CLEVELAND – Mary Hellerstein, M.D., and her late husband, Herman Hellerstein, M.D., were always concerned with matters of the heart. Their dedication to patients was clear while they practiced medicine at University Hospitals (UH), and was validated by a generous $1.5 million gift from family and friends to celebrate Herman Hellerstein’s life and achievements in cardiovascular care and establish the Herman K. Hellerstein, M.D., Chair.

The first chair holder is Daniel I. Simon, M.D., who was recruited earlier this year from Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston as University Hospitals chief of Cardiology and director of UH’s new Heart & Vascular Institute. Dr. Simon has identified a molecule that can predict when heart attacks are imminent in high-risk patients. The discovery may lead to a blood test to identify the marker.

A chair dedication is planned October 17 at University Hospitals Case Medical Center to honor both cardiovascular pioneers.

“It is a great honor to hold this chair celebrating Dr. Hellerstein and his work,” Dr. Simon said. “Our goal is to build a premier academic heart and vascular institute at UH that integrates patient care, research and physician education – something that is very different from simply having a program that focuses chiefly on high-volume patient care.”

From 1950 until his passing in 1993, Dr. Herman Hellerstein researched the use of exercise and dietary controls to rehabilitate patients with coronary artery disease. By the mid-1960s, he proved that it is possible for many patients to return to work and resume active lives. His theory that early mobilization of cardiac patients is beneficial rather than detrimental has been universally accepted.

“The Hellerstein family’s contributions to medicine are impressive,” said Fred C. Rothstein, M.D., President and CEO of University Hospitals Case Medical Center. “This exceptional gift will allow University Hospitals to recruit the very brightest physicians to the division of cardiology and will help fund clinical research for the advancement of this specialty.”

In 1988, Dr. Hellerstein was among 14 pioneers of cardiology in Cleveland who were selected for the Cleveland Health Museum's display, "On the Shoulders of Giants." A recipient of many national and international awards for his work, Dr. Hellerstein was very active with the Northern Ohio affiliate of the American Heart Association, including service as its president.

Dr. Mary Hellerstein is a retired pediatrician and clinical professor of pediatrics at Case Western Reserve University and University Hospitals. Three of their six children followed their parents’ lead and became physicians, including Elizabeth Hellerstein, M.D., who is a pediatrician at University Hospitals Suburban Health Center and Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital.

”We thank the many contributors to the Hellerstein Chair -- especially Mrs. Vera Husselman, who organized the fundraising and Dr. Marc Thames, head of Cardiology in 1993, who suggested the Chair to Herm,” said Mary Hellerstein. “We look forward to many successes in the Division of Cardiology under the leadership of Dr. Daniel Simon and his enthusiastic team.”

Dr. Simon, who specializes in cardiac catheterizations, is an interventional cardiologist and vascular biologist. He has been funded by the National Institutes of Health for the past 14 years. He is also a professor of cardiology with Case Western Reserve University.

A summa cum laude graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Medical School, Dr. Simon completed his residency, cardiovascular fellowship, research and advanced interventional cardiology training at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. He is board certified in medicine, cardiology and interventional cardiology.