Dr. Gerald D. Buckberg, distinguished professor of surgery in the division of cardiothoracic surgery at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, was awarded the 2007 Scientific Achievement Award by the American Association for Thoracic Surgery in Washington D.C. on May 8.

Established in 1994, the award honors individuals who have achieved scientific contributions in the field of thoracic surgery worthy of the highest recognition.

Previous recipients of this award are an illustrious group of cardiac surgeons of worldwide eminence that include John Kirklin, Norman Shumway, Michael DeBakey, Denton Cooley, and Alain Carpentier.

Buckberg was selected for his significant contributions in the field of myocardial preservation and his study of the anatomy and functional changes that cause heart failure. The Association also cited his persistence in teaching other surgeons how to better protect the heart during heart surgery as one of the most important contributions of modern-day cardiothoracic surgery.

Buckberg was an intern and resident at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, MD. He completed his general surgical residency and cardiothoracic training at UCLA, and his research training at the Cardiovascular Institute at the University of California, San Francisco. He is a member of multiple surgical societies, including the American Association of Thoracic Surgery, American Surgical Association, and the Society of Thoracic Surgeons.