Eric N. Prystowsky, MD Advocate for Patients Award

The Eric N. Prystowsky, MD Advocate for Patients Award recognizes a healthcare professional who has demonstrated outstanding service to afib patients and their families.

Dr. Eric N. Prystowsky, an electrophysiologist at St. Vincent Indianapolis, was the first recipient of the Advocate for Patients Award in 2013.

He was selected because he has played an important role in getting the afib patient community a seat at the table. Hence, our concerns, wants, and needs are considered in decisions about our care. Here are just a few examples of what he has done and what it means to be an advocate for patients:

  • While president of the Heart Rhythm Society arranged for patient organizations to receive free exhibit booths at the annual medical conference to connect with electrophysiologists and other healthcare professionals. 
  • Brought afib patients to speak at medical conferences so doctors and nurses would understand the patient’s perspective and better treat us. 
  • Took the patient perspective to guidelines committees so our treatment would be patient-focused. 
  • Engaged patients in think tanks and advisory boards to influence decisions about our care. 

Dr. Prystowsky is the most sought-out afib expert at global medical conferences. In addition, he is a prolific contributor to research and treatment literature. He co-authored two textbooks, published more than 780 articles, sat on numerous guidelines committees and think tanks, serves on the editorial boards of 8 journals, and was Editor-in-Chief of the highly-prestigious Journal of Cardiac Electrophysiology for 15 years.

Additionally, Dr. Prystowsky and StopAfib.org have campaigned together to preserve the brain by helping patients and doctors understand the role of sinus rhythm in preventing afib-related strokes.

At the Get In Rhythm. Stay In Rhythm.® Atrial Fibrillation Patient Conference in 2016, the award was renamed in his honor. We bestow the Eric N. Prystowsky, MD Advocate for Patients Award on a very deserving healthcare professional each year.

Subsequent award recipients are:

2017: Andrea Natale, MD
2018: Doug Packer, MD
2019: Hugh Calkins, MD
2020: Frank Marchlinski, MD
2021: Emelia Benjamin, MD
2022: Vivek Reddy, MD
2023: Andrea M. Russo, MD
2024: James L. Cox, MD