American College of Cardiology Honors Two Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute Physicians Skip to main content Close Select your preferred language English عربى 简体中文 繁體中文 فارسي עִברִית 日本語 한국어 Русский Español Tagalog Menu Close Call 1-800-CEDARS-1 toggle search form Close 19 March 2012 02:00 AM America/Los_Angeles American College of Cardiology Honors Two Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute Physicians Los Angeles - March 19, 2012 -Two physicians from the Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute will receive the American College of Cardiology’s highest honors for scientific research and clinical care during the organization’s upcoming annual scientific meeting in Chicago.Prediman K. Shah, MD, Director of the Cardiology Division, best known for his work to develop  a mutant gene-based therapy for reversing arterial plaque as well as his research on a possible  cholesterol vaccine against heart disease, will receive the Distinguished Scientist (Basic Domain) Award.  C. Noel Bairey Merz, MD, Director of the Women’s Heart Center and a pioneer in identifying gender differences in heart disease, will receive the Distinguished Scientist (Clinical Domain) Award.  P.K.Shah, MD C. Noel Bairey Merz, MD “It is a remarkable achievement for two of our faculty members to earn this honor in the same year,” said Eduardo Marbán, MD, PhD, the Mark S. Siegel Family Professor and director of the Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute.  “For years, both Dr. Shah and Dr. Bairey Merz have been on the leading edge of cardiology and to have recognition of this magnitude by one’s peers is the greatest honor for any doctor.”David R. Holmes Jr., MD, president of the American College of Cardiology, said: “Dr. Shah and Dr. Bairey Merz have each made tremendous scientific contributions to advancing our knowledge of cardiovascular disease.  “A pioneer in the field of women’s cardiovascular health, Dr. Bairey Merz’s research has transformed the way clinicians view and treat ischemic heart disease in women. Dr. Shah is an outstanding clinical cardiologist and a laboratory scientist who is unparalleled in his ability to bring relevant basic science to the bedside. The College is honored to be able to add these two doctors to the list of Distinguished Awards recipients.”The ACC Distinguished Awards were established to recognize outstanding individuals making contributions to cardiology.   Each candidate is nominated by a fellow College member.   Bairey Merz and Shah will receive their awards during the College’s Annual Scientific Session scheduled for March 24 –27.During the Scientific Session, Shah, the Shapell and Webb Family Chair in Clinical Cardiology, will present his work on developing a gene therapy to lower LDL (commonly known as “bad” cholesterol) and raise HDL cholesterol levels.Bairey Merz, the Women’s Guild Chair in Women’s Health, also will make several presentations at the meeting, including a symposium, “Treating Women and Men:  What’s Different and What’s the Same?”Recently, the Congress on Women’s Health honored Bairey Merz with the Journal of Women’s Health Award for Outstanding Achievement in Women’s Health Research.   About the Cedars-Sinai Heart InstituteThe Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute is internationally recognized for outstanding heart care built on decades of innovation and leading-edge research. From cardiac imaging and advanced diagnostics to surgical repair of complex heart problems to the training of the heart specialists of tomorrow and research that is deepening medical knowledge and practice, the Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute is known around the world for excellence and innovations. Share this release American College of Cardiology Honors Two Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute Physicians Share on: Twitter Share on: Facebook Share on: LinkedIn Search Our Newsroom Social media Visit our Facebook page (opens in new window) Follow us on Twitter (opens in new window) Visit our Youtube profile (opens in new window) (opens in new window) Latest news 07 Oct 2022 - HealthDay: Black Women Less Likely to Get Laparoscopic Fibroid Surgeries 07 Oct 2022 - Faculty Publications: Sept. 29-Oct. 6 07 Oct 2022 - Fine-Tuning Organ-Chip Technology 06 Oct 2022 - KCRW: Want New Omicron Booster? Wait at Least 2 Months After Last Shot 05 Oct 2022 - Cedars-Sinai Schedules Free Flu Vaccine Clinics 04 Oct 2022 - Cedars-Sinai Showcases Hispanic and Latinx Art Newsroom Home