Dr. Vince Bufalino to receive American Heart Association's Heart of Gold award on April 6
Dr. Vince Bufalino, Chief Advocate Medical Group Officer, will receive the American Heart Association's prestigious Heart of Gold Award at the Chicago Heart Ball on Saturday, April 6. The award is given to a volunteer who demonstrates extraordinary service to the mission of the American Heart Association.
As a cardiologist, Dr. Bufalino is committed to the prevention and effective treatment of cardiovascular disease. He has served as a local and national volunteer for the American Heart Association for more than 30 years, helping to shape the Association's scientific and policy initiatives. He has chaired national committees and served several terms on the AHA's national board of directors, and he has also worked internationally to improve heart care for patients around the world.
Locally, Dr. Bufalino has made a tremendous impact on the health of those in his community and is an advocate for patients and families. He pushed for automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in public spaces throughout the Chicago area, a legacy that has led to countless lives saved. He led the charge to have 100 AEDs donated to mayors of surrounding cities, and he was instrumental in getting these lifesaving devices placed at O'Hare International Airport.
He began screening children in DuPage County for high cholesterol before childhood obesity became an epidemic, and his research has contributed to current guidelines on cholesterol screening for children. He is also a dedicated mentor, working with local high school students to help inspire the next generation of healthcare professionals.
Dr. Bufalino is currently Chief Advocate Medical Group Officer for Advocate Aurora Health, the tenth largest integrated health system in the nation. He leads the Illinois-based medical group of 2,000 physicians and advanced practice clinicians practicing at 350 sites of care throughout Chicago and central Illinois. He also serves as Senior Medical Director of Advocate Heart Institute. Previously, Dr. Bufalino served as CEO of Midwest Heart Specialists and Chairman of the Midwest Heart Foundation.
Dr. Bufalino is a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology and has been a member of its Quality Committee and chaired its Advocacy Committee. He was a member and eventually chaired the Practicing Physicians Advisory Council (PPAC), advisory to the Secretary of Health and Human Services 2006-2010. In 2015, Dr. Bufalino became a member of the newly created American Board of Internal Medicine's Cardiology Board and was appointed to the Illinois State Board of Health.
A graduate of Loyola University's Stritch School of Medicine, Dr. Bufalino completed his internship and residency at the Foster G. McGaw Hospital of Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood.