April 20, 2007 — John G. Harold, M.D., a cardiologist at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, was presented with the “Passion of the Heart” award at the annual Heart Awards Gala on April 14, hosted by the American Heart Association’s Western States Affiliate. The “Passion of the Heart” award is the highest recognition of a physician by the organization.
Dr. Harold, who joined Cedars-Sinai’s medical staff in 1985, recently served as chief of staff, one of several leadership positions he has held at the medical center.
He is currently president of the California Chapter of the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and as ACC governor for Southern California. He is also a board member of organizations such as the American Heart Association, the American Board of Internal Medicine, Save A Heart Foundation, the Heart Fund at Cedars-Sinai, and UCLA’s Clinical Faculty Association.
The first-generation son of Irish immigrants, Harold was born in California but grew up in the Bronx, New York, receiving his medical degree from the State University of New York at Stony Brook. After completing his internal medicine training at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, he came to Cedars-Sinai in 1982 to complete a three-year cardiology fellowship under the direction of his mentor, Jeremy Swan, M.D., chairman of the Division of Cardiology from 1965 to 1987.
Dr. Harold received the award from Prediman K. Shah, M.D., director of the Division of Cardiology and the Atherosclerosis Research Center at Cedars-Sinai, and Asher Kimchi, M.D., a Cedars-Sinai cardiologist who was the recipient of last year’s “Passion” award. Both presenters are honorary medical chairs of the event and Shah currently serves as president of the Western States Affiliate.
In addition to recognizing outstanding service, the gala raises funds to help end heart disease and stroke, contributing to the research, education and advocacy responsible for saving thousands of lives across the country.
For more information visit www.cedars-sinai.edu.