Boston University Professor Honored with Prestigious Mentorship Award for Cardiovascular Research Training
Dr. Emelia J. Benjamin of Boston University receives the 2025 Eugene Braunwald Academic Mentorship Award for her extensive work mentoring the next generation of cardiovascular researchers and clinicians, highlighting the critical role of mentorship in advancing cardiovascular science.
Dr. Emelia J. Benjamin, professor of medicine at Boston University, will receive the 2025 Eugene Braunwald Academic Mentorship Award during the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2025 in New Orleans. The award recognizes individuals with sustained excellence in teaching and mentoring future faculty researchers, educators, and healthcare professionals in cardiovascular care and research. Dr. Benjamin's recognition underscores the importance of mentorship in developing the next generation of cardiovascular scientists.
As the Jay and Louise Coffman Professor in Vascular Medicine at the BU Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine and professor of epidemiology at the BU School of Public Health, Dr. Benjamin has developed ongoing faculty development programs supporting early- and mid-career clinicians and researchers from diverse backgrounds. She has directed multi-institutional research fellowships supported by the Heart Association and the National Institutes of Health, including an international atrial fibrillation genetics fellowship and the NIH K12 program, Boston University Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women's Health. Her NIH-funded research has focused on atrial fibrillation, mobile health, inflammation, and chronic pain, with continuous NIH funding since 1998.
The impact of Dr. Benjamin's mentorship is evident in her trainees' success, with many receiving NIH Career Development Awards and launching careers in cardiovascular research. Stacey E. Rosen, the American Heart Association's 2025-2026 volunteer president, noted that Dr. Benjamin's commitment to training diverse early-career professionals continues to shape cardiovascular science and medicine. Dr. Benjamin has served in numerous roles for the Heart Association, advocating for early-career scientists and developing strong mentorship programs.
Dr. Benjamin's career includes significant contributions to cardiovascular research through her work with the Framingham Heart Study, which identified major heart disease risk factors, and authorship of over 800 peer-reviewed publications. She has co-chaired key initiatives like the 2008 National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute's Atrial Fibrillation Prevention Workshop and contributed to the 2023 ACC/AHA/ACCP/HRS Guideline for Atrial Fibrillation. Her honors include the Heart Association's Distinguished Scientist Award, Gold Heart Award, and recognition for supporting women and diverse backgrounds in cardiovascular science.
In response to the award, Dr. Benjamin expressed honor and emphasized the fulfillment of mentoring, acknowledging the legacy of Dr. Eugene Braunwald. Her educational background includes a medical degree from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, a master's in epidemiology from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and a bachelor's from Harvard University, with an honorary doctorate from Aalborg University in Denmark. For more information, visit https://www.heart.org.