Association of Black Cardiologists to Honor Dr. Oz and Omarosa Manigault-Stallworth

Sept. 19, 2012 - PRLog -- The Association of Black Cardiologists (ABC) will honor Dr. Mehmet Oz, Omarosa Manigault - Stallworth and 10 other honorees at the Third Annual Saving Hearts for Generations gala on September 22, 2012 at the JW Marriott in Washington, DC.  The gala recognizes individuals and organizations that focus on the cardiovascular health crisis among African Americans and other at-risk populations.  Past honorees have included Dr. Maya Angelou, retired Gen. Colin Powel, and Star Jones.

“We salute the 2012 honorees for their dedication to addressing a medical crisis that disproportionally affects African Americans and other underserved populations.  Their remarkable work helps ABC move toward our goal to reduce cardiovascular health disparities 20% by 2020,” says President of ABC Ola Akinboboye, MD.

The Association of Black Cardiologists proudly congratulates the following 2012 honorees:
Community Action Partner Award:                                 BioMedix
Spirit of the Heart Award:                                            National Medical Association
J.B. Johnson Distinguished Leadership Award:                      L. Julian Haywood, MD, University of Southern California
Media Partner Award:                                                    Mehmet Oz, MD, The Dr. Oz Show
Diversity in Cardiology Award:                                             Ohio State University Medical Center
Generations Award:                                                  Jack and Jill of America, Inc.
Public Policy Award:                                                       Million Hearts™
Access to Care, Treatment, and Services (ACTS)              Bill Releford, DPM
To Eliminate Health Disparities Award                                    Black Barbershop Health Outreach
Dr. Daniel D. Savage Memorial Science Award:                     Emelia J. Benjamin, MD
Dr. Walter M. Booker, Senior Health Promotion Award          Larry Lucas
Heart Champion Award:                                             Omarosa Manigault-Stallworth            

FACTS ABOUT CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE
•    African Americans are 2 to 3 times more likely to die from heart disease compared with whites at any given age. 1
•   “…hypertension in blacks in the U.S. is among the highest in the world, and it is increasing” 2
•   Almost 67 million people have high blood pressure but less than half have it under control.  Although African American adults are 40% more likely to have high blood pressure, they are 10% less likely than their non-Hispanic White counterparts to have their blood pressure under control.3

ABOUT ASSOCIATION OF BLACK CARDIOLOGISTS
Founded in 1974, the Association of Black Cardiologists, Inc. (ABC) is a non - profit organization whose mission is to champion the elimination of cardiovascular disease disparities among minorities through education, research and advocacy.  The ABC is comprised of an international membership of 2,500 medical professionals, community health advocates, corporations and institutions that fund innovative research, promote stronger public policies and provide lifesaving tools to prevent and treat cardiovascular diseases. To learn more or to get involved, visit www.abcardio.org or call 1-800-753-9222.

RESOURCES
1 Mensah GA, Brown DW. An overview of cardiovascular disease burden in the United States Health Aff (Millwood) 2007;26:38 – 48.  Lloyd-Jones D, Adams RJ, Brown TM, et al., American Heart Association Statistics Committee and Stroke Statistics Subcommittee. Heart disease and stroke statistics—2010 update: a report from the American Heart Association. Circulation 2010;121:e46 –215.)

2 Lloyd-Jones D, Adams RJ, Brown TM, et al., American Heart Association Statistics Committee and Stroke Statistics Subcommittee. Heart disease and stroke statistics—2010 update: a report from the American Heart Association. Circulation 2010;121:e46 –215

3 The Center for Disease Control (CDC)