Dana Owens, who is better known as Queen Latifah, will receive the distinguished health advocate award from the Association of Black Cardiologists (ABC) during the organization’s “Spirit of the Heart” awards gala on Oct. 1 in New York.
The ABC said in a news release that Owens, a well-known rapper, actor and producer, has been an advocate for heart health since her mother, Rita, was diagnosed with heart failure. Dana Owens has promoted preventative care and attempted to help reduce cardiovascular disease disparities.
Earlier this year, Owens and her mother shared their story and joined the American Heart Association’s “Rise Above Heart Failure” campaign, which is funded by Novartis Pharmaceuticals. The campaign hopes to increase the awareness and understanding of heart failure, encourage people to have healthier lifestyles and reduce heart failure hospitalization rates.
The ABC will also honor the following individuals, company and college at the awards gala:
- Michael J. Dowling - President and CEO, Northwell Health - ABC Spirit of the Heart Award
- Luther T. Clark, MD - Global Director, Scientific Medical and Patient Perspective; Office of the Chief Patient Officer, Merck and Co. – ABC Distinguished Leadership Award
- Valentin Fuster, MD, PhD - Director, The Mount Sinai Heart; Physician in Chief, The Mt. Sinai Medical Hospital, Professor – Dr. Walter M. Booker, Sr. Health Promotion Award
- Arbor Pharmaceuticals accepted by Ed Schutter, CEO – ABC Health Equity Award
- Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University accepted by Vincent J.B. Robinson, MD – ABC Diversity in Cardiology Award
- Yele Aluko, MD, MBA - Senior Vice President and Medical Director, Novant Health Heart and Vascular Institute – ABC Mentorship Award
- Felipe C. Robinson, MD - Founding Member of the ABC - ABC Visionary Award (posthumous) – accepted by his daughter, Erron Al-Amin
Executive Editor
Tim Casey joined TriMed Media Group in 2015 as Executive Editor. For the previous four years, he worked as an editor and writer for HMP Communications, primarily focused on covering managed care issues and reporting from medical and health care conferences. He was also a staff reporter at the Sacramento Bee for more than four years covering professional, college and high school sports. He earned his undergraduate degree in psychology from the University of Notre Dame and his MBA degree from Georgetown University.