University of Minnesota Doctor gets
National Award from American Heart Association

Dr. Russell Luepker receives ‘Science Advocate of the Year’

MINNEAPOLIS – The American Heart Association has named Russell Luepker, M.D. , of Minneapolis , “Science Advocate of the Year.” The award was presented at the association’s annual Congressional Lobby Day, You’re the Cure on the Hill, in Washington, D.C. on April 29.

For 30 years, Dr. Luepker, Mayo Professor, Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health at the University of Minnesota, has been a n active association volunteer and leading advocate for increased federal funding for heart disease and stroke research and prevention programs. He’s also served on numerous committees and is a member of the association’s You’re the Cure nationwide network of volunteers actively involved in the association’s public policy agenda ,

 “Dr. Luepker has been invaluable as a volunteer, serving as an advocate at the state legislature and offering his expertise for federal policy issues,” said Rachel Callanan, American Heart Association senior advocacy director from Minnesota.   “His contributions have been key in helping us move legislation.”

The Science Advocate of the Year award is given to a medical professional who is actively engaged in communicating with lawmakers on behalf of the association’s heart and stroke issues. The honoree has served as a role model for other science advocates, recruited advocates and encouraged others to get involved.

You’re the Cure on the Hill brought nearly 700 volunteers, heart disease and stroke survivors and staff to the nation’s capital this year, to ask members of Congress to do more to fight heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular d iseases, nation’s No. 1 killer.

Locally, Luepker has worked on behalf of the association in Minnesota since 1977 , when he took on the first of countless committee assignments, serving on the Hyp ertension Screening Committee. He served on the chapter’s board of directors from 1982-92, and was president from 1990- 91. He joined the Minnesota Advocacy Committee in 1996, was involved in the effort to persuade candidates for governor to sign a pledge to refuse political contributi ons from the tobacco industry. In 1999, the advocacy committee, of which Luepker was a member, developed an award for legislators who sponsored and supported association ’s legislative priorities. He has taken strong public positions on behalf of association , testifying before numerous House and Senate committees on legislation related to a statewide smoking ban, and funding for the Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Act.

For the past 20 years, his work at the national level on behalf of association is focused on the goal of involving more hea lth professionals in advocacy. He has served as a volunteer at the national level for association , as Epidemiology Council Program chair from 1987- 90, as Council chair from 1990- 92, and as chair of the association’s international conference Scientifc Sessions from 1995-97. He rose to the association’s National Bo ard, serving a term from 1995-97. This was followed by service on the Council L eadership committee from 2004- 06, the Scientific Advisory C ommittee from 2005- 07, and as chair of the Executive Data Base Steering Committee from 2005-07. He testified before the Environmental Protection Agency in support of association recommendations for particulate emissions and c ardiovascular disease in 2005. And, remaining true to his roots as a clinical researcher, he has advocated for increased cardiovascular research funding and the promotion of a National Registry for Cardiovascular Disease, engaging the NIH, CDC and NCHS.