Valentin Fuster awarded Spain’s highest civilian award for services to healthcare

1522

Valentin Fuster, editor-in-chief of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC) has been awarded the Gran Cruz de la Orden Sanidad (Grand Cross of the Civil Order of Health) by the Spanish government. This is the highest Spanish civilian award granted in recognition of the achievement of an individual in the field of healthcare.

The Spanish Ministry of Health, Social Services and Equality have released a statement recognising Fuster’s contributions to the advancement of cardiology, the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease and his commitment to public health initiatives, throughout his professional career.

Fuster’s research has been recognised by the American Heart Association, the American College of Cardiology, the European Society of Cardiology and the Interamerican Society of Cardiology, all of whom have granted him their highest awards for research.

“Elsevier would like to extend its sincere congratulations to Fuster, the recipient of this prestigious honour from his native country,” states Nancy de Waard Axelrod, executive publisher, Elsevier, the publisher of JACC. “Internationally recognised for his accomplishments and dedication as an investigator, clinician and educator, he brings a wealth of invaluable experience and insight to the Journal. We are indeed fortunate that he serves in this leadership role.”

After qualifying in medicine at the University of Barcelona, Fuster continued his studies in the United States. Currently he serves The Mount Sinai Medical Hospital as physician-in-chief, as well as director of Mount Sinai Heart, the Zena and Michael A Wiener Cardiovascular Institute and the Marie-Josee and Henry R Kravis Center for Cardiovascular Health. He is chief executive officer of the National Center for Cardiovascular Research (CNIC). He is also the Richard Gorlin, MD/Heart Research Foundation professor, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. He has been awarded honorary doctorates at 33 universities.

Prominent positions Fuster has held include president of the American Heart Association, president of the World Heart Federation, member of the Institute of Medicine of the US National Academy of Sciences, member of the US National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute and president of the Training Program of the American College of Cardiology.