Cardiovascular Research Foundation of So. CA ‘Legends & Heroes’ Gala to Honor Drs. Eli Gang and David Albert, Featuring Special Emcee Drew Carey and Special Appearance by Jay Leno, Thurs. Oct. 18, Public Invited

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Cardiovascular Research Foundation of Southern CA (CVRF) plans to turn the tables on defining “star-studded” when they make their research the real stars of their "Legends & Heroes" Gala, and welcome special guests Drew Carey and Jay Leno to the stage, Thursday, Oct. 18, 2018, 5:30pm-9:00pm, Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills. CVRF is the non-profit charitable, research and educational organization of the Cardiovascular Medical Group of Southern CA (CVMG) committed to supporting and conducting innovative research and education for the advancement of the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease.

Spearheading the gala is hostess and emcee acclaimed film, theatre and television actress Constance Towers Gavin. She will be joined by Special Guest Emcee Drew Carey, comedian and host of “The Price is Right” on CBS. Guests will be treated to a Special Guest Appearance by the legendary Jay Leno, comedian, actor, writer, producer, and car enthusiast.

The evening will feature cocktails, silent auction, dinner, a private insiders’ behind-the-scenes look at the latest cardiac and vascular research and treatment breakthroughs, and a special welcome to CVMG and CVRF’s newest physician, internationally acclaimed academic leader, researcher and clinician Timothy D. Henry, MD, former Director of Cardiology, Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute.

Says CVRF Chairman and President Harold L. Karpman, MD, “The evening is not your typical fundraising ‘nosh and dash’ event. Instead, it will ‘star’ results of several of our world-class research projects, many funded through the generosity of our gala attendees. Our goal is to detect heart disease at the earliest stages so we can treat the process before it becomes symptomatic and/or cause permanent damage.”

The Lee Iacocca Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to Eli S. Gang, MD, Cardiovascular Medical Group physician, researcher, and medical visionary. The Ma Family Lifetime Achievement awardee is David Albert, MD, founder and chief medical officer of AliveCor, and a celebrated mobile health researcher and physician entrepreneur.

Headlining CVRF research presentations are CVRF Chief Executive Officer and Medical Director Ronald P. Karlsberg, MD, Clinical Professor of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Smidt Heart Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. He will be joined by honoree Eli S. Gang, MD, Clinical Professor of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Smidt Heart Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Dr. Albert will present “How personal EKGs have changed the paradigm of cardiac care.”

Gala chairs are Martin Wolff and Larry Gold. The gala is open to the public. Tickets are $500. For more information, or Media Credentials, please contact CVRF Executive Director Peggy C. Frank, 310-923-5189 or 818-642-6804. pfrank@heartresearchnow.org, www.heartresearchnow.org

The Cardiovascular Research Foundation is the non-profit research and education arm of the Cardiovascular Medical Group of Southern California. www.cvmg.com

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