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The final ballots will be sent out soon! Please see below for statements from all the candidates for International Executive Committee Member and VP of Finance.
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If your paid membership is active you will received a ballot, which will be sent via surveymonkey (member@surveymonkeyuser.com). Please be sure to check your spam/junk folder, or ask your institutional IT department to add surveymonkey to the email whitelist. Many people with Outlook mail are finding it in their 'quarantine' mail.
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CANDIDATES FOR THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE:
INTERNATIONAL MEMBER
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Luis Arabia, MD
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It is a great emotion and honor for me to find myself in the final round for the election of International Member of the PACES Executive Committee.
24 years ago I returned to my country, Argentina, after my training period abroad (USA and Spain), and since then, together with other colleagues, we have worked intensely in our country, in the region (LATAM), and in other countries around the world to try to facilitate access for children who require care in the area of cardiac arrhythmias and congenital heart diseases.
Knowing different realities in access to such care, local pathologies, cultural diversity and economic and infrastructure limitations are essential to be able to alleviate those who are the reason for our existence, the children!
I offer my effort and knowledge to reduce these differences between patients regardless of where they are, as well as to provide support for the development and education of those involved in their care (professionals, assistants, nurses, and other health personnel involved).
Likewise, if I am not chosen for such an important position, I maintain my commitment and put myself at the service of the colleague who is honored with such distinction.
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Ulrich J. Krause, MD
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My name is Ulrich J. Krause. I am 49 years old and working as senior pediatric electrophysiologist at the Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Intensive Care Medicine and Neonatology of Georg-August-University Medical Center in Goettingen, Germany. My clinical and scientific focus is 1) endocardial mapping and catheter ablation and 2) device implantation and follow-up in pediatric patients and in adults with congenital heart disease.
I joined PACES as an international member in 2011 and I have been a member of the PACES research committee since 2017. Together with Dr. Cecilia Gonzalez Corcia I chaired the international PACES case review platform from 2017 – 2018 and I joined the PACES GRAD committee in 2023.
As the international PACES executive committee member it will be my goal to foster further development of PACES as the global society for physicians and allied professionals working in the field of pediatric and adult congenital electrophysiology. Based on my experience from recent international multicenter studies in Europe my activities will be directed to promote international scientific collaboration of PACES members from all over the world in order to advance our field. In order to improve the impact of PACES research activities I will try to boost international pediatric EP centers to participate in PACES endorsed research activities. In addition international pediatric and adult congenital electrophysiologists/centers shall be encouraged to obtain PACES endorsement for their scientific projects in order to establish high-quality research.
Besides research education is and will be one of the primary goals of PACES. In order to promote international exchange of ideas and experience, I will promote joined scientific sessions of PACES with other pediatric/adult congenital EP societies worldwide.
I strongly believe in the impact and power of PACES as the worldwide leading pediatric and adult congenital electrophysiology society uniting physicians and allied professionals from all over the world. It will be an honor for me to serve and promote PACES activities as the new international PACES executive committee member.
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Sabrina Tsao, MBBS, MRCP(UK)
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I am honored to be nominated as a potential candidate for the position of International Member Representative.
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My international background has provided me with a deep appreciation for cultural diversity and the differences in practice within our community, making multi-center international collaboration even more important to advance our field. Having lived, studied and worked in different countries, I have developed a keen understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities that international members may face such as language barriers, cultural differences and access to resources. This experience has shaped my perspective and instilled in me sense of empathy and inclusivity.
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In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen a shift in our lives and how we interact with one another. The challenges have highlighted the importance of personal face-to-face connections. As International Member Representative, I will strive to create opportunities to get to know our international members personally, and to facilitate meaningful interactions with one another during our PACES meetings. This may be achieved by surveys to understand the needs of our members, organizing networking events, mentorship programs, and webinars that may be able to occur at a more internationally suitable time zones.
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As the international representative, I will articulate the unique challenges that face our international members to our PACES leadership. In conclusion, I am excited about the opportunity to serve as International Member Representative and to work towards creating a more inclusive and globally connected PACES. I kindly ask for your vote and support, so we can build a stronger, more diverse, and global PACES.
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Thank you for considering my candidacy.
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Sabrina Tsao, MBBS MRCP(UK) FAAP FAAC FHRS CCDS CEPS-P
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CANDIDATES FOR THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE:
VICE PRESIDENT FOR FINANCE
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Gaurav Arora, MD
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Thank you for the honor of being nominated for PACES VP of Finance. I have had the privilege to meet many of you already through collaborative research and committee work within PACES. I have been a member of multiple committees, including Finance (2014-2019), Grad (2019-present) and I currently serve as the chair of the Membership Committee. I have also been involved in the two recent PACES strategic planning retreats (San Francisco, New Orleans) where we discussed future goals and directions for PACES. Lastly, I have worked with Ellis Rochelson and Shashank Behere on the Pulse of PACES newsletter this past year.
For those who don’t know me, I completed my general cardiology and EP fellowships at Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston in 2006. I then joined the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, where I have been for the last 18 years. I served as the Associate Vice-Chair for Clinical Affairs, Ambulatory Care, from 2017 to 2022, helping to oversee the outpatient work for the Department of Pediatrics. In this role, I worked with a diverse set of leaders within the DOP towards a common goal, and I believe this would serve me will as a member of the PACES Executive Committee.
My prior service on the Finance Committee and my current service on the Membership Committee dovetail nicely together to get a sense of PACES as an organization and steps that we need to take to remain financially viable. We are currently working to revamp our membership renewal platform and reminders to ensure that membership transactions are as convenient as possible.
In summary, I believe my prior experiences both within and outside of PACES put me in good position to serve the organization as the next VP of Finance. Thank you for your consideration.
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Rohan Kumthekar MD
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I am honored to be nominated for the PACES VP of Finance position. Since joining PACES, I have seen firsthand the incredible impact our work has on the lives of children and families that we care for.
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I have had the privilege of meeting and working with many of you over the past several years. I have been an active member of the PACES Emerging Leaders group since my time as a general cardiology fellow, and have been fortunate to lead the mentorship and professional development section of the group for the past few years. I recently had the opportunity to join several other PACES committees as well, including the Digital Health committee, the newly formed Membership committee, and most importantly, the Finance committee.
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As a former economics major with a longstanding interest in business, finance and investing, I bring a unique blend of financial expertise and heartfelt dedication to this role. My experiences within PACES have cultivated a clear understanding of our mission and values. I am excited to help foster the continued growth, success and evolution of our organization. If elected, I am committed to ensuring the responsible stewardship of our finances, maximizing efficiency in budget allocation, and working to advance our research and support our members.
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In closing, I am honored to be considered for this pivotal role within our organization. I am proud to be an active member of PACES, and I would love the opportunity to serve the organization in any way I can.
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Kara Motonaga, MD
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It has been a privilege serving as a member and chair of PACES committees over the past decade, and I am excited to run as a candidate for VP of Finance on the executive committee. My vision is for PACES to lead the way in multicenter research, advocacy, DEI initiatives, fellowship training, and early career development in pediatric and congenital EP for generations to come. This will require the members of today to plan for and build financial security for the future members of tomorrow.
I have served on the PACES Finance Committee under the leadership of our current VP of Finance, Dr. Jennifer Silva. It has been a privilege to work together to support and manage the PACES financial operations. This experience highlighted the importance of being organized, fiscally responsible, and proactive in planning for the long term future of PACES.
In addition to my service on the Finance Committee, I have chaired the PACES education committee for the last 5 years, collaborating with online educational organizations such as Heart University to broaden the PACES educational reach worldwide. I also formed the PACES Training Program Directors Committee in 2021. Serving as chair, I led an initiative to unify the training programs, allowing us to collaborate, enhance the educational experiences, and foster a sense of community for our EP fellows throughout the world.
I am eager to serve and contribute at the executive committee level and I believe that I have the organizational qualities and skills to be a successful VP of Finance. I can collaborate with others effectively and bring people together for a common purpose. If elected, I would use all of these skills to strengthen and expand our PACES treasury and ensure that we can continue to support the strategic goals of our current members as well the future generations of PACES.
I hope you will consider voting for me to serve as your next VP of Finance!
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Akash Patel, MD
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I am honored to be nominated for the position of Vice President of Finance for PACES. As an active and proud member of PACES since 2010, I have seen the impact of this society and its talented and diverse members on advancing the field of pediatric and congenital electrophysiology. I am deeply committed to further fostering our society's mission through robust and transparent financial stewardship.
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During my career, I have been dedicated to integrating fiscal responsibility and budgets with clinical and academic excellence. I have had the privilege to lead, work on, and collaborate with incredibly talented teams across clinical care, research, graduate medical education, PACES, hospital administration, and business school. My responsibilities have encompassed fiscal planning, funding acquisition, and resource management needed to grow and expand an EP program, as the current Director of Pediatric and Congenital Electrophysiology at the Cleveland Clinic, and to expand a pediatric cardiology fellowship program, as prior Fellowship Program Director at UCSF. In addition, I have experience with strategic and responsible allocation of funding resources through my roles as a founding member of the Appropriations Committee at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital, that oversaw funding of clinical activities for the hospital, and as the local organizer for the 2019 and 2022 Pre-HRS PACES conferences at UCSF. This spring, I will complete an Executive MBA from the Case Weatherhead School of Management.
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As Vice President for Finance, my priorities would include optimizing resources to support expanding research and quality initiatives, enhancing member and patient services, and strengthening the financial viability of our society for future advancements. I am committed to ensuring that every financial decision supports our collective goals of improving patient care through education, research, quality, and advocacy in pediatric and congenital electrophysiology. PACES has accomplished much with limited resources, and I would leverage my experience to further enhance our organization. I look forward to fostering relationships within PACES and with other nonprofits such as HRS, SADS, and ISACHD to find financial opportunities that support our strategic goals.
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I am eager to build upon the successes our organization has already achieved. I look forward to bringing my skills, experience, and passion for our field to serve PACES, its members, and our patients. Together, our organization will continue to grow and excel. Thank you for your consideration.
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