NCED History

In 1998, Vince Mosesso, MD, and Paul Paris, MD, emergency physicians and researchers at the University of Pittsburgh, determined there was a need for more extensive access to rapid defibrillation in Western Pennsylvania. They developed a proposal to expand a successful pilot program on the use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) by police officers in Pittsburgh to include all of Allegheny County. They hoped to provide consultation and support to local police departments and other non-traditional providers interested in establishing AED programs. They developed a plan to launch a regional non-profit education and advocacy center, which would provide consultation to local police departments and other non-traditional providers interested in establishing AED programs. They applied to Medtronic/Physio-Control Corporation in Seattle for funding, which forwarded the request to the non-profit foundation with which it is affiliated, The Medtronic Foundation of Minneapolis.

At the same time, Joan Mellor, Director of the HeartRescue Program, an initiative of The Medtronic Foundation supporting AED programs in numerous American metropolitan areas, and Penny Hunt, Executive Director of The Medtronic Foundation, envisioned a national center of excellence dedicated to improving survival from sudden cardiac arrest. The scope of the University's original proposal was expanded and a major grant was awarded to the University of Pittsburgh in late 1999. (Link to NCED sponsors.)

Dr. Mosesso was designated as Medical Director of the new center, and Dr. Paris was designated as Associate Medical Director. Mary Newman, formerly a researcher at Indiana University's Krannert Institute of Cardiology in Indianapolis, was appointed Executive Director. In early 2000, the center of excellence was named the National Center for Early Defibrillation. NCED was officially launched on November 28, 2000.