Leadership
COAP Medical Director
Ravi Hira, MD, FACC, FAHA, FSCAI is an Interventional Cardiologist with MultiCare Pulse Heart Institute in Auburn, Tacoma and Puyallup. He is interested in the treatment of complex coronary disease and quality of care and outcomes research. He believes that care of all patients improves when we share best practices and opportunities across programs and institutions.
Executive Director Clinical Programs
Kristin Sitcov has been with the Foundation for Health Care Quality for almost 20 years – developing, implementing and overseeing the various clinical quality improvement programs that operate under the auspices of FHCQ. Currently in her role, she works directly with the members and leadership of both the Cardiac and Obstetrical COAP’s and coordinates the work across FHCQ’s suite of maternal health programs including the Community Birth Data Registry and Smooth Transitions.
Kristin earned a degree in Nutrition from Washington State University, working for many years as a registered dietitian in both clinical and behavioral health and with the American Heart Association as Senior Director of State Health Alliances and Community Health.
COAP’s physician-led Management Committee is made up of cardiologists, cardiac surgeons, nurses, quality improvement professionals and hospital administrators from across Washington and Oregon.
The committee is supported by COAP Advisors representing additional health care stakeholders, including Washington Health Care Authority, Center for Medicare Services, and private payers, and by several working subcommittees. Subcommittee membership is open to health care providers and stakeholders from across the region. COAP encourages broad participation to ensure that a diverse range of input and expertise goes into shaping the region’s direction.
Management Committee
Aaron Holm, COAP Patient Representative
Founder and President
Mended Hearts of Puget Sound
Seattle, WA
Ashok Venkataraman, MD
Cardiovascular Surgeon
PeaceHealth Sacred Heart
Springfield, OR
Daniel Mumme, MD
Cardiovascular Surgeon
Multicare Tacoma General Hospital
Tacoma, WA
Drew Baldwin, MD
Interventional Cardiologist, Director of Quality
Virginia Mason Medical Center
Seattle, WA
Eric J. Lehr, MD, PhD, FRCSC (Chair)
Cardiovascular Surgeon
Swedish Medical Center
Seattle, WA
Gautam Nayak, MD
Cardiologist
Kittitas Valley Health
Ellensburg, WA
Jacob Doll, MD (Chair)
Staff Cardiologist, Acting Assistant Professor
VA Puget Sound Health Systems. UW
Seattle, WA
John Peterson, MD
Cardiac Surgeon
Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center
Spokane, WA
Kirill Gelfenbeyn, MD
Cardiothoracic Anesthesiologist
St. Michael Medical Center
Silverdale, WA
Lara Oyetunji, MD, MPH
Cardiovascular Surgeon
University of Washington Medical Center
Seattle, WA
J. Richard Goss, MD, MPH
Director, Quality Improvement; Medical Director
Harborview Medical Center
Seattle, WA
Sarah Speck, MD, MPH (Vice-Chair)
Cardiologist
Swedish Heart and Vascular Institute
Seattle, WA
Tariq Salam, MD, FACC, FHRS
Electrophysiologist, Medical Director, Heart Rhythm Services
Multicare Health System
Tacoma, WA
Theodore Koutlas, MD
Cardiovascular Surgeon
Providence Sacred Heart
Spokane, WA
COAP Advisors
Ashby Wolfe, MD, MPH, MPP
Chief Medical Officer
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid
Seattle, WA
Ginny Weir, MPH
Chief Executive Officer
Foundation for Health Care Quality
Seattle, WA
Jeanna Blitz
Noridian Contractor Medical Director, WA State (among others)
Noridian Healthcare Solutions, LLC
Alexandria, VA
Judy Zerzan, MD, MPH
Chief Medical Officer
Washington State Health Care Authority
Olympia, WA
Richard W. Whitten, MD, MBA, FACP
Contractor Medical Director, VP Health Policy
Noridian Healthcare Solutions
Fargo, ND
Zeila Schmidt
Data Analyst
ARMUS by Health Catalyst (data partner)
San Mateo, CA
Staff
Ravi Hira, MD
Interventional Cardiologist
COAP Medical Director
Seattle, WA
Chuck Maynard, PhD
Research Professor Emeritus; COAP Statistician
University of Washington
Seattle, WA
Kristin Sitcov
Executive Director Clinical Programs
Foundation for Health Care Quality
Seattle, WA
Felicidad Smith, MPH
COAP Manager
Foundation for Health Care Quality
Seattle, WA
Vickie Kolios Morris MSHSA, CPHQ
Senior Program Director
Foundation for Health Care Quality
Seattle, WA
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