The American Heart Association names trailblazing cardiologist Keith Ferdinand Physician of the Year

The American Heart Association honored pioneering Tulane cardiologist Dr. Keith C. Ferdinand with its 2026 Physician of the Year Award on June 23 at the association's National Volunteer Awards ceremony in Irving, Texas.

The award recognized Ferdinand, the Gerald S. Berenson Chair in Preventative Cardiology and director of clinical cardiology at Tulane University School of Medicine, for his dedication to preventing heart disease, improving lives and ensuring more people, especially patients in under-resourced communities, have access to cardiovascular care.

"By any measure, Dr. Ferdinand is a legend in the field of cardiology and his career embodies Tulane's mission as a leading research institution," Tulane President Michael A. Fitts said. "For more than four decades, he has produced groundbreaking research that has brought cardiovascular health benefits to local communities and served as a global model for supporting better heart health worldwide. His work has led to measurable improvements in vital areas such as hypertension control and reducing other health risks. As an educator, researcher and physician, Dr. Ferdinand has said that his goal has always been the same: to help the most people."

- Dr. Keith C. Ferdinand

Ferdinand was born and raised in New Orleans' Lower Ninth Ward, a neighborhood where a career in medicine was not often seen as an option. But he was encouraged by his family and teachers, who saw in him the ability to make a difference. His commitment to preventive cardiology was shaped as chief resident in the emergency department at Charity Hospital in New Orleans and by mentors including Dr. Gerald S. Berenson.

"The key factor to becoming a cardiologist was understanding that heart disease and stroke are the leading causes of death and disability and that there are disparities based on race, ethnicity, sex, gender, geography, socioeconomic status, ability and disability," said Ferdinand, who studied biology at the University of New Orleans and graduated from Howard University School of Medicine.

In 1983, Ferdinand and his wife, Daphne, a registered nurse with a doctorate in nursing, opened Heartbeats Life Center, a cardiovascular clinic in New Orleans which they operated until it was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Ferdinand began teaching at Tulane in 2012. Last year, the university honored him with a portrait recognizing him as a trailblazer in preventive cardiology.

"I was pleased to have the opportunity to work at Tulane, and it has always been rewarding for me to serve communities," said Ferdinand, who is also a staff physician at LCMC Health's East Jefferson General Hospital, University Medical Center New Orleans and New Orleans East Hospital.

"Martin Luther King Jr. said, 'Everybody can be great because anybody can serve,'" Ferdinand added. "I believe that service to communities is the highest calling for medicine."

Tulane Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Robin Forman said he was "thrilled" to see Ferdinand receive what Forman called an "extraordinary recognition."

"Since his arrival at Tulane almost 15 years ago, he has excelled as a clinician, researcher and educator. He is a renowned figure within the community of cardiologists and researchers of cardiovascular disease and has held several key leadership roles in national organizations," Forman said. "At the same time, he is also a passionate advocate for the university's relationship with New Orleans and its commitment to ensure that everyone in our community has access to high-quality healthcare."

Ferdinand has published research in leading journals and held leadership positions in the Association for Black Cardiologists, the National Lipid Association, the American Society of Preventive Cardiology and the National Forum for Heart Disease & Stroke Prevention. He was vice chair of the writing committee for the influential American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology's 2025 High Blood Pressure Guideline.

"Dr. Keith Ferdinand exemplifies the very best of academic medicine. Throughout his distinguished career, he has advanced cardiovascular research, provided exceptional patient care and served as a dedicated mentor to generations of medical students, residents and fellows," said Dr. Lee Hamm, senior vice president and dean of the Tulane University School of Medicine. "His commitment to educating future physicians and improving heart health in our community has had a lasting impact within Tulane and far beyond it. We are proud to see Dr. Ferdinand recognized as the American Heart Association's Physician of the Year, an honor that reflects his extraordinary contributions to medicine, education and public health."

Ferdinand also serves as president of Healthy Heart Community Prevention Project, a nonprofit health organization that aims to eliminate differences in the rate of and treatment for cardiovascular disease in vulnerable communities.

"Keith takes his expertise in unraveling the challenges that face so many patients a step further," said Dr. Stacey E. Rosen, the American Heart Association's volunteer president. "He's passionate about reaching people in communities with the care they need to solve for critical problems like diabetes, high blood pressure and stroke."