Dr. Daniel Penny, chief of pediatric cardiology at Texas Children’s Hospital, was recently honored with the American College of Cardiology’s 2016 International Service Award. The award recognizes an individual with a strong commitment to providing a specific service to enhance cardiovascular care and/or education in medically developing or underdeveloped countries.
“I am truly honored to receive this distinguished award,” said Penny, who is also section head and professor of pediatrics-cardiology at Baylor College of Medicine. “It is a privilege to be recognized on behalf of the team who worked in Vietnam.”
In 2009, Penny visited central Vietnam as an invited lecturer. While there, it became apparent to him that local facilities and care were inadequate for the hundreds of children dealing with congenital heart disease. He took action and with the help of local leadership, raised money to build a new local heart institute. Over the course of 20 trips, Penny trained more than 100 local physicians, nurses and other medical staff. As a result of his efforts, the center performed more than 700 open heart surgeries in 2009, mainly in children, as well as 900 cardiac catheterizations, all done by Vietnamese doctors and staff. Prior to Penny’s efforts, 100 surgeries and 200 cardiac catheterizations were done by visiting physicians.
Dr. Hugh Allen, pediatric cardiologist at Texas Children’s and professor of pediatrics-cardiology at Baylor, nominated Penny for this award and notes the enormous impact his work in cardiac research, in the clinical area and with the larger international community will have on pediatric patients for generations to come.