About VHAC

The Virginia Heart Attack Coalition (VHAC) is a collaborative partnership among the Virginia Chapter of the American College of Cardiology, American Heart Association, the Virginia Office of Emergency Medical Services, the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association, the Virginia College of Emergency Physicians, the Virginia Department of Health Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Project, and many other partners across the state. Working to improve systems of care for the early recognition and treatment of all Virginia residents having heart attacks, the Virginia Heart Attack Coalition is helping to implement the American Heart Association's community-based national initiative Mission: Lifeline, designed to improve the health care system's readiness and response to ST-Elevation Heart Attack (STEMI) patients.

VHAC/ML Welcomes John Dugan

John Dugan

John Dugan, the new statewide Mission: Lifeline Director, describes himself as a recovering Yankee. John grew up in a small town outside Syracuse, NY, and graduated from the University of Buffalo. John stayed in Buffalo after graduation, working as a paramedic while also serving as a volunteer fire fighter and becoming certified as an Ice Rescue Diver. John worked for two different private ambulance services and became the Training Manager for one of them for 4 years. Seeking balmier climes, he moved to Chesterfield, VA in 2002 with his wife, Kelly, and two children Shannon (12) and Robbie (11).

A current NREMT-P, John still rides actively and works for ESS Inc part-time in Powhatan and Amelia. John is a current VA ALS Coordinator, and a volunteer for Chesterfield Fire & EMS. Just before joining VHAC/ML, John was the QA Coordinator for Chesterfield Fire & EMS for six years. Living in Chesterfield, John is actively involved at Clover Hill Assembly of God and will be leading his 3rd mission trip to Jamaica in Fall 2011. In his spare time he enjoys hunting, golf, cooking and poking a little fun at how panicked most of his Richmond-area friends and neighbors get over just a couple inches of snow.

Pictured above are some of the VHAC/Mission: Lifeline members who attended the September 2010 Task Force Meeting in Richmond, Va.