Research Bio
Thomas A. Pearson is Albert D. Kaiser Professor in the Department of Community and Preventive Medicine and Professor of Medicine at the University of Rochester School of Medicine. Dr. Pearson is also Senior Associate Dean for Clinical Research at the University of Rochester Medical Center and directs the Rochester Prevention Research Center. He is Principal Investigator of the Rochester Clinical and Translational Science Award and directs the Rochester Clinical and Translational Science Institute. Dr. Pearson's major research interests are in the epidemiology and prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, with a special interest in the international trends of coronary heart disease and stroke. He has actively participated in basic science studies, clinical investigations, and community-based projects.
Dr. Pearson received his Doctor of Medicine, Master in Public Health, and Doctor of Philosophy in cardiovascular epidemiology, all from The Johns Hopkins University, where he also completed residencies in preventive medicine and internal medicine and a fellowship in cardiology. He holds board certifications in Internal Medicine, Preventive Medicine, and Clinical Lipidology.
Dr. Pearson is a Fellow of the American Heart Association, American College of Cardiology, the American College of Preventive Medicine, and the American College of Physicians. Dr. Pearson has served as a member and chair of important committees of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, the Institute of Medicine, the American Heart Association, and the American College of Cardiology. For the National Forum for Prevention of Heart Disease and Stroke, he serves as Chair-elect of its Coordinating Board. He currently chairs the Guideline Implementation Working Group as part of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute's Guideline Development Program. He also is a member of the Advisory Group for the 2010 U.S. Dietary Guidelines. He has lectured and published extensively in the prevention of cardiovascular disease, at the patient, healthcare system, community, and public policy levels.
| Rochester School for the Deaf Lyon Founder's Award |
2011 |
| Lifetime Mentoring Award | University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry |
2010 - Present |
| Johns Hopkins Society of Scholars |
2009 |
| The Naomi M. Kanof Award for Distinguished Achievement in Clinical Investigation, Society for Investigative Dermatology |
2007 |
| Fellow, Rochester Academy of Medicine |
2006 |
| Association of Teachers of Preventive Medicine Outstanding Educational Program for 2005 |
2005 |
| American Association of Medical Colleges Award for Community Service to University of Rochester School of Medicine |
2004 |
| 2nd Annual Albert Oberman Lecture on Preventive Medicine |
2004 |
| Hederdoktor (Honorary Doctor of Medicine), University of Umeå, Sweden |
2002 |
| Fellow, American Heart Association |
2001 |
| Lewis Connor Memorial Lectureship, American Heart Association |
1999 |
| Joseph Stokes Award in Preventive Cardiology from the American Society of |
1997 |
| Pfizer Visiting Professor in Cardiovascular Medicine, Morehouse College of |
1996 |
| AHA Certificate of Appreciation |
1992 |
| Fellow, American College of Cardiology |
1992 |
| Fellow, American College of Epidemiology |
1992 |
| NIH Certificate of Appreciation |
1991 |
| American Men and Women of Science, 17th edition |
1989 |
| Elected Fellow, American College of Physicians |
1988 |
| Gold Certificate Honorable Mention, American Heart Association, Maryland |
1988 |
| Governor's Citation, State of Maryland, for Community Service |
1988 |
| Elected Fellow, American Heart Association, Council on High Blood Pressure |
1988 |
| Elected Fellow, American College of Preventive Medicine |
1987 |
| Presidential Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service, Maryland Affiliate of |
1987 |
| Sydney Cohen Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Understanding of |
1987 |
| Selected as one of "86 People to Watch in 1986" by Baltimore Magazine, 1/86 |
1986 |
| Maryland Heart Association Annual Appreciation Award |
1986 |
| Elected Fellow, American Heart Association, Epidemiology Council |
1986 |
| Maryland Heart Association Annual Appreciation Award |
1984 |
| Delta Omega, Public Health Honor Society, Johns Hopkins University School of |
1983 |
| Selected as one of "80 People to Watch in 1980" by Baltimore Magazine, 1/80 |
1980 |
| Selected for Workshop on Epidemiologic Methods, sponsored by the Society for |
1978 |
| Student Research Prize Paper, 11th Annual Meeting of the Society for |
1978 |
| Passed with Distinction, Ph.D. Comprehensive Oral Examination, Johns Hopkins |
1977 |
| Alpha Omega Alpha, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine |
1976 |
| Finalist, Medical Student Research Competitions, Johns Hopkins University School |
1975 |
| B.A. with Honors, Johns Hopkins University |
1973 |
| Phi Kappa Phi, University of Wisconsin |
1971 |
| Phi Beta Kappa and Speaker at Annual Banquet, University of Wisconsin |
1971 |
| R.I. Ingersoll Memorial Award for Excellence in Physics |
1970 |
| Phi Eta Sigma, University of Wisconsin |
1968 |
