UT Southwestern Cardiologist Amit Khera Receives Prestigious 2025 Chairman's Award for Preventive Cardiology Contributions

Dr. Amit Khera, director of preventive cardiology and clinical chief of cardiology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, will receive the 2025 Chairman's Award at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions in November. The award recognizes his distinguished accomplishments and service to the organization, particularly his leadership in strengthening the annual Scientific Sessions during his tenure as chair in 2023 and 2024, and as vice chair in 2021 and 2022.

Lee A. Shapiro, J.D., the 2025-2026 volunteer chairperson of the National Board of Directors for the American Heart Association, emphasized Khera's exceptional volunteer leadership and significant contributions to strengthening the Association at both national and local levels. As chair of the Scientific Sessions Program Committee, Khera facilitated greater collaboration among the Association's councils and committees to provide multidisciplinary educational content appealing to a broad range of healthcare professionals and scientists.

Khera's professional career has transformed the field of preventive cardiology through several groundbreaking clinical studies. His work in cardiovascular risk assessment includes impactful observations from the Dallas Heart Study on applications of coronary artery calcium scanning. Notably, he was funded by NASA to develop the Astro-CHARM calculator, currently used to screen astronauts for heart disease risks. He is also leading an innovative study evaluating the use of the blood donation system to screen blood donors for familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), a genetic condition causing high cholesterol levels.

The implications of Khera's work extend far beyond academic recognition. His development of risk assessment tools and screening methodologies could revolutionize how healthcare systems identify and prevent cardiovascular disease in high-risk populations. The Astro-CHARM calculator represents a practical application of preventive cardiology that could be adapted for broader civilian use, potentially improving early detection of heart disease in general populations.

Khera's commitment to preventive cardiology stems from his residency experience caring for a 45-year-old man hospitalized for his seventh heart procedure. This inspired his focus on risk assessment and risk factor modification in people with premature and family histories of cardiovascular disease. His extensive publication record includes serving on the writing committee for the 2019 ACC/AHA Guideline on the Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease.

As a past volunteer president of the Association's Dallas and Southwest Region Board of Directors, Khera drove local engagement and strategic impact across the cardiovascular community. He has been an integral member of the Association's Cardiovascular Kidney-Metabolic (CKM) Health Scientific Advisory Group since 2022, working to harmonize gaps in clinical care and establish a new roadmap for patients with CKM syndrome through prevention and management of existing disease.

Khera expressed humility about the recognition, stating his pride in working collaboratively with the Association to improve cardiovascular health and advance scientific discovery. His work in preventive cardiology, particularly in risk assessment tools and screening initiatives, represents a significant advancement in the fight against cardiovascular disease, which remains a leading cause of death worldwide. The practical applications of his research could lead to more effective screening protocols and earlier interventions, potentially saving countless lives through improved preventive care strategies.