MESA, Ariz. (June 13, 2020) -- The Puget Sound American Heart Association selected Gordon Cohen, MD, of Banner Children’s at Cardon Children’s Medical Center as this year’s Golden Heart Honoree. He joined Banner Children’s last year as director of the Congenital Heart Program, which provides congenital cardiac evaluation and medical and surgical care for patients, from newborns to adults. Dr. Cohen also serves as a professor of Surgery at the University of Arizona College of Medicine.
The Golden Heart award is given annually to an individual who has made significant contributions to the advancement of cardiovascular disease, treatment, research or prevention. The prestigious honor, which was presented virtually at a Zoom version of the annual Heart Ball on June 13, recognizes the best of the best in cardiovascular care and community support.
“I am deeply grateful to be selected as this year’s Golden Heart honoree by the Puget Sound American Heart Association, said Dr. Cohen. “It is humbling to be recognized by such a prestigious organization, and I feel fortunate to be able to fulfill my passion for helping those with life-threatening congenital heart disease, particularly children. I couldn’t do what I do without the many other dedicated health care professionals working alongside me in the past, and now, at Banner Health, where I am pleased to be supported and encouraged to continue my work in advancing congenital cardiac care.”
Dr. Cohen received his pediatric cardiac surgery training at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children in London and is the first American cardiac surgeon to receive an appointment as a consultant surgeon on their faculty. He then moved to Seattle Children’s Hospital, where he created, grew and led the congenital heart program into one of the premier children’s heart centers in the U.S., including achieving Top-12 status in U.S. News & World Report. While there, he was appointed as professor of surgery at the University of Washington and as the Sam and Althea Stroum endowed chair in pediatric cardiothoracic surgery. He also developed and expanded a major heart transplant and ventricular assist device program at Seattle Children’s.
In 2012, Dr. Cohen was recruited to the University of California, San Francisco Benioff Children’s Hospital as the Julien Hoffman professor and endowed chair of cardiac surgery, the vice chair of the UCSF Department of Surgery and surgical chief of pediatric cardiac surgery. There, he reorganized and rebuilt the pediatric cardiac surgery program with impressive volume growth and outstanding surgical outcomes, including mortality rates far below the national average in the Society for Thoracic Surgeons congenital heart surgery database.
Dr. Cohen cofounded Seattle-based online health care company 98point6, where he previously served as chief medical officer and remains a member of the Medical Advisory Board. He also is the medical correspondent for KIRO radio in Seattle and has a weekly spot called “Paging Dr. Cohen.”
About Banner Children’s
Banner Children’s, part of nonprofit Banner Health, cares for more kids than any other health system in Arizona. From well-child exams to treatment of minor injuries and illnesses to management of chronic conditions, the experienced team at Banner Children’s provides comprehensive, family-centered medical care for every child in Banner Health centers and clinics, emergency rooms, hospitals and outpatient facilities. Services include: behavioral health, cancer care, diabetes and endocrinology, digestive care, emergency care, heart care, neurosciences, primary care, surgery and more. For more information about Banner Children’s services, physicians and locations, visit www.BannerChildrens.com.