American Heart Association honors senior UT administrator

March 24, 2009 | News
By Jim Winkler



Dr. Jeffrey P. Gold, provost, executive vice president for health affairs and College of Medicine dean, received the American Heart Association’s Legacy of Life Award at the Glass City Heart Ball March 14 at the Hilton Garden Inn at Levis Commons.

Dr. Ameer Kabour congratulated Dr. Jeffrey Gold, who received the American Heart Association’s Legacy of Life Award.

Dr. Ameer Kabour congratulated Dr. Jeffrey Gold, who received the American Heart Association’s Legacy of Life Award.

The Legacy of Life Award recognizes an individual who has made a significant contribution to the American Heart Association’s mission to reduce death and disability from cardiovascular disease and stroke.

“This award really goes to the 3,000 people on Health Science Campus whose dedication and hard work make UT an outstanding institution for health education, research and patient care,” Gold said. “The American Heart Association plays such a vital role in building healthier lives and in providing support for cardiovascular- and stroke-related research. I am deeply honored to be chosen as a recipient of the award.”

Nearly 400 people, including 50 from UT, attended the program.

Gold, who has had an enormously productive academic career, was nominated for the award by Tom Tousley of Wilcox Financial, Dr. Ameer Kabour of Toledo Cardiology Consultants, Daniel Wakeman, president and CEO of St. Luke’s Hospital, Buzz Hermann of St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center, and Dr. Paul Berlacher of Northwest Ohio Cardiology Consultants.

Proceeds from the event will support the American Heart Association’s cardiovascular research, education and advocacy programs throughout northwest Ohio. Since 2007, the association has allocated more than $1.2 million for research studies in the Toledo area.

Before coming to Toledo in 2005, Gold, a cardiovascular surgeon, was very active in the affairs of the American Heart Association’s Heritage Affiliate, which includes Connecticut, New Jersey, New York City and Long Island. He was a member of its board of directors and of its development committee from 1995 to 1999, and of its Gala Planning Committee for six years.

A member of the influential 17-member Liaison Committee on Medical Education, which accredits medical schools in the United States and Canada, Gold joined the Medical University of Ohio in May 2005 from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine-Montefiore Medical Center in New York City, where he was professor and chairman of the Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery.

During his 25-year career in academic medicine, he has obtained more than $10 million from the National Institutes of Health and other public and private organizations for cardiac-related studies. He continues to do public health-related research in the epidemiology of heart disease and is a strong advocate for improving access to cardiac health services.

In 2005, the Raymond and Beverly Sackler Foundation established the Raymond & Beverly Sackler Distinguished Professorship in Medical Education in honor of Gold for his commitment to excellence in medical education at the College of Medicine.

He was president of the Thoracic Surgery Directors Association from 2005 to 2007.

A native of Brooklyn, N.Y., Gold earned his bachelor’s and medical degrees from Cornell University in 1974 and 1978, respectively, and completed residency and fellowship training at the New York Hospital, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Brigham & Women’s Hospital and Boston Children’s Hospital.

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