image: 2026 Laennec Master Clinician Award recognizes his lifetime achievements in caring for patients and cardiology education.
Credit: Mount Sinai Health System
The American Heart Association’s Council on Clinical Cardiology has named George Dangas, MD, PhD, Professor of Medicine (Cardiology) & Surgery at Icahn School of Medicine & the Mount Sinai Hospital in New York and Chief of Cardiology Mount Sinai Queens as the recipient of its 2026 Laennec Master Clinician Award. This is one of the most prestigious honors in the field of cardiology and recognizes his lifetime achievements in caring for patients and cardiology education. Dr. Dangas was presented with this award during a special ceremony at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions in Chicago on Saturday, November 7.
“This is a tremendous honor,” says Dr. Dangas who also serves as the Director of Cardiovascular Innovation at Mount Sinai Fuster Heart Hospital. “An association with the legendary Professor René Laennec who invented the stethoscope, and who this award was names after, this is a truly humbling experience.”
This accolade also celebrates Dr. Dangas for his exceptional insight in correlating the pathophysiology of cardiovascular disease with clinical findings at the bedside; achieving national and international recognition for expertise in the signs, symptoms, and pathophysiology of a significant area of cardiovascular disease; and receiving national and international acclaim for applying diagnostic technology in patient care and teaching within the field of cardiology.
He is the third interventional cardiologist from Mount Sinai to receive the Laennec Master Clinical award.
“Mount Sinai has a track record for clinical excellence and award-winning faculty at a national and an international level. Attention to the patients and physical examination are the hallmarks of both patient-centered treatments as well as clinical investigation efforts,” adds Dr. Dangas.
Dr. Dangas is a globally recognized cardiovascular researcher and interventional cardiologist. He is globally recognized for being leading authority in performing minimally invasive heart interventions for coronary and valve disease using both novel and established techniques. He is also internationally renowned for his work on preventing and dissolving endovascular thrombosis.
Dr. Dangas has also successfully mentored students and faculty, supporting their development into leadership roles at cardiovascular programs across the United States and helping advance their research at major cardiology conferences.
Dr. Dangas has received several cardiology honors and held leadership roles in professional organizations. In 2023, he became President of the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions. His honors include the American College of Cardiology’s 2022 Master of the ACC Award and 2019 Distinguished Fellowship Award; the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions’ 2017 Master Interventionalists honor; and the 2026 Gold Cross of the Order of Honour of the Hellenic Republic.
Mount Sinai Is a World Leader in Cardiology and Heart Surgery
Mount Sinai Fuster Heart Hospital at The Mount Sinai Hospital ranks No. 5 nationally for cardiology, heart and vascular surgery, according to U.S. News & World Report®. It also ranks No. 1 in New York and No. 6 globally for cardiology, according to Newsweek’s “World’s Best Specialized Hospitals” for 2026.
It is part of the Mount Sinai Health System, which is New York City's largest academic medical system, encompassing seven hospitals, a leading medical school, and a vast network of ambulatory practices throughout the greater New York region. We advance medicine and health through unrivaled education and translational research and discovery to deliver care that is the safest, highest-quality, most accessible and equitable, and the best value of any health system in the nation. The Health System includes more than 9,000 primary and specialty care physicians; 10 free-standing joint-venture centers throughout the five boroughs of New York City, Westchester, Long Island, and Florida; and 47 multidisciplinary research, educational, and clinical institutes. Hospitals within the Health System are consistently ranked by Newsweek’s® “World’s Best Specialized Hospitals” and “World’s Best Smart Hospitals,” and by U.S. News & World Report's® “Best Hospitals” and “Best Children’s Hospitals.” The Mount Sinai Hospital is on the U.S. News & World Report's® “Best Hospitals” Honor Roll for 2026-27. For more information, visit https://www.mountsinai.org or find Mount Sinai on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, and YouTube.