This year’s Lifetime Achievement award was presented to Dr. Michael E. DeBakey, a pioneer in the field of cardiovascular surgery. Dr. DeBakey’s accomplishments include his pioneering work in cardiovascular surgery, creation of the roller pump as well as the Dacron and Dacron-velour artificial arteries, developing the Mobile Army Surgical Hospitals concepts for the military, and serving as an advisor for the President of the United States. He has contributed hundreds of medical articles and books on various aspects of medicine, medical research, medical education, and surgery and is the co-author of the best selling book, The Living Heart.

Princess Yasmin Aga Khan, daughter of the late Rita Hayworth and founder of the Rita Hayworth Galas, was presented with this year’s National Health Leadership Award for her 25 years of work for finding a cure for Alzheimer’s. Princess Aga Khan established the Gala in memory of her mother, who suffered from the disease for many years before her death. Princess Aga Khan is President of the Alzheimer’s Disease International and Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Alzheimer’s Association. She is the General Chairman of the Rita Hayworth Galas, which are held annually in New York and Chicago. Since their inception in 1984, Princess Aga Khan has helped raise over $38 million for the Alzheimer’s Association.

Drs. Marilyn J. Bull, Bart Barlogie, and Michael J. Zinner each received an award for Clinical Excellence. Dr. Marilyn J. Bull is the Morris Green Professor at Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis, Director of the Automotive Safety Program at Riley Hospital, and President of the Indiana Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Dr. Bart Barlogie is the Director of the Myeloma Institute for Research and Therapy at the Arkansas Cancer Research Center. Dr. Michael J. Zinner is the Surgeon-in-Chief at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital and serves as the Moseley Professor of Surgery at Harvard Medical School.

Physicians profiled in the Castle Connolly guides were selected following an extensive nomination, research and screening process, which involves soliciting nominations from tens of thousands of doctors across the United States each year. Those very same outstanding Castle Connolly “Top Doctors” were involved in the nomination process to identify the recipients for the Castle Connolly awards for clinical excellence.

Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. is the nation’s most authoritative source for identifying top doctors throughout the United States. Founded in 1991 by John K. Castle, (Chairman) and John J. Connolly, Ed.D. (President and CEO), who served as board chairman and president and CEO of New York Medical College respectively, its mission is to help consumers find the best healthcare. They achieve that mission through their consumer books – such as America’s Top Doctors – their web site and various consumer and business-oriented print and online partnerships. Under the direction of its physician-lead research team, Castle Connolly surveys tens of thousands of physicians and hospital executives in order to identify, screen and, ultimately, select those physicians regarded by their peers as leaders - among the very best – in their specialties and for specific diseases and techniques. The members of the management team include Jean Morgan, MD -Vice-President, Chief Medical & Research Officer and William Liss-Levinson, Ph.D. - Vice-President, Chief Strategy & Operations Officer. Castle Connolly’s valuable top doctors information can also be found online at its website, www.castleconnolly.com and on other affiliated websites.

© 2006 HealthNewsDigest.com