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Gill Heart Institute Physician Receives National Excellence in Teaching Award

LEXINGTON, KY (July 29, 2014) -- Dr. Mikel Smith, the Alberto Mazzoleni Professor of Cardiology and the director of echocardiography at the Gill Heart Institute, has been given the American Society of Echocardiography's 2014 Richard Popp Excellence in Teaching Award.

The award recognizes an outstanding teacher who epitomizes the ideal qualities of a mentor and role model.

According to Dr. Vincent Sorrell, director of advanced cardiovascular imaging at the Gill Heart Institute, the Popp Award is particularly meaningful because the awardee must be nominated by one of his or her students or peers. 

"Mike represents the Popp Award ideal in that he is an extraordinarily gifted teacher and an excellent physician," Sorrell said. "He has mentored many young residents and fellows who have gone on to be experts in their own right."

The award was named in honor of Dr. Richard Popp, a professor of medicine at Stanford University and a pioneer in the development of ultrasound in cardiology. The American Society of Echogardiography (ASE) created the award to focus attention on the important role of teaching and mentorship in echocardiography

ASE is a professional organization of physicians, cardiovascular sonographers, nurses and scientists involved in echocardiography, the use of ultrasound to image the heart and cardiovascular system. The organization was founded in 1975 and is the largest international organization for cardiac imaging.