Mariell Jessup, MD, professor of Medicine, associate chief, Clinical Affairs, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, and medical director of the Penn Medicine Heart and Vascular Center, has become the president of the American Heart Association (AHA). Her term begins July 1, 2013.

“I am thrilled and honored to serve as the president of the AHA. It is an outstanding organization dedicated to building healthier lives, free of cardiovascular disease and stroke,” said Jessup, who is also a member of the Penn Medicine Cardiovascular Institute.  “These goals are the same as those I have dedicated my professional life to, so this new role is a perfect fit.”

Dr. Jessup’s focus throughout her career has been on the optimal management of patients with heart failure, including the appropriate selection of patients for heart transplant or ventricular assist devices (VADs). As medical director of the Penn Medicine Heart and Vascular Center, she works with a multi-disciplinary team of cardiologists, cardiac and vascular surgeons, nurse practitioners, and nurses to deliver collaborative, cutting-edge care to heart patients.

“Dr. Jessup ascends to this position of national leadership at a critical moment in the field of cardiovascular disease. In doing so, she follows on the rich tradition of Penn Medicine in the nation's service,” said Richard P. Shannon, MD, Frank Wister Thomas Professor of Medicine and chair, Department of Medicine at Penn. “Her detailed understanding of the importance of discovery toward the betterment of the human condition will inform her tenure. Her experience as a clinician will insure that the voice of the patient burdened with heart disease will be heard above all else.”

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