Francois Abboud, MD, University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine faculty member, received the highest award in academic internal medicine—the 2009 George M. Kober Medal from the Association of American Physicians.

The award, named after George Kober, MD, a pioneer in public health reform in the late 1800s and early 1900s, recognizes physicians who are leaders in internal medicine.

Abboud, UI professor of internal medicine and molecular physiology and biophysics, is a researcher, educator, and clinician with a nearly 50-year career at the UI and a record of leadership in his profession. His work has contributed to the understanding and management of cardiovascular disease and stroke, and he pioneered the use of multidisciplinary research teams.

Abboud received the award April 26 at the joint meeting of the Association of American Physicians and the American Society for Clinical Investigation from UI colleague Michael Welsh, MD.

Welsh delivered the annual Kober lecture, on "Pursuing Cystic Fibrosis," at the association's meeting. The honor of presenting the lecture is given to a distinguished member who, as in the case of the medal honoree, has significantly contributed to advancements in the medical sciences.

"Dr. Abboud's storied career has been marked by his unflagging commitment and leadership both to Iowa and his field," said Jean Robillard, MD, UI vice president for medical affairs. "Frank has set high standards for patient care, education and research and brought excellence to all endeavors. Without his contributions, cardiovascular medicine at large and at the UI would not be where it is today. His great work will always be reflected in this institution and the field of cardiovascular research."

Abboud, who also holds the Edith King Pearson Chair of Cardiovascular Research at the UI, is founder and director of the UI Cardiovascular Research Center. He served as head of the UI Department of Internal Medicine for 26 years, from 1976 until 2002. The department developed lasting national recognition during his tenure, especially for its intensive research focus. Abboud also is UI associate vice president for research and a past president of the Association of American Physicians.

"Dr. Abboud's foresight about the value of interdisciplinary work and his ability to foster collaborative partnerships has been of utmost importance to advancing cardiovascular research overall and certainly at the University of Iowa. Frank is receiving a truly well-deserved recognition," said Paul Rothman, MD, dean of the UI Carver College of Medicine.

Among his many achievements, Abboud heads the Integrative Neurobiology of Cardiovascular Regulation program at the UI. The program recently received its eighth consecutive five-year grant renewal and is one of the longest continuously funded research programs under the direction of the same principal investigator supported by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.

The research effort focuses on finding how and why errors in the brain and nervous system cause heart and circulatory problems, including heart attacks, high blood pressure, heart failure, stroke and obesity. Abboud earlier discovered that the heart plays a major role as a neurosensory organ.

His studies have advanced knowledge about the interplay between the nervous system and the heart, enabling doctors to better treat heart disease, obstructive sleep apnea, high blood pressure and neurocardiogenic syncope, which is a condition that causes loss of consciousness due to a drop in blood pressure.

In addition to his past presidency with the Association of American Physicians, Abboud's leadership accomplishments include having served as president of the American Clinical and Climatological Association, the American Federation for Clinical Research, the Central Society for Clinical Research and the American Heart Association, which also named him a Distinguished Scientist for 2007.

Francois Abboud, MD

View a video interview with Dr. Abboud about this award

For more information:

Jean Robillard, MD

Michael Welsh, MD

Paul Rothman, MD

University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine

Association of American Physicians

National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute

UI Cardiovascular Research Center

NIH Awards $10.4 Million Grant to UI Cardiovascular Research Center