Pulmonary Hypertension Association names Dr. Ronald Oudiz recipient of 2011 Award of Excellence

The Pulmonary Hypertension Association (PHA), the Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center (LA BioMed) and Actelion Pharmaceuticals US, Inc., today announced that Dr. Ronald Oudiz of LA BioMed is the 2011 recipient of the Pulmonary Hypertension Association (PHA) Award of Excellence in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) Care. This annual award is designed to honor and acknowledge healthcare professionals who are committed to improving outcomes for patients with PAH through excellence in research and clinical practice.

As part of the award, the LA BioMed will receive a grant in the amount of $50,000 to support continued excellence in care for patients with PAH. The award is supported by an unrestricted educational grant from Actelion and was presented during a reception at the 2011 International Conference of the American Thoracic Society (ATS) in Denver, Colorado.

"Ron Oudiz has distinguished himself as a researcher dedicated to finding new ways to treat this often fatal disease, as well as a trusted clinician who is passionately committed to helping improve the lives of patients diagnosed with it," said Michael McGoon, MD, professor of medicine at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and consultant to the Division of Cardiovascular Disease at the Mayo Clinic, chair of the PHA Award Steering Committee. "This is an award about excellence in PAH care and Dr. Oudiz's achievements made him the obvious and deserved choice."

"PAH is still considered a rare disease, impacting less than 200,000 worldwide, and over the last decade, there have been significant advances in diagnosing and treating patients, while continuing to increase awareness of the disease across medical disciplines," said Rino Aldrighetti, president of the Pulmonary Hypertension Association. "Ron Oudiz has helped build the pulmonary hypertension community into a force that is bringing positive change to patients by helping ensure patients have the education and treatments they need to fight this disease."

"Through his pioneering research into PAH, Ron Oudiz is serving the underserved and all who suffer from this devastating disease," said David I. Meyer, PhD, LA BioMed president and CEO. "He is a leader in testing therapies and treatments that have improved the quality of life for those living with PAH, and his research is an important example of how LA BioMed scientists are making a difference in the health of people around the globe."

This year's award recipient was selected based on their demonstrated excellence in PAH patient care, service to the pulmonary hypertension community and consistent provision of cutting-edge options for patients living with PAH. The Steering Committee, who selected the recipient, included three physicians and three patients/patient advocates, including:

• Michael McGoon, MD, professor of medicine at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and consultant to the Division of Cardiovascular Disease at the Mayo Clinic, chair of the PHA Award Steering Committee
  
• David Badesch, MD, professor of medicine in the Divisions of Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine, and Cardiology, and the clinical director of the Pulmonary Hypertension Center at the University of Colorado;
  
• Gregory Elliott, MD, chairman, Department of Medicine, Intermountain Medical Center and professor of medicine at the University of Utah School of Medicine;
  
• Linda Carr, parent of a patient, past PHA board chair
  
• Jack Stibbs, parent of a patient and past PHA board chair
  
• Joanne Sperando- Schmidt, patient, past PHA board member.

Provided by Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center (LA BioMed)