2018 Summer
Suddath Named New Cardiology Chair and Medical Director of Cath Lab
MedStar Heart & Vascular Institute is pleased to announce that William O. Suddath, MD, has been named the new chairman of Cardiology and medical director of the cardiac catheterization laboratory at MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center. A highly experienced interventional cardiologist, Dr. Suddath spent the last 22 years as an integral member of the renowned interventional cardiology team at MedStar Washington Hospital Center.
Just three months into his new position, Dr. Suddath says plans are already underway to improve cardiology services for patients at MedStar Southern Maryland. These include streamlining services, rebuilding the Emergency Department, and increasing the number of beds in the Intensive Care Unit.
“My first goal is to streamline services in the cardiac catheterization lab so that patients are better managed, with few or no delays,” says Dr. Suddath. This includes working hand-in-hand with both the Emergency Department and local Emergency Medical Services to more quickly activate Code STEMI. MedStar Southern Maryland maintains the current guidelines of the treatment of STsegment elevation myocardial infarction of a door-to-balloon time of 90 minutes or less for patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention.
By meeting this guideline and other high quality standards, MedStar Southern Maryland was invited to join the MedStar Heart & Vascular Institute-Cleveland Clinic Heart and Vascular Alliance late last year. This alliance between two nationally recognized cardiac programs has accelerated improvements in heart care and research, and resulted in even better outcomes for the patients served by the participating healthcare organizations.
“Bill Suddath will be able to build on the outstanding work already underway by our MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center physicians, leadership and staff,” says Stuart F. Seides, MD, physician executive director, MedStar Heart & Vascular Institute (MHVI). “His proven leadership skills and clinical expertise will be invaluable in his role as the new team leader for our cardiovascular colleagues practicing in this region.”
During his time at the Hospital Center, Dr. Suddath was instrumental in the start-up and growth of CodeHeart, MHVI’s regional program, which expedites the transport and treatment of heart attacks. He is also the program director for the interventional cardiology fellowship program, which trains physicians in advanced cardiac catheterization skills.
Looking ahead, Dr. Suddath hopes to expand other cardiovascular programs at MedStar Southern Maryland, such as peripheral vascular disease treatment and advanced heart failure management. He also hopes to increase patient volumes, while continuing to achieve excellent outcomes.
“MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center is rapidly growing,” says Dr. Suddath. “We are looking to see more transfers and continue to be the ‘go-to’ cardiac and vascular center for the southern Maryland peninsula.”