A senior paediatric cardiologist at the Children's National Medical Centre in Washington, DC, has received the Distinguished Fellowship Award at the American College of Cardiology's Scientific Session.

Gerard Martin, MD, Senior Vice President of the Centre for Heart, Lung, and Kidney Disease, has helped lead the Children's National's Heart Institute to become an international leader in comprehensive cardiac care for infants, children and adults, while also continuing to develop Children's National's, and his, relationship with the UAE.

The Distinguished Fellowship Award recognises an individual who has played a significant and influential role in improving healthcare.

The award was presented to Dr. Martin during the Annual Convocation ceremony for being a dedicated champion of the ACC's goal to improve clinical outcomes in cardiovascular care.

In 2013, Dr. Martin's work with the Sheikh Zayed Institute for Paediatric Surgical Innovation on the Interventional Cardiac Magnet Resonance, ICMR, project ensured world-class standards in cardiology imaging, making it safer, more effective and enhancing diagnosis and treatment for patients.

Dr. Martin's critical congenital heart disease, CCHD, research led him to the evaluation and use of Pulse Oximetry as a screening tool for congenital heart defects in newborns. It inspired him to collaborate with his colleagues on the creation of the Congenital Heart Disease Screening Programme, an advocacy and education tool for healthcare providers, advocates, regulators, and legislators.

As well as treating Emirati children at Children's National, Dr. Martin has been travelling annually to the UAE for close to 20 years, working collaboratively with healthcare professionals. In 2011, Dr. Martin trained medical staff in Abu Dhabi to implement the standardised use of Pulse Oximetry, a new technique in the country at that time.

At Children's National, Dr. Martin has been practicing and teaching since 1986. Through the years, he has endeavoured to advance the American College of Cardiology's mission. He has served on the ACC's Board of Governors and Board of Trustees.

Recognising that congenital heart disease is the most common birth defect in the United States, he helped to form the college's Adult Congenital and Paediatric Cardiology Council and Section. The section spearheads numerous education, advocacy, science, and quality congenital heart disease programmes throughout the United States. As the Section Chair for six years, he helped to position the section as a model of success for the ACC.

Children's National Medical Centre, based in Washington, DC, has been serving the nation's children since 1870. Children's National is Magnet designated, and is consistently ranked among the top paediatric hospitals by U.S. News and World Report. Home to the Children's Research Institute and the Sheikh Zayed Institute for Paediatric Surgical Innovation, Children's National is one of the nation's top NIH-funded paediatric institutions.
Source: WAM