expensive, the applications are sometimes complex, and the decision-making can be complex from a medical standpoint.
The conferences give updates in cardiovascular medicine and guidelines to providing cost-effective medicine to offer the best care for patients at the best price. We represent our patients, and their needs become our needs. We need to make sure policy decisions are made in a responsible way.
PBN: What are your responsibilities as governor of the Rhode Island chapter?
FERA: The governor is considered a liaison between the state chapter members and the college headquarters, based in Washington, D.C., for a three-year term. I provide representation for the membership on the state level, and attend meetings in Washington with other governors to compare notes and provide feedback to the national organization.
We serve as an education forum locally, and for the last six years, we’ve provided a symposium directed at primary care physicians to help them decide whom to refer and how to treat some of the basic cardiovascular disorders.
