ATLANTA—Awards presented at the SCAI 2022 Scientific Sessions in Atlanta recognized outstanding SCAI members for their ongoing contributions to the field of interventional cardiology, the Society, and patient care. Honorees span a broad spectrum of practitioners, all of whom have demonstrated a commitment to excellence throughout their careers, helping to shape the Society as well as the lives of patients and mentees. 

The following awards were presented: 

Mason Sones Award for Distinguished Service

Cindy L. Grines, MD, MSCAI and Ehtisham Mahmud, MD, FSCAI are this year’s recipients of the F. Mason Sones Distinguished Service Award. The award, presented in honor of SCAI’s co-founder, signifies excellence and dedication to education and quality of care. 

SCAI Helping Hearts Lifetime Service Award 

James Blankenship, MD, MSCAI was honored as the Society’s Helping Hearts Lifetime Service Award recipient. The award recognizes SCAI Fellows and Master Fellows who have been members for more than 25 years and have provided substantial and consistent service to the Society during that time. 

SCAI Helping Little Hearts Lifetime Service Award 

Ziyad Hijazi, MD, MSCAI was awarded the Helping Little Hearts Lifetime Service Award. The award recognizes the work of interventional cardiologists specializing in the treatment of pediatric congenital heart disease who work tirelessly to develop less invasive solutions and optimize outcomes for their young patients.   

Master Interventionalists of SCAI 

Also recognized were the newest inductees as Master Interventionalists of SCAI (MSCAI), the highest distinction given by SCAI. The Society gives this distinction to Fellows nominated by their peers for outstanding clinical and research credentials. To be considered for the MSCAI designation, Fellows must have earned their FSCAI designation 10 or more years ago and been active in SCAI during that time.

This year’s nine MSCAI honorees are: 

• Deepak Bhatt, MD, MSCAI 
• Joaquin Cigarroa, MD, MSCAI 
• Thomas Fagan, MD, MSCAI 
• Marc Feldman, MD, MSCAI 
• Tim Fischell, MD, MSCAI 
• C. Michael Gibson, MD, MSCAI 
• Dean Kereiakes, MD, MSCAI 
• Ahmed Magdy, MD, MSCAI 
• Oscar Mendiz, MD, MSCAI 
• Michael Savage, MD, MSCAI