LOS ANGELES Lance Becker, MD, a professor of Emergency Medicine and director of the Center for Resuscitation Science at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, will receive the American Heart Associations 2012 Award for Lifetime Achievement in Cardiac Resuscitation Science during the organizations annual Scientific Sessions.

Dr. Becker is board certified in internal medicine, emergency medicine and critical care medicine, and during his career has played key roles in the dissemination of automated external defibrillators into the public arena, expanding the science of CPR quality, and developing a resuscitation training program. His research interests extend across the basic science laboratory from animal models of resuscitation into human therapies such as novel methods of therapeutic hypothermia induction and the use of cardiac bypass following cardiac arrest. His cellular studies have helped define cellular reperfusion injury mechanisms, mitochondrial oxidant generation, reactive oxygen and nitrogen species responses to ischemia, apoptotic activation following ischemia, signaling pathways and new cellular cytoprotective strategies.

He has held numerous leadership posts within the American Heart Association, and he helped create the organizations Resuscitation Science Symposium, the leading international venue for the presentation of cutting-edge science in resuscitation. Dr. Becker has worked closely with the NIH as a reviewer and grantee, and as a leader for National Heart Lung and Blood Institute initiatives supporting research funding in resuscitation research. He also served as a member of the Food and Drug Administration Device Evaluation panels and has appeared before the FDA panels as an expert presenter. He is an elected member of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies.

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Penn Medicine is one of the world's leading academic medical centers, dedicated to the related missions of medical education, biomedical research, and excellence in patient care. Penn Medicine consists of the Raymond and Ruth Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania (founded in 1765 as the nation's first medical school) and the University of Pennsylvania Health System, which together form a $4.3 billion enterprise.

The Perelman School of Medicine is currently ranked #2 in U.S. News & World Report's survey of research-oriented medical schools. The School is consistently among the nation's top recipients of funding from the National Institutes of Health, with $479.3 million awarded in the 2011 fiscal year.

The University of Pennsylvania Health System's patient care facilities include: The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania -- recognized as one of the nation's top "Honor Roll" hospitals by U.S. News & World Report; Penn Presbyterian Medical Center; and Pennsylvania Hospital the nation's first hospital, founded in 1751. Penn Medicine also includes additional patient care facilities and services throughout the Philadelphia region.

Penn Medicine is committed to improving lives and health through a variety of community-based programs and activities. In fiscal year 2011, Penn Medicine provided $854 million to benefit our community.

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Penn Medicine Expert to Receive American Heart Association's Lifetime Achievement Award in Cardiac Resuscitation Science