Contact: Nicole Napoli, nnapoli@acc.org, 202-375-6523

WASHINGTON (March 5, 2013) — The American College of Cardiology has selected Larry King as the inaugural recipient of the CardioSmart Patient Advocate Award in recognition of his work on awareness and prevention of cardiovascular disease, specifically in underserved communities. King will be presented with his award during the ACC’s 62^nd Annual Scientific Session General Opening Session on March 9 in San Francisco.

"Larry King's voice and efforts have had a profound and positive impact on awareness of heart disease and the importance of patient-centered care," said ACC President William Zoghbi, MD, FACC. "His history as a heart disease patient and decades of advocacy make him uniquely qualified for this award. The ACC is proud to be able to recognize him for his great work."

CardioSmart is the patient education and support program developed by the ACC. Its mission is to engage, inform and empower patients to better prepare them for participation in their own care. In that vein, CardioSmart established the Patient Advocate Award this year to recognize and honor an individual who has demonstrated a stellar and ongoing commitment to advocating on behalf of cardiovascular disease patients to support quality care and improve outcomes and quality of life.

King has been a nationally recognized TV and radio personality since the 1970s. He was the host of the nightly television show Larry King Live on CNN for 25 years and in 2012 co-founded production company Ora TV, which produces King's new talk-oriented Web series, Larry King Now, aired exclusively on Hulu.

King founded the Larry King Cardiac Foundation 25 years ago after undergoing a quintuple bypass heart surgery. He was able to cover his extensive medical bills through insurance but made a vow to help others who may not be as lucky.

"I am deeply honored to receive this award. Of all the accomplishments in my life, I am most proud of the Larry King Cardiac Foundation and the fact that we have been able to help so many people over the past 25 years," King said. "Our goal has been to save a heart a day and while we have met that goal we will continue to work hard on this cause to help those less fortunate. I always felt that I needed to pay it forward. I was fortunate enough to be fully insured. So many Americans are not as lucky. I am very proud of this award because it acknowledges my lifelong goal to help others, especially those in need."

Through King's books, speaking engagements and entertainment galas held around the country, the foundation is able to provide individuals with funding for life-saving treatments that, due to limited means or no insurance, they would otherwise be unable to receive. The Foundation works in conjunction with hospitals throughout the nation to ensure that such patients receive proper medical attention.

"Access to care is an extremely important issue in medicine today and one the ACC actively fights for," Dr. Zoghbi said. "Larry King's work to provide cardiac treatments to patients in need is truly noble."

For more information on the CardioSmart Patient Advocate Award, contact Nicole Napoli at nnapoli@acc.org.

The mission of the American College of Cardiology is to transform cardiovascular care and improve heart health. The College is a 43,000-member medical society comprised of physicians, surgeons, nurses, physician assistants, pharmacists and practice managers. The College is a leader in the formulation of health policy, standards and guidelines. The ACC provides professional education, operates national registries to measure and improve quality of care, disseminates cardiovascular research, and bestows credentials upon cardiovascular specialists who meet stringent qualifications. For more information, visit www.cardiosource.org/ACC.

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