Steven E. Nissen, M.D., M.A.C.C.

Steven E. Nissen MD is Chairman of the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic. In 2006-2007 he served as President of the American College of Cardiology (ACC), the professional society representing American cardiologists.

Contributions to scientific literature include more than 350 journal articles and 60 book chapters.  Dr. Nissen works closely with pharmaceutical companies on the development of new therapies, but maintains a longstanding policy of requiring companies to donate all related honoraria directly to charity so that he receives neither income, nor a tax deduction.

He has written extensively on the subject of drug safety. In 2001, he co-authored the first manuscript that raised concerns about the safety of rofecoxib (Vioxx™), which was withdrawn from the market three years later. In 2007, he authored a manuscript that demonstrated that the widely used diabetes drug rosiglitazone (Avandia™) raised the risk of heart attack, eventually leading to withdrawal of the drug in Europe in 2010 and severe restrictions in the U.S.

Dr. Nissen is also known for his role in public policy discussions. He has testified in both the Senate (Health Education Labor and Pensions Committee) and House of Representatives (Energy and Commerce Committee) on the need to reform the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

In 2007, Time Magazine selected Dr. Nissen as one of the world’s 100 most influential people. He is co-author of book for patients with heart disease, Heart411, that will be released by Crown Books on January 31, 2012.

Marc Gillinov, M.D.

Since joining the Cleveland Clinic in 1997, Dr. Marc Gillinov has become one of the nation’s busiest heart surgeons. He specializes in robotic and minimally invasive heart valve repair and replacement and in the treatment of atrial fibrillation, a common irregular heart rhythm. A prolific researcher, Dr. Gillinov has more than 250 scientific publications to his credit and has been instrumental in the development of medical devices and treatments that enhance the care of cardiac patients.

Spurred by patients’ questions, Dr. Gillinov has recently extended his efforts to help people achieve heart health by teaming with Cleveland Clinic cardiologist Dr. Steven Nissen to write a book entitled, “Heart 411: The Only Heart Guide You Will Ever Need.”

Dr. Gillinov is thrilled and honored to work with the nation’s number one heart team to improve the heart health of people from around the country and around the world.