MEET THE PROFESSIONAL
December 2017
Jamil Aboulhosn, MD
Dr. Jamil Aboulhosn specializes in adult congenital heart disease, structural interventional cardiology, and heart disease in pregnancy. Dr. Aboulhosn is now the chairman of the Global Research working group for the International Society of Adult Congenital Heart Disease. He is also on the writing committee for the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Guidelines on Adult Congenital Heart Disease. Dr. Aboulhosn Holds the Streisand American Heart Association endowed chair in cardiology. He is the Director of the Ahmanson/UCLA Adult Congenital Heart Disease Center as well as an Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine and Pediatrics, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.
Jamil is a supporter of professional networking and our mentoring program within our community. We are very excited to feature him as our professional in this month’s installment of our “Meet the Professional” series.
Below are a few questions to help facilitate this interactive connection. At the end of the page you will have an opportunity to post your own questions for Dr. Jamil Aboulhosn.
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Describe your current Occupation & Degree/s and Universities.
- Major in Biomedical Sciences with a Minor in World History from University of California Riverside
- Attended Medical School at University of California Los Angeles
- Internal Medicine Resident Physician at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center
- General Adult Cardiology Fellowship at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center
- Adult Congenital Heart Disease Fellowship/Congenital Interventional Fellowship at the Ahmanson/UCLA Adult Congenital Heart Disease Center
A list of any awards/recognitions:
- UCLA-Solomon Scholars Award, 2002
- American Foundation for Medical Research Excellence in Clinical Research Award, 2006
- UCLA Division of Cardiology Excellence in Teaching Award, 2008
- Los Angeles Magazine’s “Southern California Super Doctors” for outstanding clinicians in Southern California, 2009-2017
- Chair of the 6th Annual Adult Congenital Heart Association National Conference, 2011
- American College of Physicians- National Meeting- 1st place abstract, 2012
- Streisand American Heart Association Chair in Clinical Cardiology, 2011-2013
- UCLA Division of Cardiology Excellence in Teaching Award, 2014
- American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association ACHD Guidelines writing committee member, 2014-2017
- American Board of Internal Medicine ACHD Examination writing committee member, 2014-2017
- Chairman of the Adult Congenital Heart Association Medical Advisory Board, 2017
- Chairman of SCAI Fall Fellow Structural and Congenital Interventional course, 2017
Discuss a moment or turning point in your life that led you to your career path:
I was doing my internship in Internal Medicine at Harbor UCLA Medical Center in 1999 when I took care of a patient with congenital heart disease and a pulmonary embolism. That case sparked an interest in congenital heart disease, which refers to heart problems that are present at birth. Thereafter, I have dedicated nearly two decades of my professional life towards the understanding and treatment of these conditions. This has become my life’s passion and I am grateful that I found a field in which I have a deep interest and where the work that we do can result in prolongation and improvement of human life.
Discuss a role model or mentor who influenced your career choice:
Dr. Anis Obeid is my maternal uncle and a renowned cardiologist. He is a respected intellectual and author within our Druze community but also within the American medical community. He has been a role model for me and has guided, advised, cajoled and supported me throughout my career. I owe him a tremendous debt of gratitude. I have had many other mentors but it is Dr. Obeid who has been there from the beginning and continues to be an invaluable confidant and advisor.
Do you recall any specific challenges you encountered and overcame?
I did not dream of being a physician. As a child I loved to draw and paint and I thought I would one day become an artist. I was also heavily affected by the civil war in Lebanon and strongly considered joining the US military out of high school. I ended up doing pre-med because my good friend Ramen Chmait was doing so at UC Riverside and it seemed like a reliable course of action. As a first generation immigrant I was hesitant to do something as free spirited as becoming an artist and I had some ethical issues with joining the military during the first Gulf War. So, I ended up going down the medical route. For many years I was not truly focused and was going through the motions until I discovered congenital heart disease, a field that excited and fascinated me. I ended up following this passion and now I have been able to combine my love for medicine and for art by incorporating my artwork into much of my medical work.
Where do you see yourself in the next 10 years?
I would like to continue with my medical research and writing. I am currently working on my second medical textbook and I hope to continue to be a productive author. I would like to get further training and experience in medical illustration. On the art front I hope to learn to sculpt stone and work more in 3-dimensions, in both the physical and digital realms.
What advice would you give to someone starting out in your field?
Work hard, follow your heart, do something that truly interests you and you will succeed. You can eat an elephant if you take one bite at a time. Think tactically (in the short term) and strategically (long-term planning).
Tell us a little bit about your hobbies outside of your field:
I love to paint and draw, especially historical themes. I am an avid student of history, especially military history and I enjoy collecting and painting miniature armies. I am also a rabid soccer fan and religiously follow Liverpool Football Club. I also play soccer on a weekly basis, although my speed and striking prowess are not what they once were!
A Q&A form will be uploaded shortly. In the meantime feel free to send any questions you would like to ask Dr. Jamil Aboulhosn to admin@network1017.com
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