NEW YORK – May 5, 2026 – The TCT® 2026 Career Achievement Award will be presented to Patrick T. O’Gara, MD, during Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics® (TCT®), the annual scientific symposium of the Cardiovascular Research Foundation® (CRF®). TCT will take place October 31 – November 3, 2026, in San Diego, California. The award is given each year to an outstanding individual who has made extraordinary contributions to the field of interventional cardiology and has transformed cardiovascular care through clinical excellence, pioneering research, and mentorship of the next generation of physicians and researchers.
Dr. O’Gara is recognized worldwide as a master clinician, academic leader, and educator whose breadth of expertise and command of clinical data have redefined patient care. A cardiologist whose practice centers on patients with valvular, structural, and aortic disease, his work has been instrumental in charting the course for structural heart care. Beyond his clinical and research achievements, Dr. O’Gara is a trusted advisor and extraordinary mentor, whose career reflects a legacy of advancing patient care, nurturing the next generation, and translating evidence into practice.
"The TCT Career Achievement Award honors those who not only advance medicine, but also define its character," said Martin B. Leon, MD, Founder and Chairman Emeritus of CRF and TCT 2026 Program Director. “Pat is the embodiment of that principle. For years, he has served as our conscience, offering the steady guidance and profound clinical wisdom that has shaped our field. He represents the absolute best of cardiovascular medicine: a master clinician, a devoted mentor, and a leader of uncompromising integrity. There is simply no one more deserving of this award.”
"To be recognized by the leaders of interventional cardiology is an honor I never expected but will deeply cherish,” said Dr. O’Gara. “It speaks to the powerful spirit of collaboration that defines modern cardiovascular care. This recognition reflects the extraordinary colleagues, mentors, and trainees who have challenged and inspired me every day. Above all, it is a testament to the patients who entrust us with their care — the ultimate privilege of our profession.”
Among his current leadership roles, he is the Watkins Family Endowed Chair in Cardiology, Senior Physician in the Cardiovascular Division at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Mass General Brigham Heart and Vascular Institute, and Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. At the Brigham, he was formerly Clinical Director and interim Chief of Cardiovascular Medicine. Prior to that, he was on the cardiology faculty of Massachusetts General Hospital as a member of the catheterization laboratory faculty and Coronary Care Unit Director. Early in his career he was a guest researcher in the Cardiology Branch of the National Heart Lung, and Blood Institute.
“Pat’s career reminds us that medicine is not only about innovation, but also about purpose, compassion, and integrity,” added Juan F. Granada, MD, President and Chief Executive Officer of CRF and TCT 2026 Program Director. “His wisdom and leadership have shaped the values of our profession, and his impact on cardiovascular medicine, and on those fortunate enough to work with him, is both profound and enduring.”
His influence and thought leadership are extended via his leadership roles in multiple professional societies. He served as President of the American College of Cardiology, 2014–2015, Chair of the American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology Joint Committee on Clinical Practice Guidelines, 2019–2021, and Chair of the AHA Council on Clinical Cardiology, 2003–2005.
Dr. O’Gara is Co-Chair of the 2026 ACC/AHA Valvular Heart Disease Guideline Peer Review Committee and recently served as Deputy Editor for JAMA Cardiology and as a member of the Editorial Board of Circulation. He is Editor-in-Chief of the ACC Self-Assessment Programs and Collaborative Maintenance Program for Recertification, as well as past Director of the ACC Board Review Course. He’s been a writing committee chair or member for several practice guidelines, expert consensus documents, and policy statements.
In the research arena, Dr. O’Gara is senior investigator and Chair of the Publications Committee for the NHLBI Cardiothoracic Surgery Trial Network, national co-PI of the PRIMARY Trial for degenerative mitral regurgitation, and a member of the Heart Valve Collaboratory Executive Committee. He has lectured widely and authored or co-authored over 450 original manuscripts, chapters, critical reviews, statements and editorials.
His numerous accolades reflect his substantial contributions and widespread respect from peers. From the AHA, he has received the James B. Herrick Award, the Laennec Clinician Educator Award, the Laennec Master Clinician Award, and the Council’s Distinguished Achievement Award. ACC recognized him with its Distinguished Teacher Award and its Distinguished Fellowship Award.
Dr. O’Gara completed a cardiovascular medicine research fellowship at the NHLBI following a cardiology fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital, where he also completed his internal medicine residency, including a year as chief resident. He earned his medical degree at Northwestern University and undergraduate degree at Yale University, where he also captained the baseball team.
Previous recipients of the TCT Career Achievement Award include Geoffrey O. Hartzler, MD; David R. Holmes, MD; Patrick W. Serruys, MD, PhD; John B. Simpson, MD; Antonio Colombo, MD; Julio C. Palmaz, MD; Donald S. Baim, MD; William W. O’Neill, MD; J. Eduardo M.R. Sousa, MD, PhD; Eugene Braunwald, MD; James T. Willerson, MD; Paul Yock, MD; Barry T. Katzen, MD; Seung-Jung Park, MD; Spencer B. King III, MD; Alain G. Cribier, MD; Eric J. Topol, MD; Renu Virmani, MD; Andreas Gruentzig, MD; Michael J. Mack, MD; John E. Abele; and Runlin Gao, MD; Elazer Edelman, MD, PhD; Bram Zuckerman, MD; Robert O. Bonow, MD, MS; Valentin Fuster, MD, PhD; Stuart J. Pocock, PhD; Robert A. Harrington, MD; and Stephan Windecker, MD.
About CRF® and TCT®
The Cardiovascular Research Foundation® (CRF®) is a global leader in interventional cardiovascular medicine, driving innovation, spearheading groundbreaking research, and transforming education in the field. Through its relentless pursuit of excellence, CRF not only accelerates medical breakthroughs but also equips healthcare professionals with the tools and knowledge necessary to enhance survival rates and elevate the quality of life for millions worldwide. CRF’s centers of excellence include the CRF Skirball Center for Innovation, CRF Clinical Trials Center, CRF Center for Education, CRF Digital, TCTMD®, and Structural Heart: The Journal of the Heart Team.
Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics® (TCT®) is the annual scientific symposium of CRF and the world’s premier educational meeting specializing in interventional cardiovascular medicine. Anchored in a legacy spanning over three decades, TCT is a world-class educational experience featuring disruptive innovation, scientific breakthroughs, expert-led tutorials, hands-on training, and ample opportunities for networking and collaboration.
For more information, visit www.crf.org and www.tctconference.com.
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