Curated News
By: NewsRamp Editorial Staff
September 17, 2025
Penn Professor Wins Top Heart Research Prize for Self-Care Breakthroughs
TLDR
- Dr. Riegel's Self-Care of Heart Failure Index provides clinicians and researchers with a standardized advantage for measuring and improving patient outcomes in chronic disease management.
- Dr. Riegel developed the Self-Care of Heart Failure Index through rigorous psychometric testing to measure treatment adherence, condition monitoring, and symptom self-management in patients.
- Dr. Riegel's self-care research bridges patient experiences with clinical care, improving lives worldwide for those with chronic illnesses and their caregivers.
- Dr. Barbara Riegel will receive the 2025 Clinical Research Prize for pioneering self-care science that has transformed chronic disease management globally.
Impact - Why it Matters
Dr. Riegel's research directly impacts millions living with chronic conditions by developing practical self-care strategies that patients can implement daily. Her work empowers individuals to better manage their health, reduces hospitalizations, and improves quality of life. The recognition of self-care science validates its importance in healthcare, potentially influencing insurance coverage, medical training, and treatment protocols worldwide. For caregivers, her virtual coaching interventions provide crucial support systems, addressing the often-overlooked stress of caring for chronically ill loved ones.
Summary
Dr. Barbara Riegel, Emerita Edith Clemmer Steinbright Professor of Gerontology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, will receive the American Heart Association's prestigious 2025 Clinical Research Prize at the Scientific Sessions 2025 in New Orleans this November. The award recognizes her groundbreaking work in self-care research for chronic illnesses, particularly cardiovascular disease, where she has developed internationally recognized tools like the Self-Care of Heart Failure Index that have become global standards in clinical practice and research.
As a senior research scientist at VNS Health's Center for Home Care Policy & Research and co-director of the International Center for Self-Care Research affiliated with Linkoping University in Sweden, Dr. Riegel has spent decades bridging the gap between patient experiences and clinical care. Her research focuses on treatment adherence, condition monitoring, and symptom self-management, with recent work expanding to support caregivers through virtual health coaching interventions. With over 400 peer-reviewed publications and numerous previous awards, including the Heart Association's Distinguished Scientist Award, her work has transformed how healthcare professionals approach chronic disease management worldwide.
The American Heart Association, through platforms like NEWMEDIAWIRE and their official channels, highlights Dr. Riegel as a driving force in redefining chronic disease care. According to Dr. Stacey E. Rosen, the Association's 2025-2026 volunteer president, Riegel's pioneering research is shaping care models globally and improving lives for both patients and caregivers. The recognition ceremony will occur during the Presidential Session on November 9, 2025, at one of the world's premier cardiovascular science gatherings.
Source Statement
This curated news summary relied on content disributed by NewMediaWire. Read the original source here, Penn Professor Wins Top Heart Research Prize for Self-Care Breakthroughs
