Accolades
February 2012
Distinguished Physicians of the Texas Heart Institute
During the December 2011 meeting of the THI Board of Trustees, Dr. Grady L. Hallman (left) and Dr. George J. Reul (right) were unanimously approved as Distinguished Physicians of the Texas Heart Institute. This distinction recognizes untiring dedication to the eradication of cardiovascular disease, selfless concern for the health and well-being of patients, and generous and exemplary contributions to the advancement of medical science. Previous honorees are Drs. Robert J. Hall, Robert D. Leachman, Arthur S. Keats, Edward B. Singleton, and Denton A. Cooley. Honorees are recognized by plaques in the fifth-floor hallway of the Cooley Building.
February 6, 2012
Dr. James T. Willerson, President and Medical Director of the Texas Heart Institute at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital has earned the honor of being profiled in the February 3, 2012, issue of Circulation Research. Published by the American Heart Association, it is widely considered the most prestigious journal in cardiovascular medicine.
"Jim Willerson is a living legend in cardiovascular medicine," says the editor's preamble to the profile. "He is a splendid epitome of the scholar who has reached the pinnacle in all three facets of the academic triple threat: patient care, research, and education." The profile points out that "[Dr.] Willerson's far-reaching fame is in part due to his research, which has included the elucidation of mechanisms that cause coronary heart disease to convert from stable to unstable, the detection and treatment of vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques, the discovery of genes and proteins responsible for cardiovascular disease, and, more recently, the treatment of heart failure patients with stem cells." Read the full profile.
November 2011
THI's Lei Zhou, MD, PhD, was named one of 5 finalists for the prestigious Cournand and Comroe Young Investigator Prize at this year's American Heart Association scientific sessions. The purpose of the prize is to encourage promising investigators to continue with their research in biomedical sciences.
Zhou presented his work on the use of cell-based prostacyclin gene therapy for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), a progressive disorder characterized by abnormally high blood pressure in the arteries of the lungs, which overloads the right side of the heart and causes death. The prognosis for PAH is similar to cancers; the median survival is less than 3 years. Research has shown that a one-time delivery of the engineered cells offered survival benefit for at least 4 weeks, which may make it a promising option for PAH patients.
Read more in a "Spotlight on Current Research," Wafic Said Molecular Cardiology Research Lab.
October 20, 2011
Health Literacy Innovations honored the THI website with a 3rd place award in the category of Clear Focus Multi-Media for demonstrated commitment to excellence in health literacy in media usability and design. The award recognizes the Heart Information Center online library of health topics as well as Ask a Heart Doctor, Project Heart, and Center for Women's Heart & Vascular Health. View the award certificate (PDF).
September 29, 2011
Best Medical Breakthrough - 2011
The Houston Press "Best of Awards" honored the Defib Task Force with best medical breakthrough 2011 for its Second Chance AED Pads. A group of Rice University bioengineering students (Lisa Jiang, Joanna Nathan, Justin Lin, Carl Nelson and Brad Otto), along with some experts (Texas Heart Institute's Mehdi Razavi and Rice University lecturer Renata Ramos), developed new pads for automated external defibrillators. Read the original Rice University news release, "Unique AED pads give hearts a second chance."
May 12, 2011
Dr. Stephen May was named the Texas Heart Institute's Tauber Outstanding Fellow for the 2010-11 academic year. He was chosen from among the class of third-year fellows by the THI teaching faculty, and is shown receiving the award from Dr. Edward K. Massin, Director of THI's Cardiopulmonary Transplant Division. Stephen has completed postgraduate training at Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Heart Institute at St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital. He served as Chief Medicine Resident at Crawford Long Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia. Dr. May will continue his training by doing an Interventional Cardiology Fellowship at THI at St. Luke's in the coming academic year.
> See past accolades in the archive.
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For media inquiries please contact:
Texas Heart Institute
Frank Michel ♦ 832-355-9510
E-mail: fmichel@heart.thi.tmc.edu
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