WASHINGTON (Nov. 7, 2012)—The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS) and the Children’s National Medical Center are pleased to announce that David L. Wessel, MD, has received the prestigious Meritorious Achievement Award from the American Heart Association (AHA) Council on Cardiovascular Disease of the Young. The award is a national career achievement award recognizing an individual who has made a significant impact in the field of pediatric cardiovascular disease. It was presented last night at the American Heart Association’s annual meeting in Los Angeles.
Dr. Wessel is Senior Vice President for the Center for Hospital-Based Specialties at Children’s National and is the Ikaria Distinguished Professor of Critical Care Medicine at SMHS. Dr. Wessel is board certified in four areas: anesthesiology, pediatrics, pediatric cardiology, and pediatric critical care medicine. He helped define and create the field of pediatric cardiac intensive care and has trained many of the leading practitioners in the field today.
“David has made countless contributions to pediatric medicine, and we’re delighted that he has been recognized for his tireless efforts,” said Kurt D. Newman, MD, President and CEO at Children’s National. “His work, both as a clinician and researcher, has advanced pediatric cardiac critical care and has impacted kids nationally and internationally.”
Dr. Wessel has extensive experience as a clinical researcher, designing, and leading several international, multi-center randomized trials. He currently serves as principal investigator and member of the steering committee for the Collaborative Pediatric Critical Care Research Network sponsored by the National Institutes of Health. He also led the CLARINET study, the largest prospective drug trial ever performed in children with heart disease. His research has led to the development of novel therapies for newborns with congenital heart disease, as well as advances in pulmonary hypertension.
“I’m humbled to be recognized by the American Heart Association and to have my work honored,” said Dr. Wessel. “I hope that my work has helped increase awareness, improved outcomes, and brought hope to the thousands of children with congenital heart disease and their families.”
Dr. Wessel oversees 11 clinical divisions and a team of more than 700 physicians and hospital employees. He was recently honored by the French Society of Pediatric Cardiology in Paris and served as co-chairman of the recent International Symposium of Pulmonary Hypertension and Heart Failure in Children, held in Shanghai, China.
