Newswise — PHILADELPHIA — The Center for Global Health in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania is pleased to honor Ernest Madu, MD, chairman and CEO of the Heart Institute of the Caribbean with its first annual Global Health Champion Award. Madu was presented with the award on Thursday, Sept. 15 as part of a celebration for Penn’s newly launched Center for Global Health.
Madu is an internationally recognized authority in cardiovascular medicine and innovative healthcare solutions. He has led multiple transformational health care projects that bridge gaps in access to quality health care delivery in Africa and the Caribbean.
“We are thrilled to bestow Madu with our inaugural Global Health Champion award,” said Glen Gaulton, PhD, vice dean and director of Global Health in the Perelman School of Medicine. “Madu’s commitment to health care quality and access is truly remarkable. His tremendous achievements in global health serve as an inspiration to our students and faculty as we continue to build upon our mission to advance worldwide health equity through enhanced awareness and access to care.”
Madu founded the Heart Institute of the Caribbean (HIC) in Kingston, Jamaica in 2004. The revolutionary health clinic serves as the center of excellence for cardiovascular diseases, occupational health, diabetes care, and general internal medicine in the West Indies. Prior to HIC’s inception, the only option for patients in need of these services was to travel at huge expense to the United States or other countries with more developed health care infrastructure. To date, HIC has provided more than $1 million in free or reduced care to its patients, a significant contribution in an area where 56 percent of hospital deaths are caused by cardiovascular disease.
“This award is a true honor and signifies the increased efforts from the global health community to prioritize non-communicable diseases,” Madu said. “Today, cardiovascular disease is second only to HIV/AIDS as the leading cause of death in sub-Saharan Africa. I look forward to a continued partnership with the Penn Center for Global Health to combat this growing epidemic and help improve the health and lives of people in need around the world.”
In addition to his role as Chairman and CEO of HIC, Madu has published more than 100 scientific papers in peer-reviewed medical journals and his work has been profiled in leading journals and magazines. He is a fellow of the American College of Cardiology, the European Society of Cardiology and the Royal College of Physicians, Edinburgh, and was most recently awarded the fellowship of the International Academy of Cardiovascular Sciences. Madu is also the Managing Partner of IHS Group, Nashville, Tenn.
Penn Medicine is one of the world's leading academic medical centers, dedicated to the related missions of medical education, biomedical research, and excellence in patient care. Penn Medicine consists of the Raymond and Ruth Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania (founded in 1765 as the nation's first medical school) and the University of Pennsylvania Health System, which together form a $5.3 billion enterprise.
The Perelman School of Medicine has been ranked among the top five medical schools in the United States for the past 18 years, according to U.S. News & World Report's survey of research-oriented medical schools. The School is consistently among the nation's top recipients of funding from the National Institutes of Health, with $373 million awarded in the 2015 fiscal year.
The University of Pennsylvania Health System's patient care facilities include: The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and Penn Presbyterian Medical Center -- which are recognized as one of the nation's top "Honor Roll" hospitals by U.S. News & World Report -- Chester County Hospital; Lancaster General Health; Penn Wissahickon Hospice; and Pennsylvania Hospital -- the nation's first hospital, founded in 1751. Additional affiliated inpatient care facilities and services throughout the Philadelphia region include Chestnut Hill Hospital and Good Shepherd Penn Partners, a partnership between Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network and Penn Medicine.
Penn Medicine is committed to improving lives and health through a variety of community-based programs and activities. In fiscal year 2015, Penn Medicine provided $253.3 million to benefit our community.
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