Naomi Hamburg Installed as Joseph A. Vita, MD, Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine

Naomi M. Hamburg, MD, MS, FACC, has been named the Joseph A. Vita, MD, Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine. The professorship honors the late Dr. Vita, who served as Director of Clinical Research at the Whitaker Cardiovascular Institute, BUSM Professor of Medicine and senior cardiologist in the Section of Cardiovascular Medicine at Boston Medical Center (BMC).

David Coleman, MD; Naomi Hamburg, MD; and Karen Antman, MD
David Coleman, MD; Naomi Hamburg, MD; and Karen Antman, MD

A renowned clinician and translational scientist, Dr. Vita launched Journal of the American Heart Association and served as its first editor-in-chief. He devoted his career to clinical and translational research in vascular biology with a focus on mechanisms and clinical consequences of endothelial dysfunction. He created vascular testing spaces within the Whitaker Institute as well as at the Framingham Heart Study, where he and his team studied vascular physiology in patients. He also was the principal investigator of a Specialized Center of Clinically Oriented Research (SCCOR) Grant on Vascular Injury, Remodeling and Repair titled, “Vascular Consequences of Insulin Resistance and Obesity.” Dr. Vita died Nov. 2, 2014.

“I am honored and humbled to become the inaugural Joseph A. Vita Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine and to serve as a representative of the impact Joe had on so many lives and careers,” Dr. Hamburg said.

Dr. Hamburg joined BUSM in 2007 and was promoted to Associate Professor of Medicine (Cardiovascular Medicine) in 2013 and Chief of Vascular Biology in 2016. A recipient of the Department of Medicine’s Dawson Junior Faculty Development Award, she served as associate director of the Vascular Medicine training program and on the Executive Committee of the T32 Cardiovascular Training Grant.

“Naomi, much like Joe, is the proverbial quintuple threat: gifted scientist, devoted clinician, brilliant mentor, leader of vascular medicine and someone who is deeply devoted to her family,” said Emelia Benjamin, MD, Assistant Provost for Faculty Development and Professor of Cardiology.

Dr. Hamburg is nationally recognized as a leading researcher in endothelial biology and for developing translational approaches to model the impact of diabetes and peripheral artery disease on vascular function. As a member of the Framingham Heart Study Vascular Function Group, she and her colleagues have shown the predictive value of endothelial function for cardiovascular events. Her research has been funded through the American College of Cardiology, Santander Foundation, and the NIH through R01 and P01 programs. She is an investigator in the NIH/FDA-funded AHA Tobacco Regulation and Addiction Center, focused on understanding the health impact of novel tobacco products including electronic cigarettes.

“Dr. Hamburg is someone whom, if Joe were sitting in the front row today, he would be so proud to have as the inaugural Joe Vita Professor,” said David Coleman, MD, Wade Professor and Chair of Medicine at BUSM and BMC Physician-in-Chief.

She received her bachelor’s and medical degrees from Harvard University and completed an internship and residency in Internal Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital. Dr. Hamburg arrived at BUSM/Boston Medical Center as a fellow in Cardiovascular Medicine in 2003, starting with a research fellowship under the mentorship of Dr. Vita. She completed her MSc in Epidemiology at the BU School of Public Health as part of her fellowship in the BUSM K12 in Vascular Medicine.

“Dr. Hamburg, congratulations on being named the first Joseph A. Vita Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine and I’m sure that Dr. Vita’s legacy will live on through you and your work,” said Karen Antman, MD, BUMC Provost and BUSM Dean.