2025 American Heart Association Heart Walk
Dear Team,
Each fall, thousands of Houstonians gather in the Texas Medical Center to celebrate progress in heart health and to recommit to saving more lives with our partners from The American Heart Association. The Houston Heart Walk has become a tradition for our community and for all of us at Baylor College of Medicine. We would be honored to have you join us in representing The Texas Heart Institute at Baylor College of Medicine.
The Heart Walk is a worthwhile reminder of why our work matters. The funds raised at this event support breakthroughs that span the entire spectrum of cardiovascular health from developing better treatments for heart disease, to exploring and advancing innovative medicines and devices. Every walker, every donation, and every step contribute to discoveries that extend lives and improve the health of families across Houston and beyond.
This year’s Houston Heart Walk will take place:
Saturday, October 25, 2025
TMC Helix Park, 885 Old Spanish Trail, Houston, TX 77030
7:30 AM to 11:00 AM
Our team goal is to raise $5,000, and we are encouraging all participants to register with the new “Texas Heart Institute at Baylor College of Medicine” team at HoustonHeartWalk.org. Each walker will also receive a T-shirt to wear on the day of the event.
When you walk with us, you’re not only supporting the American Heart Association’s critical work, you’re showing our city the strength of the Texas Heart Institute at Baylor College of Medicine community.
We hope you will join us on October 25 as we take steps toward a healthier future. Your participation will make a difference, and we look forward to walking alongside you.
Click here to join our team
Best regards,
Co-Captain
Joseph G. Rogers, MD
Director, The Texas Heart Institute at Baylor College of Medicine
Co-Captain
Xander Wehrens, MD, PhD
Director, Cardiovascular Research Institute
Latest CVRI News
- Team Led by Mihail Chelu, M.D., Ph.D. Awarded $31M for Large Study on Conduction System Pacing for Resynchronization Therapy in Patients with Heart Failure
- Dr. Biykem Bozkurt named fellow in the Hedwig van Ameringen Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine Program.
- Several CVRI members, including Dr. Xander Wehrens, were recognized as top educational leaders at Faculty Awards Day.
- CVRI members Richard Gibbs, Ph.D. and Christie Ballantyne, M.D. receive the Common Spirit Physician Enterprise Academic Vision Award in Academic Excellence Out of 26 submissions, their project HeartCare was selected.
- Dr. Na Li is a 2023 honoree for the BCM Women of Excellence Award.
- Dr. Lilei Zhang, assistant professor of molecular and human genetics, received the Ron Konopka Memorial Junior Faculty Award from the Texas Society of Circadian Biology and Medicine. The award was presented at annual meeting of the society in December 2022.
- Baylor’s Center for Cardiometabolic Disease Prevention strives to reverse the alarming rise of cardiovascular disease. View article.
- Dr. Biykem Bozkurt named fellow in the Hedwig van Ameringen Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine Program.
- Several CVRI members, including Dr. Xander Wehrens, were recognized as top educational leaders at Faculty Awards Day.
- CVRI members Richard Gibbs, Ph.D. and Christie Ballantyne, M.D. receive the Common Spirit Physician Enterprise Academic Vision Award in Academic Excellence Out of 26 submissions, their project HeartCare was selected.
- Xander Wehrens, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Cardiovascular Research Institute, and professor of Molecular Physiology & Biophysics has been inducted into the Association of American Physicians.
CVRI News Archive
2022
- CVRI Ninth Annual Symposium was held April 6, 2022. View event recap.
- CVRI associate director featured in Circulation, "On the Shoulders of Witnesses: A Conversation With Biykem Bozkurt, M.D., Ph.D."
- Dr. Christie Ballantyne, professor and chief, Cardiology, was featured in BCM News for an article titled, "The good, the bad and the ugly of heart disease risk factors."
- Dr. Glenn Levine, professor, Cardiology, and Dr. Hamid Afshar, associate professor, Cardiology were featured in VA Houston for an article titled, "New Heart Failure Treatment Improves Veteran Quality of Life."
2021
- CVRI members, Dr. Parag Jain, assistant professor of pediatrics-critical care, and Dr. Craig Rusin, associate professor of pediatrics-cardiology, were awarded $1.5 million grant from the National Science Foundation for their work surround the "e-tattoo".
- Dr. Zheng Sun receives the prestigious Michael E. DeBakey Excellence in Research Award.
- Dr. James Martin's lab is featured in the BCM From the Labs Blog.
- Dr. Joseph Mills elected vice president of the Society for Vascular Surgery for 2021-2022.
- Dr. Biykem Bozkurt has been named the next editor-in-chief of JACC: Heart Failure.
- Dr. Zheng Sun receives the prestigious Michael E. DeBakey Excellence in Research Award.
- Dr. Salim Virani received the Distinguished National Lipid Association President's Service Award.
- CVRI members, Dr. Parag Jain, assistant professor of pediatrics-critical care, and Dr. Craig Rusin, associate professor of pediatrics-cardiology, were awarded $1.5 million grant from the National Science Foundation for their work surround the "e-tattoo".
- Dr. Robia G. Pautler announced as an ISMRM Fellow.
- Dr. Scott LeMaire elected Secretary of the Thoracic Surgery Foundation.
- Several CVRI Members win prestigious faculty awards.
- 2021 CVRI Symposium
- Dhruv Mahtta, DO, MBA publishes one of the largest studies to date in JAMA Cardiology.
- Dr. James F. Martin awarded one of the first research awards from the funding initiative between the American Heart. Association and Enduring Hearts. Learn more.
- CVRI members lead research team that is participating in the Somatic Cell Genome Editing Consortium.
- Dr. Biykem Bozkurt updates American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association heart failure data standards.
- ABP Names Dr. Keila Lopez 2021 Paul V. Miles Fellow
- Dr. Salim Virani interviewed by Cath Lab Digest to talk about a study related to gender disparities in Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease.
- Dr. Christie Ballantyne was an invited chair and panelist at the Cardiometabolic Health Congress Spring 2021 meeting held April 27. He was chair for Session IV: Dyslipidemia / Atherosclerosis / Thrombosis and a panelist during the Challenging Cases & Expert Panel Discussion and Q&A.
- Dr. Salim Virani presented at the NASA’s Journey to Wellness Webinar National Series with the presentation titled, “COVID-19 and Cardiovascular Disease: What Can We Do Now to Prevent Long-Term Sequelae on Cardiometabolic Health?”
- Drs. Mark L. Entman and Katarzyna A. Cieslik awarded a grant supplement for their project titled, “Glycine and N-acetyl cysteine supplemented diet improves inflammatory-based fibrosis in the aging heart.”
- Dr. Biykem Bozkurt updates American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association heart failure data standards.
- BP Names Dr. Keila Lopez 2021 Paul V. Miles Fellow
2020
- Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology recognizes Dr. Wolfgang Winkelmayer's article as a top paper
- Treatment shows reduction in heart failure after myocardial infarction
- Bone hormone, new treatment for heart rhythm disorder?
- Baylor genomics teams partner to provide COVID-19 testing for Houston area
- Decreased levels of a protein kinase leads to atrial fibrillation
- Human Genome Sequencing Center acquires new sequencer
- HeartCare study tests genetic risk of cardiovascular disease
- Baylor researchers receive nearly $2.7 million in CPRIT grants
- Baylor leads collaborative effort to recruit surgeon-scientists
- Dr. Mary Dickinson named Dean of Research
- Baylor researchers receive nearly $2.7 million in CPRIT grants
- HeartCare study tests genetic risk of cardiovascular disease
- Human Genome Sequencing Center acquires new sequencer
- Decreased levels of a protein kinase leads to atrial fibrillation
- Baylor genomics teams partner to provide COVID-19 testing for Houston area
- Novel mechanism connects SPEG, RyR2 and atrial fibrillation
- Baylor receives NIH funding for center to model rare genetic diseases
