Edward Hospital doctor wins heart award

During more than 25 years as a cardiologist, Vincent Bufalino has put his heart into improving the hearts of others.

From screening children for high cholesterol before childhood obesity became an epidemic to starting 30-minute CPR training for lay people, his work has not gone unnoticed.

The American Heart Association recently bestowed its Gold Heart Award upon Bufalino, the CEO and president of Midwest Heart Specialists and medical director of Edward Heart Hospital in Naperville.

"It was quite humbling," Bufalino said. "To receive the highest award of the Heart Association is one of those things that seems like there's so many others that deserve it other than me."

But David Cooke, president of the association's Midwest Affiliate, said Bufalino stands out among millions of volunteers for the "depth of what he's accomplished over that time in so many different facets of our organization."

Bufalino has pushed for automated external defibrillators in public settings, advocates for improved patient care and invites high school students to international conferences hoping to inspire the next generation of cardiologists.

He is also a past president of the association's Greater Midwest Affiliate and a past member of the national board of directors.

"They have taught me a lot about health care in the country, and symbolize and promote heart disease prevention, which is what I do every day, so it's exciting to have had a longstanding synergetic relationship with an organization that eats, sleeps and breathes (heart health)," he said.

Longtime colleague Joseph Marek said Bufalino excels because of this concern, not only for his own patients but also for heart patients everywhere.

"He's concerned and he cares and he just doesn't talk about it -- he walks the walk. He gets things done, motivates people and it's his personal style that's able to get people excited about doing this and getting behind ideas he's had," Marek said. "He's innovative. He is a visionary in being able to see possibilities and take action on those."

Bufalino, a graduate of Loyola University's Stritch School of Medicine, has previously won the association's Chairman's Award in 2005 and Physician of the Year in 1997.

"I love my work and it's a pleasure," he said. "It's an honor to practice medicine in this day and age. To have the ability to come in and make a difference in someone's life, save a life is a privilege. I have had phenomenal patients I've cared for over 25-plus years."