Dr. Herman A. Taylor, Jr., MD, MPH, FAHA, an endowed professor and the Morehouse School of Medicine Cardiovascular Research Institute director, is set to receive the 2024 American Heart Association Clinical Research Prize. This prestigious award will be presented during the AHA Scientific Sessions 2024, from Nov. 16-18 in Chicago.

Dr. Taylor expressed his gratitude, stating, “I’m deeply humbled by this award from the American Heart Association. Heart health and disease result from the convergence of many factors.” His research emphasizes understanding how social and environmental contexts influence heart disease, particularly in marginalized communities. He aims to advance precision in prevention and care.

The AHA Scientific Sessions is a premier event showcasing the latest advancements in cardiovascular science. During the Presidential Session on Nov. 17, Dr. Taylor will be honored alongside other notable awardees. Keith Churchwell, MD, FAHA, AHA’s 2024-2025 volunteer president, highlighted Dr. Taylor’s impactful work. “It’s my honor to present this award to Dr. Herman Taylor, whose passion for learning all that influences heart health across all populations is the type of work that moves medicine forward,” said Dr. Churchwell.

Dr. Taylor’s illustrious career includes serving as the principal investigator and founding director of the Jackson Heart Study, a pioneering effort focused on heart health within Black communities. He is also leading the Southeast Hub of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning Consortium to Advance Health Equity and Researcher Diversity initiative, which aims to bolster diversity in AI and machine learning research. Additionally, he directs the Morehouse-Emory Center for Health Equity study, which investigates resilience factors related to heart disease among Black Americans.

As the author of nearly 300 peer-reviewed articles and a member of the National Academy of Medicine, Dr. Taylor’s dedication to advancing health equity continues to inspire future generations in medicine.