Irvine Page–Alva Bradley Lifetime Achievement Award 2001

Dr Robert Carey is dean and James Carroll Flippin Professor of Medical Science at the University of Virginia School of Medicine. He received his medical degree from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in 1965, completed his residency in medicine at the New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center, and won fellowships in endocrinology and hypertension at Vanderbilt and the University of London, England. He joined the faculty of the University of Virginia School of Medicine in 1973 and became head of the Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism in 1978, and Professor of Medicine in 1980. His highly successful deanship began in 1986.⇓

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Dr Alberto Nasjletti (left) and Dr Robert Carey (right)

As an American Heart Association volunteer, Dr Carey has been an Established Investigator (1975–1980) and a fellow of the Council for High Blood Pressure Research since 1975. He was president of the American Heart Association/Virginia Affiliate and has served on the Council for High Blood Pressure Research Executive Committee, the Long Range Planning Committee, the Professional Education Committee, the Program Committee, the Nominating/Membership Committee, and the Novartis Award Selection Committee. He also served on the Task Force on Intercouncil Activities and the Task Force on Council Structure.

Dr Carey is an internationally recognized leader in endocrinology. His research has focused on the hormonal control of blood pressure and kidney function. His work has contributed greatly to the elucidation of the function of the dopamine D₁ receptor and of the angiotensin (Ang) AT₂ receptor in the control of sodium excretion and blood pressure. His discoveries include (1) the biological activity of Ang III in man, (2) dopaminergic inhibition of aldosterance secretion, (3) the effects of selective dopamine D₁ receptor stimulation in man, leading to the development of fenoldopam as a therapeutic agent in hypertension, (4) the paracrine action of Ang II and dopamine in the physiological control of sodium excretion, (5) AT₂-receptor function via a bradykinin, nitric oxide, and cyclic GMP signaling pathway, (6) regulation of renin gene expression and renin secretion, including the direct effects of juxtaglomerular cell stretch and renin reexpression in the kidney, and (7) compartmentalization and extracellular action of cyclic GMP on sodium and water transport in the gastrointestinal tract and kidney.

Dr Carey is a member of the American Society for Clinical Investigation, the Association of American Physicians, and the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences and is President of the American Clinical and Climatological Association. He has received numerous awards, including the Distinguished Achievement Award of New York Hospital/Cornell Medical Center, the Distinguished Alumnus Award of Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, and the Lifetime Achievement Award of the Consortium for Southeast Hypertension Control. He is a Master of the American College of Physicians.

It is for these accomplishments—and many others during his distinguished career—that the American Heart Association Council for High Blood Pressure Research presents Dr Robert M. Carey the 2001 Irvine Page-Alva Bradley Lifetime Achievement Award.