Association Honors Top Volunteers, Staff Member at Washington, D....(ssell Jr.Memorial Award which recognizes...),Health

The association's Award of Meritorious Achievement, which recognizes specific accomplishments that affect the association on a national level, was presented to: Kenneth M. Baker, M.D., professor and vice-chair for research in the Department of Medicine at the Texas A&M Health Science Center in Temple, Texas, for his leadership in the development of the association's strategic plan for 2006-16; Lance Becker, M.D., professor of emergency medicine at the University of Pennsylvania Center for Resuscitation Science in Philadelphia, and Graham Nichol, M.D., M.P.H., professor of medicine and director of the Harborview Center for Prehospital Emergency Care at the University of Washington in Seattle, for their work as founders of the association's Resuscitation Science Symposium; Ralph Szygenda, group vice president and chief information officer for General Motors Corporation World Headquarters in Detroit, Mich., and his wife Shelby, for their leadership of association "Heart Gala" fund-raising events; and John E. Warfel, president of the Westfield Financial Corporation in Westfield Center, Ohio, for his leadership in strengthening the association's audit function.

Virginia Gatlin, chief operating officer of field operations and development with the association's Western States Affiliate (which includes California, Nevada and Utah), received the Earl B. Beagle Award for Staff Excellence, which recognizes a staff person who has exhibited leadership, professionalism, dedication and excellence in performance.

About the American Heart Association

Founded in 1924, the American Heart Association today is the nation's oldest and largest voluntary health organization dedicated to building healthier lives, free of heart diseases and stroke. These diseases, America's No. 1 and No. 3 killers, and all other cardiovascular diseases, claim nearly 870,00
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