University of Pennsylvania Professor Barbara Riegel to Receive 2025 Clinical Research Prize for Self-Care Research
Barbara Riegel's pioneering work in self-care science for chronic illnesses like heart failure is being recognized with the American Heart Association's 2025 Clinical Research Prize, highlighting the growing importance of patient-centered care approaches in cardiovascular health.
Barbara Riegel, Ph.D., R.N., FAHA, Emerita Edith Clemmer Steinbright Professor of Gerontology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, will receive the American Heart Association's 2025 Clinical Research Prize at the Association's Scientific Sessions 2025. The meeting, to be held Nov. 7-10, 2025, in New Orleans, serves as a premier global exchange of the latest scientific advancements in cardiovascular science. Dr. Riegel's research focuses on self-care by individuals with chronic illnesses such as cardiovascular disease, which she defines broadly to include treatment adherence, condition monitoring and self-management of symptoms.
Dr. Riegel developed the internationally recognized Self-Care of Heart Failure Index, the premier evaluation tool to comprehensively measure self-care in patients with heart failure. Through rigorous psychometric testing and continuous refinement, the index has become the global standard for measuring self-care in heart failure, widely used in research, education and interdisciplinary clinical practice. Her work has been cited in hundreds of peer-reviewed publications, demonstrating its significant impact on the field.
Stacey E. Rosen, M.D., FAHA, the American Heart Association's 2025-2026 volunteer president, stated that "Dr. Riegel is a driving force in redefining chronic disease care through self-care science. Her pioneering research and unwavering commitment is shaping care models worldwide and improving the lives of patients and caregivers alike." Dr. Riegel's most recent research focuses on innovative strategies to support caregivers, including the development of virtual health coaching interventions aimed at promoting caregiver self-care.
The recognition of Dr. Riegel's work underscores the growing importance of patient-centered approaches in chronic disease management. Her research has helped bridge the gap between patient experiences and clinical care, developing standard ways to track and measure the burden of self-care for chronic health conditions. This award highlights the critical role that self-care science plays in improving outcomes for patients with cardiovascular diseases and other chronic conditions.
Dr. Riegel's distinguished career includes numerous awards from the Heart Association's Council on Cardiovascular and Stroke Nursing, including the Heart Failure Research Prize in 1998 and the Katherine A. Lembright Award for lifetime achievement in cardiovascular research in 2005. In 2015, she received the Distinguished Scientist Award from the American Heart Association, and in 2022, she was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Medicine from Linkoping University in Sweden in recognition of her pioneering work in self-care.