Kamel, Yeh receive 2020 Joseph A. Vita Award

Hooman Kamel, MD, MS, of Weill Cornell Medicine, and Robert W. Yeh, MD, MSc, MBA, of Harvard Medical School, received the 2020 Joseph A. Vita Award at Scientific Sessions on Saturday.

Presented annually in honor of the late cardiovascular scientist, the award recognizes research that has had a major impact on cardiovascular biology or cardiovascular health within the last five years. Dr. Vita was the founding editor of the Journal of the American Heart Association.

“The contributions of both Dr. Kamel and Dr. Yeh have substantially advanced our understanding of cardiovascular disease and outcomes that have important implications on patient care,” said AHA President Mitchell S.V. Elkind, MD, MS, FAHA, FAAN. “Dr. Kamel’s research on atrial dysfunction and atrial fibrillation has shed insight into the cause of unexplained stroke, and Dr. Yeh’s work has been instrumental in influencing clinical processes, research procedures and health care policy. We applaud their efforts that have provided continued advances in cardiovascular care.”

Dr. Kamel is the vice chair for research in the Department of Neurology and the director of the Clinical and Translational Neuroscience Unit in the Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City. His research has advanced understanding of novel stroke mechanisms related to cardiovascular disease and atherosclerosis, which have significant implications for stroke prevention.

Dr. Yeh is the director of the Smith Center for Outcomes Research at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and the Katz-Silver Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School in Boston. His work in clinical intervention cardiology, risk modeling and cardiovascular health care policy has influenced clinical care and governmental initiatives to improve patient care.