Arnold W. Strauss, M.D., has been named the 2006 recipient of the American Heart Association‘s Basic Science Research Award.
Strauss, medical director of the Monroe Carell Jr. Children‘s Hospital at Vanderbilt and James C. Overall Professor and Chair of the Department of Pediatrics, is the first physician from Vanderbilt to receive the award, and only the second pediatric
cardiologist ever to be selected. He was chosen for his research that led to finding genetic defects that can cause sudden death in infants and children, and accepted the award at the AHA Scientific Sessions in Chicago on Nov. 12.
“Dr. Strauss is an outstanding scientist whose research is driving the discovery of genetic defects that cause heart failure and sudden death in children,” said Jeffrey R. Balser, M.D., Ph.D., associate vice chancellor for Research.
“Thanks to his groundbreaking work, we are now making progress toward screening for these defects and to help save the lives of infants and newborns. His career is the model for a physician leader performing high quality, high impact science.”
Strauss earned his medical degree from Washington University in St. Louis. He completed his residency and pediatric cardiology training at St. Louis Children‘s Hospital, and was the director of the Division of Pediatric Cardiology there before coming to Vanderbilt.