NEW YORK – June 22, 2026 – The Cardiovascular Research Foundation® (CRF®) will present the New York Valves Career Achievement Award to Igor F. Palacios, MD, honoring his pioneering advances in structural heart intervention and his enduring influence on cardiovascular medicine through innovation, research, and mentorship. Dr. Palacios will receive the award during New York Valves: The Structural Heart Summit® to be held June 24–26, 2026 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, North.
Dr. Palacios’s distinguished career has been defined by visionary innovation, global collaboration, and a spirit of mentorship that continues to energize the structural heart community. Throughout his 45-year career, Dr. Palacios has been a pioneer in cardiac catheterization and the percutaneous treatment of structural and valvular heart disease. He introduced and refined several transformative procedures, including mitral balloon valvuloplasty, aortic balloon valvuloplasty, and the percutaneous pericardial window technique. He performed the first mitral balloon valvuloplasty in the United States and subsequently developed the double-balloon mitral valvuloplasty technique, utilizing a single atrial transseptal puncture. In collaboration with the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory at the University of California, Davis, he also co-developed the percutaneous septal sinus shortening (PS3) system.
“Igor, first and foremost, stands as an iconic pioneer in the development of transcatheter therapies for patients with mitral valve disease,” said Martin B. Leon, MD, Executive Chairman, Research, Education & the Leon Center for Transformative Innovation at CRF and New York Valves Program Director. “He embodies the true essence of a collaborative global heart valve team. His legendary commitment to mentorship and training has shaped hundreds of physician leaders around the world, each carrying the proud stamp of his guidance – trained by Igor Palacios. Through his kindness, generosity, advanced interventional expertise, practical academic approach, and passion for patient-centered care, Igor has nurtured a loyal community of structural heart specialists united by his vision and humanity.”
“It is a profound honor to receive the New York Valves Career Achievement Award,” said Dr. Palacios. “My greatest passion has been advancing the field of structural heart disease through collaboration and innovation — and, above all, mentoring the next generation of physicians. This recognition is deeply meaningful to me, and I share it with colleagues, fellows, and friends around the world who have inspired and worked alongside me to improve patients’ lives.”
This award recognizes Dr. Palacios for his extraordinary scientific and procedural achievements, his innovative approaches to structural heart disease interventions, his compassionate leadership, and his global influence as a clinician, pioneer, and mentor to trainees across every continent. His teaching and collaboration have extended across Latin America and beyond, shaping the practice of structural heart interventions around the world.
“Igor has played a transformative role in the evolution of mitral valve innovation,” added Juan F. Granada, MD, President and Chief Executive Officer of CRF and New York Valves Program Director. “He pioneered the mitral balloon valvuloplasty technique, performing the first such procedure in the United States, and has continued to advance the field through decades of groundbreaking work. An extraordinary role model and visionary, Igor’s contributions have left a lasting impact on CRF, across Latin America, and throughout the cardiovascular community.”
Dr. Palacios has served as director of the Knight Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory at Massachusetts General Hospital for 28 years and is a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. In this role, he oversees clinical outcomes for the department and guides the selection of clinical trials for Mass General participation. He considers one of his greatest professional honors to lead two fellowship programs, in interventional cardiology and in structural heart disease, where he mentors and trains early-career physicians.
Showcasing his pride in his Hispanic heritage, Dr. Palacios is a founding member of the Latin American Society for Interventional Cardiology, establishing interventional cardiology clinical trials throughout Latin America. He also served as president of the Consortium of Latin-American Investigators of New Interventions in Cardiology (CLINIC).
Accolades for his achievements have come from both his native Venezuela and the United States. He was awarded the Gran Cordón del Liberador (Grand Rope of the Liberator) in 1999, the highest honor awarded by the Republic of Venezuela. In addition, he was recognized by Woodward/White Inc. as one of the Best Doctors in the United States for more than a decade, received the Roman DeSanctis award for clinical excellence in 2019, and received the Clinician of the Year Award in 1997.
A prolific researcher, Dr. Palacios has published more than 500 peer-reviewed publications. He is a member of the scientific or editorial boards of several journals such as Gaceta Médica de Caracas, Latin American Journal of Cardiology, and Journal of Invasive Cardiology. He is also an ad hoc reviewer for American Journal of Cardiology, Journal of American College of Cardiology, and New England Journal of Medicine, among others.
Dr. Palacios earned his MD at the Universidad Central de Venezuela in 1969 with Magna Cum Laude honors. He completed his internship in internal medicine, residency in cardiology, and clinical and research fellowship at Hospital Universitario de Caracas, Universidad Central de Venezuela. He continued his training with a research fellowship at Harvard Medical School and later earned a master’s degree from Harvard University in 2013. He is board-certified in internal medicine, cardiovascular disease, and interventional cardiology.
Outside of medicine, Dr. Palacios enjoys maintaining an active lifestyle by playing tennis. He is incredibly proud of his family, including his wife, Candy, and his daughter, Lily.
About CRF®
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.
For more information, visit www.crf.org.
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