Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation (SCAF) is pleased to announce the establishment of its Southern California Chapter, based in Los Angeles. SCAF-SoCal will be led by Stephen Sanko, MD, FACEP, FAEMS, and Allison Gingold, Esq. Dr. Sanko is Assistant Professor of Clinical Emergency Medicine, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, and Assistant Medical Director of the Los Angeles Fire Department. Ms. Gingold is a long-time SCAF volunteer whose son, Zach Gingold, survived cardiac arrest in 2009 when he was 14.
SCAF-SoCal aims to work with 911 provider agencies, hospitals, and community leaders, form support groups for survivors and family members following out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, and promote bystander CPR, particularly in underserved communities.
Henry Jampel, MD, MHS, Johns Hopkins University Professor of Ophthalmology and Chair of the SCAF Board of Directors—who is also an SCA survivor—applauds the development, which will strengthen SCAF’s mission and expand its reach. “Under the direction of Dr. Sanko, a renowned emergency medicine physician, and Ms. Gingold, a passionate advocate for increasing survival from cardiac arrest, the new Southern California chapter is sure to advance our mission.”