Contact: Sam Roth, sroth@acc.org, 202-375-6582

ORLANDO (Mar 09, 2018) -

Benjamin Wessler, MD, has been awarded the 2018 Grants for Early Medical and Surgical Subspecialists’ Transition to Aging Research (GEMSSTAR) Award by the American College of Cardiology in honor of contributions to the geriatric cardiovascular profession. Wessler will be recognized at the Convocation Ceremony on March 12 held during the ACC’s 67^th Annual Scientific Session in Orlando.

“Benjamin Wessler’s dedication to improving geriatric cardiovascular health and enhancing patient care is a testament to his expertise and professionalism,” said ACC President Mary Norine Walsh, MD, FACC. “Wessler’s hard work truly shows his determination to make a lasting positive impact in the cardiovascular field. I am proud to present him with the GEMSSTAR Award.”

The GEMSSTAR Award will fund Wessler with a two-year fellowship and Professional Development Plan, supported by a George F. and Ann Harris Bellows Foundation grant. The National Institute on Aging (NIA) GEMSSTAR program is designed to address the medical needs of a growing population of older Americans with complex medical problems. The program provides NIA funding support for early career physician-scientists trained in medical or surgical specialties so they can launch careers as future leaders in aging- or geriatric-focused research.

Wessler is director of the Valve Center at Tufts Medical Center and assistant professor of medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine. Wessler’s clinical focus is evaluating patients with complex valvular heart disease and regularly sees patients as part of the transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) Heart Team. His research focus is on understanding the therapeutic benefit of cardiovascular interventions and exploring risk predictions for patients with cardiovascular disease, with specific attention to applying tools to individualize the use of a variety of interventions.

The ACC’s Annual Scientific Session brings together cardiologists and cardiovascular specialists from around the world to share the newest discoveries in treatment and prevention. Follow @ACCMediaCenter and #ACC18 for the latest news from the meeting.

The American College of Cardiology is the professional home for the entire cardiovascular care team. The mission of the College and its more than 52,000 members is to transform cardiovascular care and to improve heart health. The ACC leads in the formation of health policy, standards and guidelines. The College operates national registries to measure and improve care, offers cardiovascular accreditation to hospitals and institutions, provides professional medical education, disseminates cardiovascular research and bestows credentials upon cardiovascular specialists who meet stringent qualifications. For more, visit acc.org.

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