Centers of Excellence
COSEHQ has integrated a network of community clinical practices known as Centers of Excellence™.
Our diverse Centers of Excellence are located across the Southeast Region. These Centers of Excellence, are high-performing practices that have achieved defined performance benchmarks in the management of cardiovascular risk factors. Centers of Excellence have the opportunity to participate in COSEHQ sponsored education, projects, peer-led best practices, and studies/research.

Current Centers of Excellence
Apex, NC
Physician Lead: Brian Forrest, MD
Greensboro, NC
Physician Lead: Veita Bland, MD
Cary Healthcare Associates, PA
Cary, NC
Physician Lead: Mazen Hamad, MD
Memphis, TN
Physician Lead: Pedro Velasquez-Mieyer, MD
Danville, VA
Physician Lead: Pradeep Pradhan, MD
Darlington, SC
Physician Lead: Alexander Cohen, MD
Hattiesburg, MS
Physician Lead: Bryan Batson, MD
Florence, SC
Physician Lead: Steve Ross, MD
John A. Martin Primary Health Care
Winnsboro, SC
Physician Lead: Mark Shaffer, MD
Palmetto Primary Care Physicians
North Charleston, SC
Physician Lead: Colby Grossman, MD
Spartanburg, SC
Physician Lead: Nick Ulmer, MD
Affiliate Practices
Practices that do not meet Centers of Excellence criteria but wish to be involved with COSEHQ benefitting from access to CME activities, website communications, peer learnings, and potential research involvement.

Nassau, Bahamas
Physician Lead-Conville Brown, MD
Clearwater, Florida
Lead-Jane Rainsford, NP
Augusta, GA
Physician Lead: Mathew Crim, MD
Nashville, TN
Physician Lead: Mark Houston, MD
Norfolk, VA
Physician Lead: Charles Lovell, MD
St. Lucia, W.I.
Physician Lead: Martin Didier, MD
University of West Indies – Cave Hill Barbados
Bridgetown, Barbados
Lead: Damien Cohall, PhD
Dayton, OH
Lead: John McAlearney, PhD
Centers of Excellence Criteria
Centers of Excellence must:
Achieve at least a 65% population-based performance on no less than 2 of the 3 metrics to the defined prevailing goals:
- Lipids Target Goal—LDL less than 100 mg/dL or statin use for diabetes and/or high-risk patients
- Blood pressure—140/90 mmHg; with a goal to move to 130/80mmHg and achieve a 50% control rate by the end of 2021
- Diabetes—ADA recommended target goals of A1c < 8%
Submit clinical data to COSEHQ database quarterly or provide a quarterly EHR generated data report demonstrating performance of target goals listed in point one above.
Attend annual COSEHQ Education Meetings
Engage in Clinical/Community Improvement Activity
Summit Centers’ Annual Report (template to be provided)