Curated News
By: NewsRamp Editorial Staff
October 08, 2025
UT Southwestern Cardiologist Wins Prestigious Heart Association Chairman's Award
TLDR
- Dr. Amit Khera's recognition by the American Heart Association highlights his leadership advantage in preventive cardiology and innovative cardiovascular risk assessment tools.
- Dr. Khera developed the Astro-CHARM calculator for NASA to systematically screen astronauts and leads studies using blood donation systems to identify familial hypercholesterolemia.
- Dr. Khera's preventive cardiology work and leadership at the American Heart Association advance cardiovascular health worldwide, creating a healthier future for all communities.
- A cardiologist who created NASA's astronaut heart risk calculator now receives top honors for transforming preventive care through groundbreaking research and education.
Impact - Why it Matters
This recognition highlights the critical importance of preventive cardiology in addressing cardiovascular disease, which remains the leading cause of death worldwide. Dr. Khera's work directly impacts public health through improved risk assessment tools, innovative screening methods, and evidence-based guidelines that help prevent heart attacks and strokes. His development of the Astro-CHARM calculator for NASA demonstrates how cardiovascular research benefits both space exploration and terrestrial medicine, while his FH screening through blood donation systems represents a practical approach to identifying genetic heart conditions in the general population. The award underscores how dedicated physician-scientists are advancing cardiovascular care through both clinical practice and organizational leadership, ultimately leading to better prevention strategies and treatment outcomes for millions affected by heart disease.
Summary
Dr. Amit Khera, a distinguished preventive cardiologist and clinical chief of cardiology at UT Southwestern Medical Center, will receive the prestigious 2025 Chairman's Award from the American Heart Association during their Scientific Sessions in New Orleans this November. The award recognizes Dr. Khera's exceptional contributions to cardiovascular medicine and his transformative leadership within the organization, particularly his instrumental role in strengthening the annual Scientific Sessions as chair in 2023 and 2024, and as vice chair in previous years. His work with the Scientific Sessions Program Committee fostered greater collaboration among the Association's councils to deliver multidisciplinary educational content appealing to diverse healthcare professionals and scientists.
Dr. Khera's groundbreaking career has revolutionized preventive cardiology through significant clinical studies, including impactful observations from the Dallas Heart Study on coronary artery calcium scanning applications. His innovative research extends to developing the Astro-CHARM calculator for NASA to screen astronauts for heart disease risks and leading a novel study using blood donation systems to screen for familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). As co-director of the Familial Hypercholesterolemia Clinic and holder of the Dallas Heart Ball Chair in Hypertension and Heart Disease, Dr. Khera has authored over 250 peer-reviewed publications and contributed to major guidelines like the "2019 ACC/AHA Guideline on the Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease." His work through NEWMEDIAWIRE highlights his commitment to advancing cardiovascular health through both clinical practice and research innovation.
Beyond his research achievements, Dr. Khera has demonstrated remarkable organizational leadership as past volunteer president of the Association's Dallas and Southwest Region Board of Directors and as an integral member of the Cardiovascular Kidney-Metabolic Health Scientific Advisory Group. His educational contributions include founding UT Southwestern's Preventive Cardiology program, shaping the Cardiology Fellowship Program for 15 years, and serving as associate editor for Circulation and the American Journal of Preventive Cardiology. According to Lee A. Shapiro, J.D., the 2025-2026 volunteer chairperson, Dr. Khera's "tireless efforts" and "remarkable leadership" have significantly enhanced both the Association and its flagship Scientific Sessions, making this recognition particularly well-deserved for his decades of dedication to cardiovascular disease prevention and education.
Source Statement
This curated news summary relied on content disributed by NewMediaWire. Read the original source here, UT Southwestern Cardiologist Wins Prestigious Heart Association Chairman's Award
