TCT 2022 Honors Recipient of Thomas J. Linnemeier Young Investigator Award

David J. Cohen, MD, MSc, St. Francis Hospital and CRF, presented Jennifer A. Rymer, MD, Duke University Medical Center with the TCT 2022 Thomas J. Linnemeier Young Investigator Award, along with co-presenter Gary S. Mintz of the Cardiovascular Research Foundation (CRF) on Sept 19 in Boston, MA.

September 22, 2022 — The recipient of the TCT 2022 Thomas J. Linnemeier “Spirit of Interventional Cardiology” Young Investigator Award is Jennifer Rymer, MD, MBA, MHS, John Bush Simpson Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC. The award was announced Sept. 19 during the Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) 2022 Conference, held in Boston, MA, in conjunction with the Cardiovascular Research Foundation (CRF). The award was presented by CRF leader Gary S. Mintz, MD, and David J. Cohen, MD, MSc, St. Francis Hospital, and CRF Director of Clinical and Outcomes Research.

“I am deeply honored,” said Rymer after the award ceremony. She added, “The other finalists are so accomplished, and I am so honored to be considered for this award. I really want to thank all of my mentors at Duke , and Dr. Mehran, and also Women as One. I would not be here had it not been for those folks who have believed in me forever, so I really appreciate them and all of their guidance and mentorship over the years.”

“What a thrilling moment to see Dr. Jennifer Rymer receive the TCT 2022 Young Investigator Award,” said Roxana Mehran, MD, TCT Course Co-Director, Professor of Medicine at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York. Mehran congratulated Rymer immediately after the award was announced and added, “There is no one more deserving than Dr. Rymer for all of her relentless work in diversity, inclusion and mentorship. She is a dynamo, and someone to look out for, as she has already risen as a star, and is sure to shine for many, many more years.”

The presenters summarized the award’s history and significance, and recognized the other two finalists who were considered for the award. They include: Eric Alexander Secemsky, MD, MSc, who serves as the primary vascular interventionalist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, MA; and Janarthanan Sathananthan, MBChB, MPH, a clinical interventional cardiologist at St. Paul’s Hospital and Vancouver General Hospital in Vancouver, Canada.

Mintz also acknowledged past winners, saying “It is simply an outstanding group of investigators, almost all who are now faculty at TCT.”

Award Recipient Profile

Rymer holds a Fellowship in both Cardiovascular Medicine and Interventional Cardiology from Duke University Medical School, where she is currently the John Bush Simpson Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Duke University Medical Center. Rymer received her BS, MBA and MD from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.

Among her impressive credentials, Rymer has published 70 peer-reviewed publications, 41 as first author. In offering an overview of her clinical experience in the award entry process, Rymer reported that she is an early career academic interventional cardiologist who performs complex coronary and peripheral vascular procedures with a research focus in acute coronary syndromes and patients with severe claudication and chronic limb-threatening ischemia. Further, she performs intravascular imaging for every PCI.

“Competition was stiff, as all of the finalists are incredibly deserving, and it was a very difficult decision,” said Dr. Cohen. He applauded the involvement of the judges, and summarized the work of the Young Investigator Award Finalists.

Finalists in Review

Eric Alexander Secemsky, MD, MSc

With vast clinical experience, Secemsky serves as the primary vascular interventionalist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, MA, with a focus on complex arterial revascularization procedures and pulmonary embolism intervention. He oversees all endovascular services performed by the Center’s 10 full-time invasive faculty, as well as all peripheral training for four interventional fellows. Additionally, Secemsky co-founded the Vascular Medicine Section within the Cardiology Division in 2018, where they currently see 20 consults a week, and has a busy clinical practice focusing on aortic disease, lymphedema, pulmonary embolism, and PAD.

Janarthanan Sathananthan, MBChB, MPH

Sathananthan is a clinical interventional cardiologist performing both coronary and structural interventions at St. Paul’s Hospital and Vancouver General Hospital in Vancouver, Canada. As an early career interventionalist, he noted he has been fortunate to lead live cases for a major scientific meeting, serve as PI for clinical trials, and build his interest in transitional research. His future aspirations are to continue building these skills and he is hoping to have greater involvement in new device technology and helping to develop the procedures of the future.

About the Award and Thomas J. Linnemeier, MD

The award was established in 2003 to recognize clinical and academic excellence in fellowship trainees and recent graduates in interventional cardiology and endovascular medicine. Even more important than acknowledging current achievement, noted Mintz, the purpose of the award is to stimulate a commitment and dedication to the dual tracks of patient care and academic investigation. As such, the award is intended to encourage a lifelong commitment to academic research, clinical excellence, and leadership in our subspecialty. The winner receives a $10,000 monetary prize, and the award is supported by an unrestricted grant from Abbott Vascular.

Thomas J. Linnemeier “Spirit of Interventional Cardiology” Young Investigator Award is coordinated and funded by the Cardiovascular Research Foundation. It was established in memory of Thomas J. Linnemeier, MD (Dec. 15, 1950-May 6, 2002). As 2022 marks 20 years since his passing, it seemed wholly appropriate to recognize his contributions. What follows is a summary of his work and impact as published online by his alma mater, Indiana University:

Dr. Thomas J. Linnemeier graduated with a B.A. in biological sciences from Indiana University in 1973. He then earned his M.D. from Indiana University-Purdue University in Indianapolis in 1977. From 1984 until he joined Guidant, Linnemeier was a clinical Assistant Professor of medicine at Indiana University School of Medicine and also practiced as an interventional cardiologist with The Care Group. Linnemeier also served as the former Chief of Cardiology at the Indiana Heart Institute, and was Senior Vice President of New Ventures and Chief Medical Officer in the vascular intervention division at Guidant Corporation. He was also a Professor of Cardiology at Stanford University.

Linnemeier held a board certification in internal medicine, cardiology, and interventional cardiology and served on the editorial boards of the Journal of Invasive Cardiology and Catheterization and Cardiovascular Intervention. He also acted as an as an editorial consultant for the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. Linnemeier died in an automobile accident in Florida, on May 6, 2002. Linnemeier was 51 years old.

"Throughout his long, distinguished career Tom influenced the field of interventional cardiology, and, in so doing, saved the lives of thousands of patients," Guidant president and CEO, Ronald W Dollens commented in a press statement. "His groundbreaking science and leading innovations will continue to touch lives for many years to come. Beyond his professional accomplishments, Tom was a devoted and dear friend to many in the community."

For additional information: https://tct2022.crfconnect.com/