Pediatric cardiac surgeon receives Gibbon Award from AmSECT

Richard A. Jonas, MD, Chief of Cardiac Surgery and Co-Director of the Children's National Heart Institute at Children's National Medical Center, has received the prestigious Gibbon Award from the American Society of Extra-Corporeal Technology (AmSECT).

Dr. Jonas was also honored in a tribute published in the journal Cardiology in the Young (Cambridge University Press), citing his contributions as a global leader in his field.

"These tributes, from a respected scientific society and a leading journal, are deserved recognition of Richard's skills as a surgeon, mentor, scientist, and pioneer in congenital heart disease," said Kurt D. Newman, MD, President and CEO of Children's National. "Those of us in pediatric surgery are well aware of the impact he has made on so many children worldwide, and we're delighted to see his contributions acknowledged."

The 2013 Gibbon Award was presented March 6 at AmSECT's 51st International Conference in Nevada. The Society's highest honor, the Gibbon Award recognizes an individual who has made significant contributions to the cardiopulmonary discipline interrelating with the field of extracorporeal circulation.

In addition, the journal Cardiology in the Young dedicated a special issue to Dr. Jonas to acknowledge his "tremendous contributions made to medicine." In the tribute article, author Jeffrey P. Jacobs, MD, of Johns Hopkins Children's Heart Surgery, All Children's Hospital, and Florida Hospital for Children, describes Dr. Jonas as a "a true leader among cardiac surgeons" and "a 'quintuple threat' professional, with sustained excellence in all five of these areas -clinical care, teaching, research, business leadership, and alignment." The article quotes Marshall L. Jacobs, MD, of Cleveland Clinic Children's Hospital, as saying, "Richard has directly touched the lives of tens of thousands, and indirectly through his generosity as a teacher, has literally improved the lives of millions of children and their families."

"I am honored to receive the Gibbon Award, which is the highest honor in the field of perfusion," said Dr. Jonas. "Likewise, I am humbled by the generous tribute in the HeartWeek issue of Cardiology in the Young. Helping to advance pediatric cardiac surgery and mentor others in this field has been my life's work, and I hope I have helped improve the lives of children with congenital heart conditions."