Top TCT 2022 Award Recipients announced by Cardiovascular Research Foundation (CRF)

Valentin Fuster, MD, PhD

August 2, 2022 — Two significant awards will be presented at TCT 2022, to be held in Boston, Sept. 16-19, 2022.

Career Achievement Award

The TCT Career Achievement Award honors pioneers in interventional cardiovascular medicine, and this year, will recognize a world-renowned cardiologist at the 34th Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT), the annual scientific symposium of the Cardiovascular Research Foundation (CRF), the Foundation has announced. The award is given each year to an outstanding individual who has made significant contributions to the field of interventional cardiology and transformed patient care through their career endeavors, research pursuits, and mentorship of others.

The TCT 2022 Career Achievement Award will be presented to Valentin Fuster, MD, PhD.

The award ceremony will take place on September 17, 2022, at 10:45 a.m. ET in the Clinical Science & Endovascular Theater of the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center in Boston, Massachusetts.

Dr. Fuster currently serves as Physician-in-Chief of The Mount Sinai Hospital, Director of Mount Sinai Heart, and Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. He is also the General Director of the National Center for Cardiovascular Research or CNIC (equivalent to NHLBI) in Madrid, Spain. His extraordinary clinical achievements and his dedication to global health and public education have earned him the title of doctor honoris causa from 35 universities.

A world-renowned cardiologist, researcher, and advocate for global heart disease prevention, Dr. Fuster has dedicated his life to improving the treatment of patients with cardiovascular disease. Over the course of his career, he has authored more than 1,000 scientific articles. His research has elevated the knowledge and treatment of coronary artery disease, atherosclerosis, and thrombosis.

Dr. Fuster’s influence extends well beyond cardiology and medicine. His seminal research in early cardiovascular intervention for preschoolers served as the inspiration for the Muppet character Dr. Ruster, a physician on the Spanish-language version of “Sesame Street” who teaches children to make heart-healthy choices through diet and exercise.

Dr. Fuster is the only cardiologist to have received the highest awards for research from the four leading cardiovascular organizations: the American Heart Association (Gold Medal and Research Achievement Award), the American College of Cardiology (Living Legend and Life Achievement Award), the European Society of Cardiology (Gold Medal), and the Interamerican Society of Cardiology (Research Achievement Award).

Among the positions of distinction that he has held are president of the American Heart Association, president of the World Heart Federation, and president of the ACC Training Program. In 2022, the American College of Cardiology established a new award in his honor, the Valentin Fuster Award for Innovation in Science. He received the award in its first year.

Master Operator Award

TCT Geoffrey O. Hartzler Master Operator Award is given each year to a physician who has advanced the field of interventional cardiovascular medicine through technical excellence and innovation. It honors physicians who have advanced the field of interventional cardiovascular medicine through technical excellence and innovation.

This year, the TCT Geoffrey O. Hartzler Master Operator Award will be presented to Jean Fajadet, MD.

This award ceremony will be presented on September 18, 2022, at 10:45 a.m. ET in the Clinical Science & Endovascular Theater of the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center in Boston, Massachusetts.

Dr. Fajadet, a pioneer in the field of interventional cardiology, is recognized for his mastery of complex procedures. With more than 35 years of experience, his distinguished career has spanned decades and continents, with hundreds of scientific papers published in peer-reviewed journals and having served as principal investigator or co-investigator in 49 groundbreaking international and multicenter clinical trials for innovative interventional procedures and devices.

Dr. Fajadet's passion and dedication to educating, training, and paving the way for the next generation of interventional cardiologists is another facet of his contributions to the field.

Among his many major accomplishments, Dr. Fajadet is co-founder, vice chairman, and course director of EuroPCR, where he also served as president from 2011 to 2014. He is also course director of GulfPCR-GIM and AICT/AsiaPCR, advisor to PCR London Valves, course chairman of PCR-CIT China Chengdu Valves, and co-founder and former co-director of the Clinique Pasteur Interventional Cardiovascular Group, the leading center in France.

About TCT and CRF:

Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) is the annual scientific symposium of CRF and the premier educational meeting specializing in interventional cardiovascular medicine. Now in its 34th year, TCT features major medical research breakthroughs and gathers leading researchers and clinicians from around the world to present and discuss the latest evidence-based research in the field. TCT 2022 will feature an unprecedented line-up of live cases from around the world, as well as a bold, novel content structure that will showcase practical applications of current and emerging techniques and technologies.

Founded by Dr. Martin B. Leon, the Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) conference, is the Cardiovascular Research Foundation's (CRF) annual scientific symposium and the world's foremost educational forum specializing in interventional cardiovascular medicine. Debuting as a small gathering of 150 in 1988, TCT now attracts more than 10,000 attendees from more than 100 countries. Every year, TCT features major medical research breakthroughs and gathers leading researchers and clinicians from around the world to present and discuss the latest evidence-based research.

The Cardiovascular Research Foundation (CRF) is one of the world’s leading nonprofit organizations specializing in interventional cardiology innovation, research, and education. CRF is dedicated to helping doctors improve survival and quality of life for people suffering from heart and vascular disease. For over 30 years, CRF has helped accelerate medical breakthroughs and educated doctors on the latest treatments for heart disease. CRF’s centers of excellence include the CRF Skirball Center for Innovation, CRF Clinical Trials Center, CRF Center for Education, CRF Digital, TCTMD, and Structural Heart: The Journal of the Heart Team.

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