The American Heart Association, a global force for healthier lives for all, is proud to announce that Dr. Christine E. Seidman, an internationally renowned physician-scientist and pioneer in cardiovascular genetics, has been selected as the recipient of the 2025 Paul Dudley White Award.
The award, established in 1974, is presented annually to a Boston-based medical professional who has made extraordinary contributions to cardiovascular or stroke care. Dr. Seidman will be honored at the 2025 Boston Heart and Stroke Ball, to be held on Saturday, April 5, at the Omni Boston Hotel at the Seaport.
A trailblazer in the field of cardiovascular genetics, Dr. Seidman serves as the Thomas W. Smith Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and director of the Cardiovascular Genetics Center at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Her groundbreaking research has transformed the understanding of inherited heart diseases, leading to revolutionary advances in diagnosis, treatment and prevention. She is the fourth woman to receive the Paul Dudley White Award.
The selection of Dr. Seidman by the Paul Dudley White Award Selection Committee reflects her unparalleled contributions to cardiovascular medicine. Her research has uncovered the genetic causes of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), a condition that is the leading cause of sudden cardiac death in young athletes. Her discoveries have enabled early genetic diagnoses, helping families understand their risk and receive appropriate medical care before symptoms develop. Moreover, her work has laid the foundation for innovative precision therapies, including the development of mavacamten, the first FDA-approved targeted treatment for HCM.
Dr. Seidman’s impact extends beyond the laboratory. A dedicated mentor and advocate for diversity in science and medicine, she has trained and inspired generations of young investigators, including many women and individuals from underrepresented backgrounds. Her commitment to fostering the next generation of physician-scientists reflects the values of Dr. Paul Dudley White, a founder of the American Heart Association and a champion of preventive cardiology, who was born in Roxbury and practiced medicine in Boston.
“Dr. Christine Seidman’s contributions have redefined modern cardiovascular genetics and biology, profoundly influencing the way we diagnose and treat inherited heart diseases,” said Karen Whitefield, the American Heart Association’s executive director in Greater Boston. “Her leadership, mentorship, and groundbreaking discoveries exemplify the highest ideals of the American Heart Association’s mission—to be a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives.”
Dr. Seidman is the co-director of the Seidman Lab at Harvard Medical School, which she leads alongside her husband, Jonathan G. Seidman. The lab is renowned for its groundbreaking research on the genetic causes of cardiovascular diseases, with a particular focus on inherited heart conditions.
A graduate of Harvard University with a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry, Dr. Seidman earned her medical degree from George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences. She completed her internship and residency at Johns Hopkins Hospital, followed by a fellowship in cardiology at Massachusetts General Hospital and a research fellowship at Harvard Medical School.
Dr. Seidman has authored more than 400 peer-reviewed research articles and has served in editorial roles for leading scientific journals, including the Journal of Clinical Investigation, American Journal of Medical Genetics, and Science. Throughout her career, Dr. Seidman has been recognized with numerous honors from the American Heart Association for her pioneering contributions to cardiovascular research.
The 2025 Boston Heart and Stroke Ball, where Dr. Seidman will receive the Paul Dudley White Award, is one of the premier fundraising events supporting the American Heart Association’s mission. The gala brings together leaders in healthcare, business, and philanthropy to celebrate advances in cardiovascular science and raise critical funds for heart disease and stroke research.
For more information about the event or to support the American Heart Association, please visit heart.org/BostonHB.