Ohio State physician named chief of cardiology

Vincent Pompili, M.D.

An interventional cardiologist from The Ohio State University, Vincent Pompili, M.D., has been selected to be professor and chief of the division of cardiology in the UNMC Department of Internal Medicine.

The appointment, which is effective Nov. 1 pending approval of the University of Nebraska Board of Regents, was announced today by Deb Romberger, M.D., the Henry J. Lehnhoff Professor of Internal Medicine and Chairperson of the Department of Internal Medicine.

Dr. Pompili also will be taking on the role of physician dyad leader for the Nebraska Medicine Cardiovascular Clinical Program. Michael Moulton, M.D., was the first physician to serve in this role for Nebraska Medicine. He has recently asked to step down from that position and Dr. Pompili will assume the role.

“We are very excited that he is coming,” Dr. Romberger said. “This is a perfect opportunity for Dr. Pompili to move up to a different leadership role. He’s all in.”

“We are excited to have Dr. Pompili join Nebraska Medicine in this new role,” said Tom Macy, vice president of operations-clinical programs for Nebraska Medicine. “He will be able to continue building on the work that Dr. Moulton has started. Dr. Pompili brings experience from a large academic medical center that will help guide us into the future.”

Dr. Pompili will succeed John Windle, M.D., who has been chief of the division of cardiology since 2000.

Dr. Romberger had high praise for the outgoing chief. She said, “We are grateful for how Dr. Windle has built cardiology to the point that we could recruit someone like Dr. Pompili.”

“I had never been to Nebraska before I made my visit. I was pleasantly surprised,” Dr. Pompili said. “I felt great energy and excitement with everyone I met.”

Ohio State’s cardiology program is quite large and even has its own heart hospital. This experience will be very beneficial to Dr. Pompili, said Dr. Moulton, who is professor and chief of the division of cardiothoracic surgery.

“Dr. Pompili has a very deep understanding of what it takes to have a world-class cardiovascular program in 2016,” Dr. Moulton said. “He has demonstrated leadership in growing a strong clinical program at Ohio State, and he understands the importance of research to the academic mission. He will be a tremendous addition to UNMC and Nebraska Medicine.”

Dr. Pompili hopes to recruit 10 clinicians and physician-scientists to the division of cardiology, which now includes 23 cardiologists.

He said his ultimate goal will be to create a heart and vascular institute that will unify the divisions of cardiology, cardiovascular surgery, vascular surgery and cardiovascular research.

“There is definitely enthusiasm about unifying the cardiovascular programs,” Dr. Pompili said. “I’m committed to making this work. The time is right for this to occur.”

Dr. Romberger praised Dr. Pompili for his vision, but recognizes that it could likely take five-to-seven years for the heart and vascular institute to become a reality.

What others are saying:

“Dr. Pompili has solid experience growing a cardiology interventional program and has articulated an exciting vision of a UNMC cardiovascular center that will support patient care and translational research. Vince is a welcome addition to our internal medicine department leadership team and, as a fellow division director, I really look forward to working with him.”

-Joe Sisson, M.D., professor, internal medicine and director of the pulmonary medicine division, and head of the search committee for the cardiology chief position