SELA Members Honored for Prevention Research

Diane M. Becker, RN, MPH, ScD, SELA's president-elect, was one of three honorees in January at the 11th annual Heartfest 2001 for her contributions in the "development of innovative models of preventive cardiology that allowed individuals to play pivotal roles in their own health care and for her work in better understanding familial aggregated premature coronary disease," according to Roger S. Blumenthal, MD, event organizer and Director of Preventive Cardiology at The Johns Hopkins Medical Institute.

Dr. Becker, Director of the Center for Health Promotion and a Professor of Medicine at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, strives particularly to improve preventive health care delivery in underserved communities and in high risk populations.

She and her husband, SELA member, Lewis C. Becker, MD, Robert Levy Professor of Cardiology at Johns Hopkins, were being recognized for their work together on the Johns Hopkins Sibling Study which they started in 1983. This husband and wife team is regarded as national leaders in the study of familial-clustered coronary heart disease.

Atlanta Falcons' Head Coach Dan Reeves who has had coronary disease at a young age, was also recognized for his strong advocacy role in educating the public to prevent premature coronary disease.

Heartfest helps raise funds to support the research programs of The Johns Hopkins Ciccarone Center for the Prevention of Heart Disease in addition to raising awareness about heart disease and its prevention in the community. The festivities included a heart-healthy menu prepared by chefs from 40 of Baltimore's most celebrated restaurants and caterers and opportunities to learn about the latest preventive cardiology research. Opportunity for aerobic activity was provided with dancing to the live music of Stevie V. and the Heart Attackers, a band comprised of cardiologists and cardiac surgeons, all engaged in the treatment of cardiovascular disease and its prevention.

(L to R) Heartfest 2001 Honorees - the husband and wife team of Drs. Diane and Lewis C. Becker. The Beckers, who started the Johns Hopkins Sibling Study in 1983, are regarded as national leaders for the study of familial-clustered coronary heart disease.