Patrick O’Gara

O’Gara Appointed Watkins Family Distinguished Chair of Cardiology

Patrick T. O’Gara, MD, director of Strategic Planning for the Cardiovascular Division at BWH, has been appointed the inaugural Watkins Family Distinguished Chair in Cardiology. An event honoring O’Gara was held at BWH on Sept. 22.

After receiving his medical degree from Northwestern University Medical School, O’Gara completed his internal medicine residency at Massachusetts General Hospital, followed by fellowships at MGH and the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute in the National Institutes of Health. He is board certified in both internal medicine and cardiovascular medicine.

O’Gara, a renowned cardiologist, has been recognized as one of the Top Doctors in Boston and the U.S. annually since 2001 by organizations including Castle Connolly and Boston Magazine. His clinical interests focus on valvular and other structural heart diseases, aortic disease and complex coronary artery disease. As the inaugural director of the Watkins Clinic Outpatient Services, he established a new, integrated care model for ambulatory patients with cardiovascular disorders.

O’Gara has lectured widely and authored or co-authored over 240 publications. He served as the president of the American College of Cardiology in 2014–15, and currently serves as the Steering Committee co-chair of the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute’s Cardiothoracic Surgery Network. In addition, O’Gara is the associate editor of JAMA Cardiology and is a member of the editorial boards of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology and Circulation.

Dorothy Goulart

Goulart Retires from Analytics, Planning and Process Improvement

Dorothy Goulart, MS, RN, BWH director of Process Improvement for Analytics, Planning and Process Improvement (APPI), retired in September.

BWH’s process improvement team started in 1996 as Systems Improvement, where Goulart was one of four facilitators for process improvement and team facilitation. The goal of Process Improvement has been to assist BWH in achieving its strategic goals and implementing process improvement.

Over almost four decades at BWH, Goulart has worked with most of the hospital’s various departments, inpatient units, ambulatory practices and community health centers through improvement projects, training and coaching.

“I have been blessed with the opportunity to learn from all of the patients, families, clinicians and staff that I’ve interacted with over the years,” she said. “It has been a privilege to be a part of the Brigham family.”

Susan Wheeler

Wheeler Leaves BWHC After a Decade in Finance

After 10 years of dedicated service, Susan Wheeler, MBA, vice president of Finance and Revenue Cycle, decided to leave Brigham; her last day was Oct. 1.

Wheeler first joined the BWHC Finance Department in 2006 as a budget director before being promoted to vice president in 2013. She also served as the interim BWHC chief financial officer for several months after Michael Reney joined Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Prior to joining the Brigham, she held leadership financial positions at Newton-Wellesley Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital.

“We are deeply appreciative of Susan’s contributions and achievements on behalf of the institution, and we wish her all the best,” said Chris Dunleavy, MBA, CPA, chief financial officer at BWHC.

Wheeler earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration and an MBA from Bryant College.