The award honors Douglas’ work in diversity and inclusion in the field of cardiology.
A DCRI faculty member received a Distinguished Award at the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and World Congress of Cardiology Scientific Sessions this weekend.
Last year, the American College of Cardiology (ACC) created the Distinguished Award for Leadership in Diversity and Inclusion. This year, the award went to the DCRI’s Pamela Douglas, MD, and in a second honor the award was renamed in her honor.
“Dr. Pamela S. Douglas has had a profound impact on the ACC as a past president and more recently as chair of the ACC’s Diversity and Inclusion Task Force,” says the website for ACC, which held its annual Scientific Sessions virtually this weekend for the first time in its history due to the global coronavirus pandemic. “Her leadership and vision have resulted in a comprehensive strategy for achieving a profession and a college that is diverse, inclusive and equitable. In recognition of her tireless efforts, the ACC is excited to name this award in her honor and make her its second recipient.”
In addition to her work in cardiovascular imaging, Douglas conducts research in gender equity within the field of cardiology and seeks solutions to mitigate inequities. She has led many ACC initiatives in this realm, including the release of a Health Policy Statement advocating for fair compensation and access to opportunity for cardiologists.
At this year’s conference, Douglas was a collaborator on a presentation entitled “Practice Factors Affecting Cardiologists’ Wellbeing,” which examined rates of cardiologist burnout and contributing factors to this burnout. The study was presented by Laxmi Mehta, MD, of the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.
“I am of course honored by receiving this award and stunned by it being renamed in my honor,” Douglas said. “But I am even more honored by the work my colleagues have pursued alongside me to help make this profession more inclusive and to attract the diversity we so desperately need to properly care for all of our patients. I would like to extend my gratitude to the ACC, and to each member of the Diversity and Inclusion Task Force.”