Nashville, TN - The American Heart Association has named three Heart Gala Honorees to be recognized for their significant impact in the field of cardiovascular disease and stroke in Middle Tennessee.  They will be honored at the 2012 Nashville Heart Gala on February 11.

The Heart Gala Honorees are Keith B. Churchwell, M.D., Thomas L. Herron, FACHE and William S. Stoney, M.D.

Dr. Churchwell is Associate Professor of Medicine and Radiology and Chief Executive Officer and Chief Medical Officer of Vanderbilt Heart and Vascular Institute. He is a member of the American Association of Nuclear Cardiology, the Institute of Molecular Imaging, the American Society of Echocardiography and a fellow with the American College of Cardiology. He earned his A.B. degree in biology from Harvard University and his M.D. from Washington University in St. Louis. Churchwell has been named to the list of “Best Doctors” by the Best Doctors in America and Best Doctors list by Castle-Connolly since 2001. He is vice president of the American Heart Association Greater Southeast affiliate board of directors.

Herron has served as Chief Executive Officer of Centennial Medical Center since January 2006.  He has more than 30 years of experience in hospital administration and prior to being named CEO at Centennial Medical Center, he served as CEO at Largo Medical Center for 10 years.  A fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, he earned his bachelor’s degree in English and pre-medical studies and a master’s degree in healthcare administration and public health administration from the University of Oklahoma.

Dr. Stoney is a pioneer in the field of cardiovascular medicine. He helped establish cardiac surgery services at Saint Thomas Hospital in the 1960s and in 1968 he performed the first coronary artery bypass graft in Tennessee. Stoney was president of the medical staff in 1985-86 during which time Saint Thomas Hospital performed the State’s first heart transplant.  In 1995, Stoney retired after 33 years of practice. He served more than 30 years as a professor of surgery at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, which established the William S. Stoney Chair of Cardiac Surgery in his honor. Currently he is an honorary member of the Division of Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery at Saint Thomas. Stoney earned his bachelor’s degree in chemistry at the University of the South and his medical degree at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. His published works include more than 60 articles and the book Pioneers of Cardiac Surgery, published in 2008.

The American Heart Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to building healthier lives free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke. Funds raised at the Heart Gala go to research, education and community health initiatives to fight the No. 1 killer of men and women.

For more information on the Heart Gala, visit www.heart.org/nashvilleheartball.