Biography
Dr Blankenship received an AB magna cum laude in biochemistry from Cornell University School of Arts and Sciences in 1976, an MD from Cornell University Medical College in 1980, and a masters of health care management from Harvard University School of Public Health in 2014. He completed residency in internal medicine and a fellowship in cardiology at the University of Michigan 1980-1987. He worked as an interventional cardiologist for Geisinger Health System until 2020 where he served as catheterization laboratory director for 20 years, as director of cardiology at Geisinger Medical Center for 10 years, and as chair of cardiology for Geisinger Health System for 3 years. He served as president of the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (2015-2016) and has represented the American College of Cardiology on the AMA's Relative Value Update Committee for 20 years. He has summitted Rainier, Kilimanjaro, Aconcagua, and Mardi Himal base camp with his children and, most importantly, helped his wife of 36 years raise 3 great kids.
Personal Statement
I chose medicine as a profession after realizing that life in a basic science lab, for a person of middling intellect, would likely contribute little to society. Practicing medicine is aligned with the teachings of Christ, is a chance to make a difference in others' lives, and is endlessly fascinating. Interventional cardiology in particular is a wonderful specialty - a person can come to you writhing in pain from a heart attack convinced they are dying, and half an hour later be wheeled to their room joking and asking when they can go home.
Clinical research has been a spare-time hobby. Socrates said "The unexamined life is not worth living" and same can be said for a medical practice. Research is a way to investigate the medical world in which we live and is always stimulating and fascinating. And occasionally one may discover something that will advance the science of medicine or even save a life - quite a thrill.
Teaching is the third leg of the compleat physician's tripod. Helping another person to accomplish their goals and to become a healer is a task similar in worth to healing patients or making new discoveries. As a physician's knowledge and experience increases over a lifetime, the obligation to pass on that knowledge and experience also increases. In the end, the greatest legacy a physician can leave behind at the end of a career is those he/she has taught.
Areas of Specialty
General Interventional Cardiology (STEMI systems of care, radial access)
Economics of Interventional Cardiology
Psychological biases in cardiology
Leadership in medicine
Medical coding and reimbursement
Certifications
American Board of Internal Medicine 1984 (lifetime) ABIM Cardiovascular Diseases 1987 (lifetime) ABIM Interventional Cardiology 1999, 2009, 2019 Certified Physician Investigator (Ass of Clinical Research Professionals (2008-2022)
Achievements & Awards
Prof of Medicine, Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine, Scranton, PA (2020-)
Prof of Medicine (adjunct), Temple University Medical College, Philadelphia, PA (2008-2020)
Professor of Medicine, Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, PA (2000-2008)
Prof of Medicine, Hershey Med College of Penn State University, Hershey, PA (1998-2000)
Founding Director, ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction Program of Central and Northeast PA (2005-2017)
Founding Director, Geisinger Health System Interventional Cardiology Fellowship Program (1999-2006)
Founding Director, Evangelical Hospital (Lewisburg PA) STEMI Program (2011-2014)
Served on or led 19 medical mission trips to central and South America (1984-2018)
Named "Master Interventionalist" by Soc for CV Angiography and Interventions (2016)
Named "Master of the American College of Cardiology" (2011)
Over 200 publications, over 100 national-level abstracts, and site principal investigator for over 60 multi-center research studies
Gender
Male
Languages
- Spanish
Research and Scholarship
Blankenship JC, Choi JW, Das TS, McElgunn PM, Mukherjee D, Paxton LL, Piana R, Sauer JR, White CJ, Duffy PL. SCAI/ACVP expert consensus statement on cardiovascular catheterization laboratory economics. Cathet Cardiovasc Intervent 2019.
Blankenship JC, Duffy P. The value of specialty designation for interventional cardiology. Cathet Cardiovasc Intervent 2016;89:97-101. doi/10.1002/ccd.26656/epdf.
Levine GN, O’Gara PT, Bates ER, Blankenship JC, et al. 2015 focused update on primary PCI for patients with STEMI: an update of the 2011 ACCF/AHA/SCAI guideline for percutaneous coronary intervention and the 2013 ACCF/AHA guideline for the management of ST-elevation myocardial infarction: a report of the American College of Cardiology Foundation/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines and the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions. J Am Coll Cardiol 2015.
Blankenship JC, Feldman B, Ranaweera P, Dent J, Huang X, Singer S. The interventional cardiologist as cath lab team leader. J Inv Cardiol 2015;27:E98-105.
Blankenship JC, Scott TD, Skelding KA, Haldis TA, Tompkins-Weber K, Sledgen MY, Donegan MA, Buckley JW, Sartorius JA, Hodgson JMcB, Berger PB. Door-to balloon times under 90 min can be routinely achieved for patient’s transferred for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction percutaneous coronary intervention in a rural setting. J Am Coll Cardiol 2011;47:272-281.