Newswise — Michael A. Weber, MD, professor of medicine and associate dean for research at SUNY Downstate Medical Center, will deliver the New York Academy of Medicine's (NYAM) 2013 Nahum J. Winer Lecture on October 8, 2013, from 6:00 to 7:30 pm, at NYAM, 1216 Fifth Avenue at 103rd Street, New York, NY 10029. The Winer lectureship was created by the family of Nahum J. Winer, a respected clinical and research cardiologist who was an officer of the New York Academy of Medicine for many years. Dr. Winer received his medical degree from SUNY Downstate. The event is free with registration.

Dr. Weber’s talk is titled, "Unresolved Issues in Diagnosing and Treating Hypertension: Is Renal Sympathectomy an Answer?" He will review what blood pressure levels are appropriate for treatment, currently proposed drug strategies, and the possible role of renal sympathectomy. Renal sympathectomy is a new but not yet FDA-approved procedure for treatment-resistant hypertension to get blood pressure below a defined goal. This technique destroys the nerves serving the kidneys, important in blood pressure control, by using a catheter to apply an electric current through the arteries that supply the kidneys. This method, although invasive, appears to be effective in many patients whose blood pressures cannot otherwise be controlled. Major clinical trials are now underway to examine this treatment more thoroughly.

Dr. Weber’s focus as a cardiologist has primarily been on hypertension and preventive cardiology. He has published numerous research articles in the medical literature and has authored or edited 16 books. Together with Suzanne Oparil, MD, he is responsible for the widely used reference volume, Hypertension. He is the editor-in-chief of The Journal of Clinical Hypertension and was one of the founders of The American Society of Hypertension (ASH), for which he has served as president.

About The New York Academy of Medicine The New York Academy of Medicine (NYAM) advances the health of people in cities. An independent organization since 1847, NYAM addresses the health challenges facing the world’s urban populations through interdisciplinary approaches to policy leadership, innovative research, evaluation, education, and community engagement. Drawing on the expertise of diverse partners worldwide and more than 2,000 elected Fellows from across the professions, NYAM’s current priorities are to create environments in cities that support healthy aging; to strengthen systems that prevent disease and promote the public’s health; to eliminate health disparities; and to preserve and promote the heritage of medicine and public health.