Federico Alfaro MD organized the first pacemaker bank through the Club Rotario de la Asuncion, Guatemala City, Guatemala.

Henry D. Mcintosh, MD, FACC, Chairman of the Department of Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, learned of the program during a visit with his former student, Federico Alfaro, MD.

Mr. Eddie Carrette learned of the pacemaker bank program while attending a Rotary meeting in Guatemala. He recalled that he had a college classmate named Allen Webb who worked for Intermedics, Inc., a pacemaker manufacturer. Mr. Carrette contacted Allen Webb suggesting that he persuade his company to donate some new pacemakers to this worthwhile project of helping poor people in Central America.

Mr. Webb convinced the corporate leadership of Intermedics to support the program through a donation of pacemakers. That first gift was 486 new pacemakers and several endocardial pacing electrodes.

Carlos Conseco, MD, the President of Rotary International, pledged support for the program and subsequently stimulated a large 3H grant of $250,000 for the purchase of endocardial pacing electrodes, necessary for connecting the pacemakers to patients’ hearts.

Rotary International President Herbert Brown played a critical role in moving the grant through the Rotary channels to approval.

Recognizing the necessity of continuing education for participating pacemaker bank physicians, Dr. Mcintosh requested and received support of the American College of Cardiology (ACC).

October 18, 1984 Heartbeat International World Wide (HBIWW) was born and operated at the Watson Clinic in Lakeland, Florida as a cooperative effort of:
• The Watson Clinic, Lakeland, FL
• Rotary International, Evanston, IL
• Representatives of the American pacemaker industry
• Consultative support of the American College of Cardiology

Heartbeat International World Wide initiated a program to bring doctors from the pacemaker banks around the world to an annual workshop devoted to continuing education and training in electrical problems of the heart and other current state of the heart topics in cardiovascular disease.

Sixteen months after the birth of heartbeat international world wide, sixteen pacemaker banks were established and operating in:
Guatemala, Trinidad, Honduras, Jamaica, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Panama, Barbados, The Dominican Republic, Colombia, Ecuador, Philippines, Thailand, India, Venezuela, and Mainland China.

On June 18, 1986, Heartbeat International World Wide, along with 99 other organizations nationwide, was recognized by President Ronald Reagan at the white house and awarded a presidential citation. This recognition was a part of a program that President Reagan established to stimulate private sector initiatives.

Rotary Clubs around the world learned of Heartbeat International’s humanitarian efforts and sought approval to provide the same to the poor people in their communities. The number of pacemaker banks expanded to 25.

A 93 year old Chilean patient becomes the oldest to receive a HBI pacemaker.

September 15, 1992 - Henry D. Mcintosh MD and Benedict S. Maniscalco, MD agree to move and operate Heartbeat International World Wide to St. Joseph's Heart Institute, Tampa, FL. Wil Mick becomes the executive director.

Inventory donations slowed to levels inadequate to supply devices to all existing pacemaker banks. The Board of Directors discussed the concept of securing used devices and resterilizing them to restore adequate inventory levels. Inventory donations from the pacemaker industry would double the following year.

An off shores storage facility was established at the Mount Alvernia Convent in Montego Bay, Jamaica under the watchful guidance of Sister William Margaret Young. The storage facility houses pacemakers until directed to ship such devices to a pacemaker bank.

November 30, 1993 - Jim Smith, the Secretary for the State of Florida approved Heartbeat International’s registration to become a Florida corporation. Previously, Heartbeat International had existed under the corporate umbrellas of the Watson Clinic and later St. Joseph’s Hospital.

St. Joseph’s Hospital, under economic pressures secondary to the implementation of the DRG payment system, provided a modest grant to Heartbeat International and asked the organization to leave.

Heartbeat International moves to new facilities under the management of Mick and Associates.

The Arnold Zohn Pacemaker Bank in Chengdu, China opened the Heartbeat International training center. The objective of the center is to train physicians working in the fields of cardiovascular diseases in counties and cities of the Sichuan province. Medtronic was instrumental in establishing this important center.

August 14, 1995, Heartbeat International World Wide applies for and is approved as a 501c3 tax exempt organization from the internal revenue service. Coupled with the 1993 incorporation, HBI was now prepared to determine its own destiny.

The family of HBI pacemaker banks grew to 34 in 23 countries with the newest banks established in Buenos Aires, Argentina and Nairobi, Kenya.

At two days of age Jose Alirio Perez, Medellin, Colombia, became the youngest patient to receive a donated HBI pacemaker and medical care.

Heartbeat International was accepted as a member of the Independent Charities of America (ICA), an umbrella organization that previews and approves nonprofit organizations as candidates for government employee and military personnel donations. ICA is sometimes referred to as the United Way for government employees.

Heartbeat International WORLD WIDE initiates the Henry D. Mcintosh Fellowship Society in November 1999. The initiative was begun by Ramon Cumagun of the Lipa City, Philippines Pacemaker Bank. The purpose of the program IS to: honor and recognize the founder of Heartbeat International; establish an ongoing mechanism to facilitate a sustainable financial future for Heartbeat International; and to engender expanded involvement and membership in Heartbeat International.

A relationship established with the North American Society of Pacing and Electrophysiology (NASPE) resulted in that organization establishing a benevolent fund. Heartbeat International was the first recipient of that fund accepting a $2,500 donation in December 1999 and February 2000. As part of that relationship the immediate Past President of NASPE was the designated representative to the Heartbeat International Board of Directors.

Heartbeat International celebrated its 5,000th pacemaker implant. New pacemaker banks for the first time entered eastern block countries with pacemaker banks in Lithuania, Romania and Russia. The Heartbeat International organization now stood at 41 pacemaker banks in 27 countries.

The Heartbeat International Board of Directors adopted a policy of constrained growth and requires a membership fee from all participating pacemaker banks to help defray operating costs. Sponsorship of pacemaker banks from U.S. Based rotary clubs are solicited and obtained for new operations.

The American College of Cardiology (ACC) contributed a $10,000 grant to support Heartbeat International educational programming.

Three new pacemaker banks established under the new “sponsorship” guidelines. Two of the new pacemaker banks were sponsored by U.S. based Rotary Clubs.

Heartbeat International implants 6,000th pacemaker.

Benedict S. Maniscalco, MD, FACC, becomes Heartbeat International Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. The board of directors is expanded with leaders of the Tampa, national, and international community.

A study is launched to determine the new direction and structure of the organization. This process continues throughout 2003 and 2004.

Benedict S. Maniscalco, MD and Wil Mick traveled to Guatemala to meet with Federico Alfaro. Later in 2005 the three would travel to pacemaker banks in Colombia, Costa Rica, and Panama. The information gleaned from these trips leads to a restructure of the organization and its operations.

Benedict S. Maniscalco, MD, and Wil Mick meet with the leadership of the pacemaker manufacturer companies to seek their advice, counsel, and financial support for future sustainable operations. Stronger ties with these strategic and supportive partners are forged. Funding is provided and plans implemented for future growth and success.

New criteria are required for an applicant to participate in the mission of Heartbeat International and existing operating units are given two years to complete the transition to the new model.

The number of pacemaker banks was reduced from 46 to 32 as a result of the restructure. Pacemaker banks are now independent organizations with independent governance complying with the policies of the international organization, heartbeat international world wide. The first countries to achieve the transition are Mexico and Venezuela. Heartbeat international of Mexico and heartbeat international of Venezuela now operate in their respective countries.

Heartbeat International receives a $300,000 grant, and begins recruiting a professional development professional.

Heartbeat International saves its 9,000th life. Karachi, Pakistan becomes the newest pacemaker bank.

Management creates a new organization, Heartbeat International Foundation, Inc. As a “public” tax exempt 501© 3. The foundation will expand the number of implant centers, create awareness in the U.S., and raise funds to support the future of the organization.

The original Heartbeat International (Heartbeat International World Wide) continues to receive pacemakers from the pacemaker industry and distribute to the global family of pacemaker banks (implant centers).

2008 Heartbeat International established new pacemaker banks in:
• Pedro San Sula, Honduras
• Tegucigalpa, Honduras (2nd implant center in the city)
• Cotonou, Benin
• Abidjan, Cote d’Iviorie

Heartbeat International adopts and creates a new strategic direction with the concept of heartbeat global movement. Strategic partnerships and alliances are forged to provide a greater compendium of cardiovascular services to the indigent populations served by Heartbeat International. New logo and brands are launched and the latest communication tools and fundraising methods are employed to spread the word of the mission of Heartbeat International around the globe.