Physicians Receive Top Awards

Denton A. Cooley, M.D., and James T. Willerson, M.D., were recently honored as distinguished scientists by the most prestigious organizations in their fields.

Dr. Cooley, who is founder, president, and surgeon-in-chief of the Texas Heart Institute, and chief of cardiovascular surgery at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital, received the American Association for Thoracic Surgery's Scientific Achievement Award. This award is the highest honor bestowed by the association and is presented to those individuals who have made major contributions in the field. Honorees receive a Medallion for Scientific Achievement and their biographies are printed in the Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery.

Dr. Willerson, who is medical director, chief of cardiology, director of cardiology research, and co-director of the Cullen Cardiovascular Research Laboratories at the Texas Heart Institute, and chief of cardiology at St. Luke's, received the American College of Cardiology's 2000 Distinguished Scientist Award. Dr. Willerson was chosen for this honor by the Awards Committee and Board of Trustees of that organization in recognition of his significant scientific contributions to the advancement of cardiovascular medicine.

In addition, Dr. Willerson has served as professor and chairman of the Department of Internal Medicine at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston since 1989. Effective September 1, he became the new interim president of The University of Texas-Houston Health Science Center.

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©2006 Texas Medical Center

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