Valentin Fuster, MD, PhD, Appointed Physician-in-Chief of The Mount Sinai Medical Center

Dr. Valentin Fuster, has been appointed Physician-in-Chief of the Medical Center. He has also been re-appointed as Director of Mount Sinai Heart, The Zena and Michael A. Weiner Cardiovascular Institute, and the Marie-Josée and Henry R. Kravis Center for Cardiovascular Health.

(PRWEB) October 09, 2011

The Mount Sinai Medical Center today announced that Valentin Fuster, MD, PhD, has been appointed Physician-in-Chief of the Medical Center. He has also been re-appointed as Director of Mount Sinai Heart, The Zena and Michael A. Weiner Cardiovascular Institute (CVI), and the Marie-Josée and Henry R. Kravis Center for Cardiovascular Health (CCH) for a new five-year term. Physician-in-Chief is a new position that was developed to ensure the continued excellence of patient care and satisfaction at Mount Sinai.

“Dr. Fuster is a global champion of cardiovascular health, committed to excellence in research and education, and to fostering an environment of unparalleled clinical distinction,” said Kenneth L. Davis, MD, President and CEO of The Mount Sinai Medical Center. “In his new position as Physician-in-Chief he is ideally positioned to further Mount Sinai's exceptional patient care.”

Dr. Fuster has earned international recognition as one of the most acclaimed cardiologists in research, education, and clinical care. He holds the honor of being the only cardiologist to ever receive the two highest gold medal awards and all four major research awards from the world's four major cardiovascular organizations. To date, he has published more than 870 articles on coronary artery disease, atherosclerosis, and thrombosis.

As Physician-in-Chief, Dr. Fuster will work closely with the medical center's senior leadership to maintain the highest standards for Mount Sinai's patients.

“This appointment is a tremendous honor,” said Dr. Fuster. “I look forward to working with Mount Sinai leadership to make an indelible impact in clinical research and on the diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing care of our patients to reach the highest standard of clinical care that can be emulated at institutions around the world.”

Mount Sinai Heart has become one of the nation's leading programs in cardiology and heart surgery under the direction of Dr. Fuster. The center combines all of the Medical Center's world-class resources – including internationally renowned physicians, scientists, and educators; clinical services; leading-edge research; and an outstanding cardiology training program – in one integrated entity.

“The success of Mount Sinai Heart as an international hub for research and clinical care is what makes Dr. Fuster ideal for the role of Physician-in-Chief,” said Wayne Keathley, President and Chief Operating Officer of The Mount Sinai Hospital. “I look forward to working with him to bring patient care at The Mount Sinai Medical Center to the ultimate level of excellence.”

A renowned researcher, Dr. Fuster's most notable discoveries include understanding the major role platelets play in cardiovascular disease and the first demonstration of the role platelets have in coronary artery bypass grafting blockages, and prevention of those blockages with aspirin. Most recently Dr. Fuster has contributed to the understanding of cardiovascular disease through studies on molecular imaging using magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography. Much of his research has been funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), and the American Heart Association (AHA). Currently, Dr. Fuster is Principal Investigator in three worldwide large-scale clinical studies looking at diabetes and coronary disease, biomarkers for cardiovascular disease, and the development of a combination pill for secondary cardiovascular disease prevention.

“Dr. Fuster has demonstrated extraordinary dedication to interdisciplinary translational research in biomedicine and has made groundbreaking contributions to the field that have resulted in improved clinical solutions for patients,” said Dennis S. Charney, MD, the Anne and Joel Ehrenkranz Dean of Mount Sinai School of Medicine, and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs of The Mount Sinai Medical Center. “He has shaped Mount Sinai's world-class reputation in cardiovascular care. In his new position, I am confident he will replicate that success throughout the institution.”

Twenty-six universities worldwide have granted him honorary doctorates. His many external titles include Past President of the AHA; Past President of the World Heart Federation; Member of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences, where he served as Chair of the Committee on Preventing the Global Epidemic of Cardiovascular Disease; and General Director of the Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares, the equivalent of the NHLBI in Spain.

About The Mount Sinai Medical Center
The Mount Sinai Medical Center encompasses both The Mount Sinai Hospital and Mount Sinai School of Medicine. Established in 1968, Mount Sinai School of Medicine is one of few medical schools embedded in a hospital in the United States. It has more than 3,400 faculty in 32 departments and 15 institutes, and ranks 16th among the top 20 medical schools both in National Institute of Health funding and by U.S. News & World Report. The school received the 2009 Spencer Foreman Award for Outstanding Community Service from the Association of American Medical Colleges.

The Mount Sinai Hospital, founded in 1852, is a 1,171-bed tertiary- and quaternary-care teaching facility and one of the nation's oldest, largest and most-respected voluntary hospitals. U.S. News & World Report consistently ranks The Mount Sinai Hospital among the nation's best hospitals based on reputation, patient safety, and other patient-care factors. Nearly 60,000 people were treated at Mount Sinai as inpatients last year, and approximately 530,000 outpatient visits took place.

For more information, visit http://www.mountsinai.org/.
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