American College of Cardiology Presents Lifetime Achievement Award to Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute's James Forrester, MD

Forrester’s contributions have been recognized locally, nationally and internationally in a career spanning more than 30 years

Los Angeles – May 1, 2009 - James S. Forrester, M.D., former chief of the Division of Cardiology at the Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute, received the 2009 Lifetime Achievement Award from the American College of Cardiology at the Annual Scientific Session in Orlando March 29.

Currently the George Burns and Gracie Allen professor of cardiovascular research at Cedars Sinai, Forrester came to the medical center in 1969 as scientific director of the Myocardial Infarction Research Unit. He was recruited by the late Jeremy Swan, M.D., co-creator of the Swan-Ganz catheter. Forrester and his colleagues used the catheter to define the effects of drugs on cardiac function in critically ill patients, and later he led a team that used fiberoptics to directly visualize clots inside the coronary arteries of patients with acute chest pain.

Forrester served in a variety of positions during his tenure at the Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute, including Director of the Division of Cardiology. He also has served on the editorial boards of several peer-review medical journals, including Journal of the American College of Cardiology, American Journal of Cardiology and Circulation.

“Dr. Forrester’s impressive achievements have led to this prestigious peer recognition and have contributed significantly to the outstanding reputation of the Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute,” said Eduardo Marban, M.D., director of the institute. “His leadership and expertise are an inspiration to many in our field.”

Said Prediman K. (PK) Shah, M.D., director of the Division of Cardiology and director of the Atherosclerosis Research Center at the Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute, "I am delighted that my friend and colleague of many years is receiving the 2009 ACC Lifetime Achievement Award. Dr. Forrester is truly deserving of this recognition. His extensive body of work has improved our understanding of ischemic heart disease and hemodynamic consequences of acute myocardial infarction. Beyond that, he has served as a highly regarded mentor to many."

The ACC Lifetime Achievement Award is presented each year to an individual who has amassed 30-plus years of outstanding achievements in the field of cardiovascular disease and has served as a local, regional and national role model through service, basic or clinical research, and teaching. Forrester received the award at the Convocation Ceremony of the annual scientific session.