Babb honored with distinguished service award
Dr. Joseph D. Babb of East Carolina University’s Brody School of Medicine has received the Distinguished Service Award from the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions. The award is the highest honor given by the 3,300-member society.
Babb, an interventional cardiologist and professor of medicine, serves as director of the cardiology fellowship training program at the Brody School of Medicine. He is also director of the cardiac catherization laboratories at Pitt County Memorial Hospital. Babb is immediate past president of the North Carolina chapter of the American College of Cardiology and a fellow of the SCAI.
Babb
“I was deeply honored to receive this award,” Babb said. “Teaching medical students and residents creates an opportunity to have a lasting impact on our profession, as does volunteering in professional associations. I feel enormously privileged to be a physician and believe it’s appropriate to give back to my profession in thanks for all it has given me.”
The award is presented annually to a SCAI fellow who has worked tirelessly and effectively on behalf of the cardiovascular profession and on the society’s mission of advancing the field of invasive/interventional cardiovascular care for patients. Babb received the award in May at the 28th annual Scientific Session of the Melvin P. Judkins Imaging Symposium, held in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.
“The Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University has the good fortune to count Dr. Babb among its faculty. Over many years, Dr. Babb has contributed his knowledge and expertise to our cardiology training program and to the care of patients in eastern North Carolina,” said Dr. Wayne Cascio, chief of cardiology in the Department of Internal Medicine at ECU. “In particular, Dr. Babb is well known for his evidence-based approach to patient care and his commitment to the educational mission of the school.”
“Dr. Babb represents the highest ideals of SCAI and medicine in general,” said Michael J. Cowley, SCAI’s immediate past president, who nominated Babb for the award. “In addition to being a skilled cardiologist, Dr. Babb has been an extraordinary advocate for advancing cardiovascular care and fostering the ideals of the cardiovascular profession.”
Babb served as society president in 2001-2002. Previously, he headed the group’s Continuing Medical Education Committee, spearheading its effort to earn accreditation status for the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education and developing guidelines for SCAI educational programs.
As president, he oversaw a successful effort to expand the society’s membership. He also brought together representatives of all the international medical societies focused on interventional cardiology, launching a “cardiology roundtable” to address the common concerns of cardiologists and their patients. The effort led to the development of a new organization, the Coalition of Cardiovascular Organizations, which Babb chaired in 2004.
Babb continues to volunteer and recently chaired the society’s advocacy committee. He has become an expert on regulatory and legislative issues and has represented the society numerous times in meetings with government policymakers, according to the society.
The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions is a 3,300-member professional organization dedicated to promoting excellence in invasive and interventional cardiovascular medicine through physician education and representation and advancement of quality standards to improve patient care.