 Heart Patient of the Year
The Heart Patient of the YearTM Program identifies and
rewards the accomplishments of people who have overcome significant obstacles in
recovering from a cardiac event, such as a heart attack, angioplasty, or bypass surgery.
The Program was established in 1988 by Ecotrin® safety-coated aspirin to foster heart
healthy living, particularly among heart patients and people at high risk for heart
attack.
Current Heart Patient of the YearTM
The current Heart Patient of the YearTM
is Grant Smith.
Just 12 months ago, Grant Smith of Middleton, Wisconsin, suffered a major heart attack. He weighed more than 304 pounds, had a three-cigar-a-day habit, and drank three or four alcoholic drinks a day. A self-proclaimed workaholic, Smith quickly learned to refocus his energy and effort on more life-affirming activities. He dedicatedly keeps a daily log of his meals and strictly limits calories from fat to 15%. Since returning from the hospital, he has exercised every single day — walking up to three miles whether there's snow, rain, or ice; walking whether he's feeling too tired or toting around a heart monitor; walking as if his life depends on it. He even canoes, bikes, and skis at every opportunity. His tenacity has certainly paid off. After only one year, he's 100 pounds lighter and has all but left behind nagging symptoms such as angina, dizziness, and numbness. He said very simply, “I've taken control.” And it shows.
Award Listing
Ecotrin® Heart Patient of the YearTM
Award - $5,000
For a cardiac patient who has overcome significant obstacles to lower his/her cardiac
risk factors.
(3) Ecotrin® Achievement Awards - $1,000 each
For cardiac patients with outstanding risk modification in the areas of smoking
cessation, exercise modification or dietary modification. (Winners of these awards will be
selected from the nominees for the Heart Patient of the YearTMAward.)
(20) Ecotrin® Honorable Mention Awards
For the top twenty runners-up to the Achievement Award Winners. (Winners of these
awards will be selected from the nominees for the Heart Patient of the YearTM
Award.)
Ecotrin® Spouse/Family Award - $2,500
For a spouse and/or family's special efforts in helping a patient recover from
cardiovascular disease.
Ecotrin® Hospital Award - $2,000
This award automatically goes to the hospital serving the Ecotrin® Heart Patient of
the YearTM winner. (There is no separate nomination form
for this award.)
Judging and Selection Criteria
The judges of the Heart Patient of the YearTM Program
are the Ecotrin® National Advisory Committee, an independent panel of leading cardiac
health care professionals. All eight Advisory Committee members are physicians, with
specialties including cardiology, nutrition, and preventative medicine.
When evaluating nominations for the Ecotrin Heart Patient of the YearTM,
the National Advisory Committee looks for people who have made extraordinary changes in
their lifestyles following a cardiac event - changes in areas such as diet, physical
fitness, smoking habits, and strategies for stress management. Members of the Committee
also consider people's overall increased awareness of their particular health problems.
They look at their motivation and inspiration of fellow cardiac patients and their
compliance with prescribed medication regimens, including aspirin therapy.
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