“Our work is helping make better decisions by enhancing our ability to predict cardiovascular outcomes,” said Dr. Douglas Lee,
cardiologist and research scientist at the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre and Toronto General Research Institute.(Photo: PhotoGraphics)
Peter Munk Cardiac Centre staff cardiologist and Toronto General Research Institute Scientist, Dr. Douglas Lee has won the Canadian Cardiovascular Society's 2014 Robert E. Beamish Award. This honour is given to the lead author of a research article published in
The Canadian Journal of Cardiology within the past three years that is judged to have the greatest potential impact in cardiovascular medicine.
"Our work is helping make better decisions by enhancing our ability to predict cardiovascular outcomes," says Dr. Lee. "This can lead to better decision-making for patients with heart failure who need to come to the emergency department for diagnosis and treatment."
A recipient of the Young Investigator Award from the Canadian Cardiovascular Society in 2009 for outstanding achievements in clinical or basic science activities related to cardiovascular disease, the Robert E. Beamish Award is a recognition of the continued contribution of Dr. Lee's exemplary research into the prevention of cardiovascular diseases and overall career contribution.
"It is a great honour to be recognized by our national society for cardiovascular sciences," says Dr. Lee, whose research interests include heart failure epidemiology and outcomes, cardiovascular disease risk factors and prevention, and quality of care and outcomes research. "There are many excellent cardiovascular research scientists, and it is fabulous to have colleagues and peers appreciate your work."
Through his research, Dr. Lee has helped physicians understand cardiovascular disease epidemiology and outcomes, improving the health of cardiac patients both in Canada and elsewhere. Among his studies, Dr. Lee examined 129 Ontario hospitals, focusing on a select number of conditions: acute myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, hip fracture, and colon cancer. Researchers examined one month and one year mortality and readmissions, as well as major cardiac events in the studied patients. Dr. Lee concluded that Ontario hospitals with higher spending intensity were associated with lower mortality rates, readmissions, and cardiac events. The high number of in-patient consults, follow-up specialist visits, and follow-ups with family doctors at the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre directly contributed to lower mortality and readmissions
"I have a great group of colleagues at the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre who have shared their enthusiasm for heart failure outcomes research" says Dr. Lee. "I am immensely proud for their support and collegiality."
The Dr. Robert E. Beamish Award was presented to Dr. Douglas Lee at the Canadian Cardiovascular Society Awards Ceremony at the Canadian Cardiovascular Congress on October 25th, 2014 in Vancouver, B.C.
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