Committee Spotlight: Cardiology Forum Program
Sarah Bell, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Cardiology) | Chair, Cardiology Forum Program Subcommittee
Dr. Sarah Bell has been a Board-Certified Veterinary Cardiologist since 2015. She attended the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine and completed a rotating internship at North Carolina State University. Following completion of her internship, Dr. Bell worked as an ER clinician in Pittsburgh before pursuing a cardiology internship and residency at the University of Missouri. She has been practicing with CVCA Cardiac Care for Pets in Maryland and then Louisville, Kentucky since 2015.
What motivated you to volunteer with the ACVIM, or how did you first get involved with the organization?
My first committee appointment was as a member of the exam review committee. Since then, I’ve served on several different committees. It was important for me to stay involved in training within the college of cardiology. I quickly developed a great deal of joy and pride in giving back to the college.
Could you describe the work of the Cardiology Forum Program Subcommittee and how this work contributes to the overall mission/goals of the ACVIM?
The subcommittee is responsible for choosing the topics that are presented at the ACVIM Forum, including State of the Art lectures and the latest research topics. The committee also reviews and scores research abstracts and technician proceedings. During the Forum, we provide the opportunity to moderate sessions. We help curate a program for veterinarians and technicians that helps move veterinary cardiology forward.
As the chair of this committee, what responsibilities and duties do you undertake?
I work closely with ACVIM staff to recruit scientific sessions, invite the State-of-the-Art speakers, and help to enlist speakers to fill in programming gaps for the in-person Forum and the on-demand program. A debriefing is held following the Forum. Throughout the year, I oversee meetings to lay out the schedule and training sessions for the committee.
How has your involvement with the ACVIM and chairing this committee personally enriched your professional experience and contributed to your growth in the field of veterinary internal medicine?
Serving on this committee has helped me make valuable connections with other Veterinary Cardiologists and the ACVIM staff. I’ve grown in ways outside of veterinary medicine as well - stretching my comfort zone while reaching out to prominent individuals in the human cardiology field, as well as asking our colleagues for help in their already stretched schedules.
What advice would you give to other Diplomates considering volunteering with the ACVIM?
Do it! Volunteering is rewarding and fun. You also get help plan topics for the Forum and on-demand sessions that are of particular interest to you, since you are instrumental in putting the program together.
Looking ahead, what are your aspirations for the committee and its impact within ACVIM?
The goal of the committee is to bring the best sessions to the Forum attendees. Every year, we look to invite excellent state of the art speakers in the field of human medicine to provide us with up-to-date treatments, ideas for veterinary medical exploration, and to forge bonds between medical fields. I look forward to continuing to bring that energy to the Forum!