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Dr. Martin B. Leon, director of the Center for Interventional Vascular Therapy at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center, has been awarded the 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award by the American College of Cardiology (ACC) in honor of his contributions to the field of interventional cardiology — a branch of cardiovascular medicine that uses minimally invasive approaches to treating heart and valve diseases.

“I am honored and incredibly humbled to be recognized by my peers and the ACC with this Lifetime Achievement Award,” said Dr. Leon, who is also professor of medicine at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. “This is less a personal recognition and more a celebration of my team at NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia and their contribution to cardiovascular medicine. I am proud of our transformative impact on patient care.”

The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes an individual who has had a lifetime of outstanding achievements in the field of cardiovascular disease and has served as a role model through service, basic or clinical research and teaching.

“Dr. Leon’s dedication to improving cardiovascular health and enhancing patient care is a testament to his expertise and professionalism,” said Dr. C. Michael Valentine, president of the ACC. “It is a privilege to be able to honor Dr. Leon with the Lifetime Achievement Award and celebrate his tremendous contributions to the cardiovascular field.”

Dr. Leon will be recognized for these achievements at the ACC Convocation, Inauguration and Awards Ceremony on March 18th during the ACC’s 68th Annual Scientific Session in New Orleans.

Dr. Leon, who was previously the director of the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratories at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia, is on the executive board of the NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center Heart Valve Center. He is the founder and Chairman Emeritus of the Cardiovascular Research Foundation, and director of the organization’s annual interventional cardiovascular meeting, Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics. Dr. Leon has served as principal investigator for more than 75 clinical trials that have helped shape the field of interventional cardiovascular medicine. His most recent studies are the PARTNER trials, evaluating the safety and effectiveness of transcatheter valve replacement therapy for patients with aortic stenosis, a common and serious heart disease, which is highly prevalent in the elderly.

Dr. Leon is a globally recognized thought leader and innovator in the development of interventional cardiovascular device and drug therapies, having co-authored more than 2,000 publications and performed more than 10,000 procedures.

Nineteen Distinguished Awards will be presented at the Annual Scientific Session this year, each recognizing an individual who has made outstanding contributions to the field of cardiovascular medicine. Recipients are nominated by their peers and then selected by the American College of Cardiology Awards Committee.

NewYork-Presbyterian

NewYork-Presbyterian is one of the nation’s most comprehensive, integrated academic healthcare delivery systems, whose organizations are dedicated to providing the highest quality, most compassionate care and service to patients in the New York metropolitan area, nationally, and throughout the globe. In collaboration with two renowned medical schools, Weill Cornell Medicine and Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, NewYork-Presbyterian is consistently recognized as a leader in medical education, groundbreaking research and innovative, patient-centered clinical care.

NewYork-Presbyterian has four major divisions:

• NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital is ranked #1 in the New York metropolitan area by U.S. News and World Report and repeatedly named to the Honor Roll of “America’s Best Hospitals.”
• NewYork-Presbyterian Regional Hospital Network comprises hospitals and other facilities in the New York metropolitan region.
• NewYork-Presbyterian Physician Services, which connects medical experts with patients in their communities.
• NewYork-Presbyterian Community and Population Health, encompassing ambulatory care network sites and community healthcare initiatives, including NewYork Quality Care, the Accountable Care Organization jointly established by NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Cornell Medicine and Columbia.

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The American College of Cardiology

The American College of Cardiology envisions a world where innovation and knowledge optimize cardiovascular care and outcomes. As the professional home for the entire cardiovascular care team, the mission of the College and its more than 52,000 members is to transform cardiovascular care and to improve heart health. The ACC bestows credentials upon cardiovascular professionals who meet stringent qualifications and leads in the formation of health policy, standards and guidelines. The College also provides professional medical education, disseminates cardiovascular research through its world-renowned JACC Journals, operates national registries to measure and improve care, and offers cardiovascular accreditation to hospitals and institutions. For more, visit acc.org.