University of Michigan professor recognised with PHA Award of Excellence

The Pulmonary Hypertension Association (PHA) and Actelion Pharmaceuticals US, Inc., today announced Dr. Vallerie McLaughlin of the University of Michigan Health System as the recipient of the annual PHA Award of Excellence in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) Care. As part of the award, the University of Michigan System will receive a grant in the amount of $50,000 to support continued excellence in care for patients with PAH. The award is supported by an unrestricted educational grant from Actelion and will be presented at the PHA's 2010 International PH Conference and Scientific Sessions this week in Garden Grove, California.

"We are pleased to recognize Dr. McLaughlin this year for her unrelenting efforts to better the lives of patients with PAH, and to offer our support to the University of Michigan to continue to inspire the entire community with excellence in care," said Michael McGoon, M.D., professor of medicine and consultant in Cardiology at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and chair of the Independent PHA Award Steering Committee. "The PHA Award of Excellence provides physicians with reinforcement that their research and level of patient care is meaningful to the PAH community, especially for a debilitating condition that is so misunderstood, under-diagnosed and under-treated."  

Approximately 100,000 people suffer from PAH, a chronic, potentially fatal disease that is characterized by high blood pressure in the lungs.  Patients experience symptoms such as shortness of breath and fatigue, which limit their daily activities and in some cases are so severe that they cannot get out of bed. For these patients, exceptional physician expertise and care is vital to their improvement and overall well-being.

"Dr. McLaughlin was selected in recognition of the quality and broad scope of her service to the PH community. She has served as editor of Advances in Pulmonary Hypertension, PHA's medical journal and as Chair of PHA's Scientific Leadership Council which provides governance for all of the organization's medical activity.  She has generously provided her time to provide medical education for patients, physicians and allied health professionals and has led committees that are shaping a better future for patients living with this disease," said Rino Aldrighetti, president of PHA. "In recent years, patient morale and outlook have improved due to excellent patient care and the continued drive of the entire PAH community to bring better treatment options to patients. Dr. McLaughlin epitomizes this drive, and we thank her for her commitment to improving outcomes for patients with PAH."

Dr. McLaughlin was selected as this year's award recipient by the 2010 PHA Award Steering Committee, comprised of: Dr. McGoon; David Badesch, M.D., professor of medicine in the Divisions of Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine and Cardiology, and the clinical director of the Pulmonary Hypertension Center at the University of Colorado; Linda Carr, parent of a PH patient and past chair of PHA's Board of Trustees; Gregory Elliott, M.D., chairman, Department of Medicine, Intermountain Medical Center and professor of medicine at the University of Utah School of Medicine; Jack Stibbs, parent of a PH patient and past PHA board chair; and Joanne Sperando-Schmidt, PH patient and past PHA board member. Criteria in selecting the recipients included: proven resources required for excellence in PAH patient care, service to the PAH community, and consistent provision of cutting-edge options for patients living with PAH.