Jeffery Allen Towbin, MD, MS, FACC
Memphis, TN

2025 Lifetime Achievement

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Acceptance Video

With a career spanning over four decades, Towbin stands as one of the most distinguished leaders in pediatric cardiology, earning global recognition for his pioneering work in cardiac genetics, pediatric heart failure and transplantation. He has amassed an outstanding portfolio of contributions to the profession, including nearly 600 peer-reviewed publications, 102 book chapters and 10 edited books. He is a dedicated mentor, educator and a leader of major cardiology programs at Texas Children's Hospital, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and Le Bonheur Children's Hospital.

Mary Norine Walsh, MD, MACC
Indianapolis, IN

2025 Pamela S. Douglas Award for Diversity and Inclusion

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Acceptance Video

Through her practice, Walsh has advocated for equitable patient care, universal quality improvement, science, research, mentorship and education – effectively demonstrating how diverse care teams lead to the best outcomes and highest value in cardiovascular care. She has served as a former ACC President and co-chair of the ACC Diversity and Inclusion Task Force, championing leadership development programs to engage individuals from diverse backgrounds. Her intellect, determination and leadership, as well as her absolute commitment to her patients, exemplify the core principles of this award.

Brittany Weber, MD, PhD, FACC
Dedham, MA

2025 Douglas P. Zipes Distinguished Young Scientist

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Acceptance Video

Weber is a pioneer in the field of cardiac rheumatology. Building on her background in immunology and t-cell biology, she leads a research program focusing on the importance of systemic inflammation in coronary vascular health and microvascular function. At Brigham and Women's Hospital she directs the cardio rheumatology clinic, a multidisciplinary clinic focused on improving care for patients with rheumatologic conditions. She is also a gifted teacher and a dedicated mentor to multiple trainees.

Craig J. Beavers, PharmD, BCCP, BCPS-AQ Cardiology, CACP, FACC
Paducah, KY

2025 Distinguished Cardiovascular Team Member

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Acceptance Video

Beavers has attained some truly impressive accomplishments through scholarship and leadership, championing and supporting the continued involvement of the CV Team within the College and promoting the evolution of team-based care. He has served as chair of the Cardiovascular Team Member Section, leading the Section's strategic planning efforts and expanding its Leadership Council. As a researcher, he brings a unique perspective as both a clinical pharmacist and cardiovascular administrator to his more than 40 publications.

Biykem Bozkurt, MD, PhD, FACC
Bellaire, TX

2025 Distinguished Fellow

Bozkurt has demonstrated unparalleled dedication to the College and its Mission through a robust track record of outstanding contributions. As the current editor-in-chief of JACC: Heart Failure, she is deeply committed to curating and disseminating the best science, mentoring early career and diverse faculty and clinicians, educating the global cardiovascular community, and improving patient outcomes. She has served as a leader and active member of numerous ACC committees, including the ACC Heart Failure and Cardiac Transplant Council, the ACC Myocarditis Registry Steering Committee and the ACC/AHA Joint Committee on Clinical Data Standards.

Fernando Stuardo Wyss Quintana, MD, FACC
Guatemala City, Guatemala

2025 International Service

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Acceptance Video

A distinguished physician and scientific leader in Latin America, Wyss' commitment to continuing education and the exchange of knowledge has inspired thousands of young health care professionals to reach their full potential. His charisma, expertise and leadership have been instrumental in holding prominent positions in several medical societies, including the Inter-American Society of Cardiology (IASC) during the COVID-19 pandemic. His compassion and resolve are also notable. He has participated in the transfer of burned children from Hogar Seguro and Volcán de Fuego, and in various activities related to orthopedic diseases.

Ginger K. Biesbrock, DSc, PA-C, MPH, FACC
Grand Rapids, MI

2025 Presidential Citation

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Acceptance Video

Biesbrock's dedication and exemplary leadership have left an incredible mark on team-based cardiovascular care. With a focus on integrating advanced practice providers into multidisciplinary teams, her work has significantly enhanced patient outcomes and set a benchmark for institutions nationwide. Her contributions span care team optimization, value-based care, and the development of clinical best practices. Thanks to her leadership and vision, she has transformed the lives of countless patients and inspired a new generation to strive for excellence in team-based care.

Malissa J. Wood, MD, FACC
Fort Meyers, FL

2025 Bernadine Healy Leadership in Women's Cardiovascular Disease

As the founding director of the Corrigan Women's Heart Health Program at Massachusetts General Hospital, Wood became a leading advocate for the unique cardiovascular needs of women. Her vision transformed this program into a renowned center of excellence in clinical care, research and education focused on sex-specific cardiovascular conditions. Additionally, her dedication to education and mentorship is unwavering, empowering numerous trainees to pursue careers that will advance women's cardiovascular health.

Eric N. Prystowsky, MD, FACC
Indianapolis, IN

2025 Distinguished Mentor

A steadfast mentor with a career spanning across 45 years, Prystowsky has nurtured over 100 electrophysiology fellows and 400 general cardiology fellows. His role as director of the cardiac arrhythmia center at Duke University and his current position at St. Vincent as director of the cardiac arrhythmia service highlight his dedication to advancing clinical practice through education. His compassion and understanding have helped shape the lives of many young professionals navigating the complexities of their careers.

Jane E. Freedman, MD, FACC
Nashville, TN

2025 Distinguished Scientist (Basic Domain)

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Acceptance Video

Freedman is the Gladys Parkinson Stahlman Professor of Cardiovascular Research and chair of the department of medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC), and physician-in-chief of Vanderbilt University Adult Hospital. Her research focuses on the role of platelets in thrombosis as a key driver of cardiovascular disease. Additionally, her advances in high-throughput transcriptomics and proteomics link mechanistic studies to human cardiovascular disease in a wide range of clinical projects.

James L. Januzzi Jr., MD, FACC
Wellesley, MA

2025 Distinguished Scientist (Clinical Domain)

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Acceptance Video

Januzzi is a pioneer in the cardiac biomarker space. He became the first clinical investigator to work with N-terminal pro-B type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in the United States. His impactful work remains the foundational research for a blood test that is now measured in nearly every country in the world. He has also played a key role in the science behind other biomarkers, including the high-sensitivity troponins, galectin-3, and soluble ST2. He has contributed substantially to the field of cardiovascular research, and impacted the lives of patients worldwide.

Bonnie Ky, MD, MSCE, FACC
Philadelphia, PA

2025 Distinguished Scientist (Translational Domain)

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Acceptance Video

Ky has played a pioneering role in the accelerated growth of the entire field of cardio-oncology. As the inaugural editor-in-chief of JACC: CardioOncology, she has built and led the international journal to extraordinary successes. She currently serves as the director of the Thalheimer Center for Cardio-Oncology and is the founding director of the Penn Cardio-Oncology Translational Center of Excellence. She has strident determination to embrace the next generation and does so through expert education and mentoring extended to diverse physician scientists in cardio-oncology.

Michelle Maya Kittleson, MD, PhD, FACC
Los Angeles, CA

2025 Distinguished Teacher

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Acceptance Video

An exemplary educator and sought-after speaker at national and international conferences, Kittleson's ability to translate complex cardiovascular topics into clear, engaging and digestible concepts has been received high praise from colleagues and mentees alike. Her academic background includes training at Harvard College, Yale University School of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Johns Hopkins. In addition, her acclaimed book, Mastering the Art of Patient Care, serves as an invaluable resource for trainees navigating the complexities of clinical practice.

Dinesh Kalra, MD, MBA, FACC
Louisville, KY

2025 Gifted Educator

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Acceptance Video

A highly respected and sought-after educator and lecturer, Kalra has delivered more than 100 invited sessions to audiences drawn by his engaging teaching style of breaking down complex material into simple concepts. He has over 150 scholarly peer-reviewed publications and is regarded as one of the leading clinician-scientists in the field. As an educator he is actively committed to the professional development of aspiring clinicians and researchers, helping them navigate the complexities of academic medicine and achieve their full potential.

Keith C. Ferdinand, MD, FACC
New Orleans, LA

2025 Distinguished Service

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Acceptance Video

With a career spanning more than four decades, Ferdinand has amassed extraordinary contributions to cardiovascular medicine and health equity. He holds the Gerald S. Berenson Endowed Chair in Preventive Cardiology at Tulane University School of Medicine. His trailblazing work has redefined approaches to hypertension and heart failure in diverse populations. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, he became a vital force in restoring health care in New Orleans. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he addressed systemic inequities, advocating for vulnerable populations through public health and education initiatives.

Silvia G. Priori, MD, PhD
Pavia, Italy

2025 Valentin Fuster Award for Innovation in Science

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Acceptance Video

Priori currently serves as professor of cardiology and director of the cardiology fellowship program at the University of Pavia, where she also leads the molecular cardiology laboratories at the ICS Maugeri Research Hospital. Her study of genetic bases of arrhythmias yielded significant achievements like the identification of the Ryanodine Receptor as the causative gene of the dominant form of Catecholaminergic Polymorphic VT (CPVT) and the discovery that gain of function mutations in the KCNJ2gene cause short QT syndrome. With her team at the University of Pavia, she pioneered the development of gene therapies to treat inherited arrhythmias.

Julio C. Palmaz, MD
San Antonio, TX

2025 Honorary Fellow

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Acceptance Video

Palmaz is widely recognized in the interventional community as one of the co-founders of the initial coronary artery stent for therapeutic use. He developed the first balloon expandable vascular stent to receive U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval and this Palmaz Stent is on display at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History in Washington, DC. He currently serves as chief scientific advisor of Vactronix Scientific and is an honorary Ashbel Smith Professor at the University of Texas Health Science Center, remaining involved in interventional cardiovascular teaching and research.

John P. Erwin III, MD, MBA, MACC
Evanston, IL

Master of the ACC (MACC)

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Acceptance Video

A gifted educator, devoted mentor and a tireless contributor to the Mission of the College, Erwin is a widely recognized authority on valvular heart disease, performance measurement, educational standards and guideline development. He currently serves as the Louis W. Coon Chair of Medicine Endeavor Health and clinical professor at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine. In addition, he has provided outstanding leadership on college-wide programs, committees, governance, education, clinical involvement and scholarship.

Chittur A. Sivaram, MD, DM, MACC
Oklahoma, OK

Master of the ACC (MACC)

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Acceptance Video

Sivaram's commitment to the College's Mission is unparalleled. He has served as governor of the ACC Oklahoma Chapter and has led chapter meetings for 17 years and counting. Additionally, he is a remarkable teacher particularly skilled at educating educators. An approachable and supportive mentor to many, his innate skills earned him an ACC Distinguished Award in 2015 in the Gifted Educator category, among other notable accolades.

Richard Wright, MD, MACC
Santa Monica, CA

Master of the ACC (MACC)

A distinguished leader in cardiology, Wright has amassed an exemplary portfolio of achievements in clinical practice, education and leadership. He has played a pivotal role in advancing the College's Mission and elevating the profession. From leading ACC's California Chapter to his longstanding service as chair of the National Carrier Advisory Committee and Cardiology Advisor to the AMA Relative Value Update Committee, Wright led with vision and dedication, fostering innovation and growth.

Cathleen Biga, MSN, MACC
Darien, IL

Master of the ACC (MACC)

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Year in Review Video

Biga made history as ACC's first non-physician president. She led the execution of the first year of our new strategic plan, focusing on increasing communication, ensuring members understand the Board's initiatives and demonstrating our commitment to quality improvement and transforming cardiovascular care delivery. Together with the ACC Presidential team, she also helped to advance dyad leadership and team-based care, implementing critical programs and guidelines to empower physician-led teams in adopting guideline-directed medical therapy. We are deeply grateful for her unwavering leadership and commitment to ACC's Mission.