1700 Broadway, 9th Floor
New York, NY 10019 646.434.4500
Please e-mail us if you would
like more information:
info@crf.org
December 5, 2025
The Plaza
New York, NY
The Annual Pulse of the City Gala®
Heart disease remains the number one cause of death globally and affects millions around the world. The Cardiovascular Research Foundation® (CRF®) is one of the world's leading nonprofit organizations dedicated to interventional cardiology innovation, research, and education. For more than 30 years, we have been helping doctors improve survival and quality of life for people with heart and vascular disease. Our signature scientific symposium is the Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics® (TCT®) conference, the world's premier meeting in interventional cardiovascular medicine.
Now in its 17th year, our annual fundraiser has become a hallmark event of the holiday season, drawing hundreds of luminaries in cardiovascular medicine and other medical disciplines, as well as high-ranking leaders in government, business, and the community who are passionate about improving treatment for patients with heart and vascular disease. Funds raised at The Annual Pulse of the City Gala® allow CRF® to pursue innovative areas of research, train tomorrow’s physician leaders, and educate the medical community and public about heart health. A portion of these funds will be dedicated to supporting the CRF® Fellowship Program designed to cultivate the next generation of leaders in interventional cardiology research and innovation.
2024 Pulse-Setter Award Recipients
Pulse-Setter
Crusader
Crusader
Mariell Jessup, MD
For driving positive change, pioneering innovative methods to enhance health care access and equity, or significantly impacting patient quality of life.
Read More >
Dr. Mariell Jessup is an internationally renowned thought leader in heart failure research, prevention, and treatment. Her groundbreaking work has advanced cardiovascular medicine and played a pivotal role in heart failure and transplant cardiology becoming a certified secondary subspecialty. As the Chief Science and Medical Officer of the American Heart Association (AHA), Dr. Jessup leads the AHA's scientific initiatives and medical strategy.
Pulse-Setter
Leader
Leader
Michael A. Mussallem
For an exceptional leader who demonstrates unwavering commitment to perform at an elevated standard of excellence.
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Michael A. Mussallem, former chairman and CEO of Edwards Lifesciences, is a widely respected industry icon known for his dynamic leadership in patient-focused medical innovations, including transformative therapies like transcatheter heart valves. His dedication to patient care, philanthropy, and corporate responsibility, alongside his leadership roles in prominent health organizations, underscores his exceptional contributions to healthcare.
Pulse-Setter
Trailblazer
Trailblazer
Peter Fitzgerald, MD, PhD
For embodying a pioneering spirit, continually pushing the boundaries of innovation, and advancing the frontiers of medical technology and patient care.
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Dr. Peter Fitzgerald is an accomplished inventor, entrepreneur, and investment fund founder, uniquely blending his expertise as an interventional cardiologist and engineer. His pioneering work spans clinical trials, publications, and the founding of numerous medical device companies, advancing patient care and innovation worldwide. He is also known for his mentorship, guiding and inspiring the next generation of medical professionals and innovators.
Pulse-Setter
Leader
Leader
Jessica Mega, MD, MPH
For an exceptional leader who demonstrates unwavering commitment to perform at an elevated standard of excellence.
Read More >
Jessica Mega, MD, MPH
Dr. Jessica L. Mega is co-founder of Verily, one of the most impactful and future-determining technology companies that is applying artificial intelligence and data science to accelerate evidence-generation and enable more precise interventions to improve patient outcomes. Verily is part of the Alphabet family of companies, which includes Google.
Pulse-Setter
Champion
Champion
L. Nelson Hopkins, MD
For an exceptional individual whose commitment to multidisciplinary collaboration and mentorship in medicine has set new standards for patient care and innovation.
Read More >
L. Nelson Hopkins, MD
A pioneer in the catheter-based treatment of neurovascular diseases including stroke, Dr. L. Nelson (Nick) Hopkins introduced the subspecialty of endovascular neurosurgery in the United States. He also spearheaded one of the world’s largest and most respected stroke centers where innovative methods were developed to treat patients with acute ischemic stroke.
Pulse-Setter
Crusader
Crusader
Michael R. Jaff, DO
For demonstrating leadership, effecting positive change, adopting innovative methods to improve access to care, or making an exceptional impact on health care delivery and patient quality of life.
Read More >
Michael R. Jaff, DO
Collaboration and innovation. Those are the bywords for Michael Jaff's career. He is driven by the incredible shift in thought and the massive potential for impact in the evolution of treatment for peripheral vascular diseases from surgical-based to minimally invasive treatment.
Pulse-Setter
Trailblazer
Trailblazer
Colby Holtshouse
On behalf of the JADA® System/Organon
Awarded to a program that creates innovative uses for emerging technologies.
Read More >
Colby Holtshouse
On behalf of the JADA® System/Organon
Even in the 21st century, a significant number of women die in childbirth. One of the major causes is postpartum hemorrhage — heavy, hard-to-control bleeding that can occur without warning. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 14 million cases of PPH occur globally each year, which in some cases may result in major complications.
2024 Photos
Past Honorees
2024 Sponsors
Thank you to our generous sponsors for supporting The Annual Pulse of the City Gala®.
We are deeply grateful for your support.
PREMIER
About CRF®
LET'S DEFY HEART DISEASE TOGETHER.
For over 30 years, CRF® has been dedicated to helping doctors improve the survival and quality of life for people suffering from heart and vascular disease.
No other organization combines cutting-edge preclinical and clinical research with exceptional medical education to achieve one practical goal: to get better therapies into doctors' hands quickly. By covering all aspects of the research continuum, we're able to accelerate the speed that breakthrough therapies reach patients through doctors, so patients everywhere can live longer, healthier lives.
We need your help to accelerate our efforts so that more people can benefit from the medical advances being made each day. Together, we can give millions of people around the world hope for a brighter, healthier future.
OUR MODEL TO DEFY HEART DISEASE
Cardiovascular Research Foundation®
PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Juan F. Granada, MD
FACULTY
Alexandre Abizaid, MD, PhD
Andrea Abizaid, MD, PhD
Ziad A. Ali, MD, DPhil
Daniel Burkhoff, MD, PhD
David J. Cohen, MD, MSc
Michael B. Collins, MD
George D. Dangas, MD, PhD
Anthony N. DeMaria, MD
Jose M. Dizon, MD
Philippe Généreux, MD
Isaac George, MD
Juan F. Granada, MD
Rebecca T. Hahn, MD
Andrea Abizaid, MD, PhD
Ziad A. Ali, MD, DPhil
Daniel Burkhoff, MD, PhD
David J. Cohen, MD, MSc
Michael B. Collins, MD
George D. Dangas, MD, PhD
Anthony N. DeMaria, MD
Jose M. Dizon, MD
Philippe Généreux, MD
Isaac George, MD
Juan F. Granada, MD
Rebecca T. Hahn, MD
Allen Jeremias, MD, MSc
Greg L. Kaluza MD, PhD
Dimitrios Karmpaliotis, MD, PhD
Omar K. Khalique, MD
Ajay J. Kirtane, MD, SM
Susheel Kodali, MD
Ioanna Kosmidou, MD, PhD
Nicholas J. Lembo, MD
Martin B. Leon, MD
Margaret McEntegart, MD
Roxana Mehran, MD
Gary S. Mintz, MD
Greg L. Kaluza MD, PhD
Dimitrios Karmpaliotis, MD, PhD
Omar K. Khalique, MD
Ajay J. Kirtane, MD, SM
Susheel Kodali, MD
Ioanna Kosmidou, MD, PhD
Nicholas J. Lembo, MD
Martin B. Leon, MD
Margaret McEntegart, MD
Roxana Mehran, MD
Gary S. Mintz, MD
Jeffrey W. Moses, MD
Tamim M. Nazif, MD
Manish A. Parikh, MD
Sahil A. Parikh, MD
Alexandra Popma, MD
Jeffrey Popma, MD
LeRoy E. Rabbani, MD
Robert J. Sommer, MD
Torsten P. Vahl, MD
Giora Weisz, MD
Geng-Hua Yi, MD
Tamim M. Nazif, MD
Manish A. Parikh, MD
Sahil A. Parikh, MD
Alexandra Popma, MD
Jeffrey Popma, MD
LeRoy E. Rabbani, MD
Robert J. Sommer, MD
Torsten P. Vahl, MD
Giora Weisz, MD
Geng-Hua Yi, MD
Board of Directors
Eric B. Woldenberg, Esq - Chairman
Joseph G. Beck
Colette Y. Gardner
Juan F. Granada, MD
William A. Himmelsbach, MPH, FACHE
Colette Y. Gardner
Juan F. Granada, MD
William A. Himmelsbach, MPH, FACHE
Karen G. Krasney, JD
Martin B. Leon, MD
Teresa Leste
Frank Litvack, MD
Martin B. Leon, MD
Teresa Leste
Frank Litvack, MD
Jeffrey W. Moses, MD
Eric A. Rose, MD
Marvin L. Woodall
Eric A. Rose, MD
Marvin L. Woodall
