Noted Indian American cardiologist Dr. Puja K. Mehta, whose research focuses on women and cardiovascular disease, has been named the inaugural Stephen D. Clements, Jr, Professorship in Cardiology at at Emory University, a top ranked research university in Georgia.
Mehta’s appointment to the endowed academic chair recognizing her contributions to cardiovascular medicine was by Gina Lundberg, clinical director of Emory Women’s Heart Center, in a post on X.
“Huge congratulations to Dr. Puja Mehta who has been appointed as the inaugural Stephen D. Clements, Jr, Professorship in Cardiology, endowed professorship (aka chair)!! So well deserved,” she posted.
The professorship honors Dr. Stephen D. Clements, an Emory physician recognized for his contributions to cardiovascular clinical care, prevention and research.
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The chair was established in 2018 by the O. Wayne Rollins Foundation in recognition of Clements’ longstanding relationship with the Rollins family and his work in advancing cardiovascular medicine.
Mehta, currently an Associate Professor in the Division of Cardiology at Emory University and the Director of Women’s Translational Cardiovascular Research, is Board-certified in Cardiology. She is a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association.
Mehta’s research focuses on women and cardiovascular disease, and diagnosis and treatment of coronary microvascular dysfunction and ischemic heart disease.
Her research is National Institutes of Health (NIH) funded and includes the role of mental stress in heart disease, exploring the brain-heart connection and new approaches to treating persistent chest pain.
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Mehta has published her research in peer-reviewed journals and presented at national cardiology meetings. In addition to Mehta’s academic success, she has received numerous awards including the prestigious New Jersey Foundation Humanism in Medicine Award.
She attended undergraduate school at Georgia Institute of Technology, where she graduated magna cum laude with a degree in applied biology. She earned her medical degree from Medical College of Georgia, and completed both her internal medicine residency and a four-year cardiovascular fellowship at Emory University.
Mehta completed an additional year of advanced training in women and heart disease as the Women’s Health and Heart Disease fellow at Cedars-Sinai’s Barbara Streisand Women’s Heart Center (BSWHC).
She was the Director of Non-Invasive Vascular Function Research Lab for several years before moving back to Emory University.