UCSD family and preventive medicine professor Michael Criqui has been awarded the American Heart Association’s 2008 Distinguished Achievement Award, sponsored by the AHA’s Council on Epidemiology and Prevention.

Criqui, a respected authority on the incidence and prevention of cardiovascular diseases, accepted the award last week at the AHA’s Scientific Sessions in New Orleans.

“I am surprised and deeply gratified by this honor,” he said. “The award also belongs to colleagues who have provided much insight and support. I accept this award on behalf of them.”

Much of Criqui’s work focuses on the occurrence of peripheral artery disease, which affects between 8 to 12 million people nationwide and gives patients four times the normal risk of heart attack or stroke.

Criqui has written or co-authored many influential papers on PAD highlighting its high mortality risk and underestimated prevalence. He is also a member of UCSD’s Sulpizio Family Cardiovascular Center, where experts in cardiovascular research, cardiology and cardiothoracic surgery collaborate to address heart disease and stroke.

“This award from the American Heart Association is in recognition of the excellent work that Dr. Criqui has achieved for more than two decades,” said Ted Ganiats, professor and interim chair of the department of family and preventive medicine. “Peripheral artery disease is a common problem that causes significant disability and is a risk for heart disease. Dr. Criqui’s work is critical in our treatment and understanding of patients everywhere.”