Mar 7, 2005
Guidant Foundation Funds American College of Cardiology Foundation Financial Awards Aimed at Defeating Women's Cardiovascular Disease

Grant Will Support Research and Training to Understand and Treat America's Number One Killer of Women

Orlando, Fla. - The Guidant Foundation and the American College of Cardiology Foundation (ACCF) today announced that the Guidant Foundation has presented a grant to the ACCF to fund a new three-year program of cardiology training and career development awards aimed at understanding and treating cardiovascular disease in women. Working as partners, the ACCF and the Guidant Foundation designed the groundbreaking initiative to ensure that understanding women''s cardiovascular health becomes part of the formal educational program for fellows-in-training and junior faculty members. The announcement was made at the American College of Cardiology''s 54th Annual Scientific Session Exposition in Orlando, Fla.

"The cardiovascular fellows emerging from today''s training programs, along with junior cardiovascular faculty, will play a crucial role in advancing the treatment and prevention of cardiovascular disease," said Pamela S. Douglas, M.D., president elect, American College of Cardiology. "We are pleased to partner with Guidant Foundation to provide significant financial awards to promising candidates who are dedicated to advancing research in women''s cardiovascular disease. These fellowships will ensure a focus on the important health concerns that affect future generations of women."

The purpose of the awards, called the ACCF/Guidant Foundation Fellowship and Career Development Awards (CDA) in Women''s Cardiovascular Health, is to foster the early research career development of fellows and junior cardiovascular faculty. The Fellowship supports fellows learning to be cardiologists in a formal accredited program. Candidates in their final year of fellowship or first year as junior faculty are eligible for the Fellowship. Career Development Awards are designed to provide a smooth transition to independence for young faculty members. Preference will be given to CDA applicants who are no more than five years out of training.

"Broadening our knowledge related to the mechanisms and treatment of cardiovascular disease is absolutely essential to meeting the health challenges of today and the future," said James R. Baumgardt, president of the Guidant Foundation. "This initiative is a continuation of the Foundation''s efforts to increase awareness of women''s cardiovascular disease education and care."

Cardiovascular disease claims more women''s lives than the next seven causes of death combined '" about 500,000 women''s lives a year in the United States. Although cardiovascular deaths for men have declined over the last 20 years, there has been no change in the number of cardiovascular deaths for women. Every minute in the United States, a woman dies of heart disease; every year, one in three women will die of heart disease, and 8 million more will suffer its consequences.

"The knowledge gap between the cardiovascular problems women face and the need to address the disease has not yet been bridged by today''s cardiologists," said Beverly Lorell, M.D., vice president, chief medical and technology officer, Guidant Corporation. "This initiative is the first major and bold step to incorporate training in cardiovascular disease in women into formal fellowships that will support and develop those who will become experts in the near future."

The ACCF/Guidant Foundation Fellowship and Career Development Awards in Women''s Cardiovascular Health will be administered by the ACCF. For specific deadlines, application procedures and contact information, see www.acc.org/about/award/awardopps.htm.

The American College of Cardiology, a 31,500-member nonprofit professional medical society and teaching institution, is the leading organization dedicated to being an advocate for quality cardiovascular care '" through education, research promotion, and development and application of standards and guidelines '" and to influencing health care policy.

The Guidant Foundation provides financial support for charitable and educational programs that improve the quality of life for patients who are at risk or suffer from cardiovascular disease. In addition, the Foundation funds the dissemination of information for public benefit regarding cardiovascular disease and relevant therapy for at-risk patients. In 2004, Guidant Foundation giving totaled $15.4 million.