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Paul Kieran Whelton, MD
Department of Epidemiology
Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine
1440 Canal Street, Suite 2018
New Orleans, LA 70112
Phone: (504) 988-6580
Fax: (504) 988-1568

pwhelton@tulane.edu

Research Interests:

Cardiovascular disease and renal disease epidemiology, prevention, treatment trials, policy, and global health.

Professional Achievements:

Milbank Scholar in Epidemiology (Career Development Award for Clinical Epidemiology Training), 1979 - 1984.
Fellow, American College of Clinical Pharmacology, 1985.
Tenth Annual Master Lecturer, St. Catherine Hospital, Chicago, 1987.
Fellow, Royal Academy of Medicine in Ireland (Epidemiology Section), 1989.
Delta Omega Honorary Public Health Society - Alpha Chapter, 1989.
Fellow, Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (Faculty of Public Health Medicine), 1991.
Honorary member, Chilean Society of Hypertension, 1991.
Dean’s Lecture, Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health, 1992.
Fellow, American Heart Association, Council on Epidemiology and Prevention, 1992.
Dean’s Lecture, Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health, 1993.
Director, Wade Hampton Frost Society for the Quantitative Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health, 1994 - 1996.
Fellow, American College of Epidemiology, 1995.
Professor (Honorary), Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China, 1995.
Interurban Club (Elected Member), 1996.
Visiting Professor, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand, 1997.
Wade Hampton Frost Lecturer, Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health, 1997.
AOA Lecturer, Tulane University School of Medicine, 1997.
Professor (Honorary), Beijing Medical University School of Public Health, Beijing, China, 1997.
Fellow, American Heart Association, Council for High Blood Pressure Research, 1997.
Hiroshima University Medal, Hiroshima University School of Medicine, Hiroshima, Japan, 1997.
Professor Kazue McClaren Leadership Achievement Award, Asia-Pacific Academic Consortium for Public Health, 1998.
Visiting Professor, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, National University of Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland, 1999.
Hoechest Marion Roussel Excellence in Leadership Award - COSEHC, 1999.
Whelton Conference Room and dedication Whelton portrait unveiling, Welch Center for Prevention, Epidemiology and Clinical Research, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland, 2000.
Henderson Chair, Department of Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, 2000.
Johns Hopkins Society of Scholars (Elected member), Induction Ceremony, May 22, 2003, Baltimore, Maryland, 2003.
Distinguished Alumnus Award, National University of Ireland, University College Cork, Faculty of Medicine and Health, 2003.
Presidential Award for outstanding contributions to the field of hypertension, American Society of Hypertension, Gulf Central Regional Chapter, New Orleans, Louisiana, 2004.
Honorary Professor, Soochow University, Suzhou, China, 2005.
Award for “heroic efforts, outstanding accomplishments, and immense compassion in response to the catastrophic events surrounding Hurricane Katrina,” Association of Academic Health Centers, 2005.
United States Department of Veterans Affairs, Medal for Leadership – Post Hurricane Katrina, 2005.
Senior Leadership Katrina Recognition Award: Survival, Recovery, Renewal, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, 2006.
Golden Wings Award, for contributions to research in nephrology, V International Conference on Hypertension and the Kidney, Sponsored by the Spanish Society of Nephrology, Madrid, Spain, 2006.
“Paul Whelton: Rebuilding Tulane after Hurricane Katrina,” Profile published in The Lancet. 2006;367:643
Visiting Professor, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, February, 2007.
American Heart Association Population Research Prize (awarded by Daniel Jones, MD, President, AHA at opening ceremony for AHA 2007 Scientific Sessions, Orlando, Florida, November 2007).
Hungarian Society of Hypertension, Award of Honorary Membership, Budapest, December, 2009.

Educational Background:

M.B., B.Ch., B.A.O. (undergraduate degrees facilitating licensing to practice medicine) Honors, Surgery, National University of Ireland, University College Cork, Ireland, 1970.
M.D. Research related to prevention and epidemiology of cardiovascular and renal disease, University College Cork, Ireland, 2003.
M. Sc. - Clinical Epidemiology, University of London, London, 1981.

Selected Publications:

Krousel-Wood M, He J, Booth M, Chen CS, Rice J, Kahn MJ, Maeshiro R, Whelton PK. Formal public health education and career outcomes of medical school graduates. PLoS One. 2012;7(6):e39020. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0039020. Epub 2012 Jun 20.

Whelton PK, Whelton A, Walker WG, eds. Potassium in Cardiovascular and Renal Medicine: Arrhythmias, Myocardial Infarction, and Hypertension. New York, NY: Marcel Dekker; 1986.

Ford DE, Whelton PK, Gordis L. Frontiers in Disease Prevention: A National Conference on the Impact of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Guidelines, 5 - 6 June, 1989. Philadelphia, PA: Hanley & Belfus, Inc.; 1990.

Committee for the Study of the Medicare ESRD Program (Whelton PK, Member). Kidney Failure and the Federal Government, National Academy Press, Washington, DC, 1991.

Whelton PK, He J, Louis GT, eds: Lifestyle Modification for Prevention and Treatment of Hypertension. New York, NY: Marcel Dekker; 2003.

Panel on Dietary Reference Intakes for Electrolytes and Water (Whelton PK, Member). Dietary Reference Intakes for Water, Potassium, Sodium, Chloride, and Sulfate. Institute of Medicine of the National Academies, Washington, DC: National Academies Press; 2005.

Hall JE, Lip GYH and Whelton PK, section eds. (Section 1: Epidemiology); Lip GYH and Hall JE, eds. Comprehensive Hypertension. Mosby Elsevier, Philadelphia, 2007.

Whelton PK, Weber MA, section eds. Current Opinion in Nephrology and Hypertension: Section on Epidemiology and Prevention, section eds., Current Science; Volume 4, May 1995.

Whelton PK, Weber MA, section eds. Current Opinion in Nephrology and Hypertension: Section on Epidemiology and Prevention, section eds., Rapid Science Publishers; Volume 5, May 1996.

Weber MA, Whelton PK. Current Opinion in Nephrology and Hypertension: Epidemiology and Prevention, section eds., Rapid Science Publishers; Volume 5, May 1996.

Walker WG, Saito H, Whelton PK, Russell RP, Hermann J. Blood pressure, renin, renin substrate, aldosterone and urinary electrolytes in ambulatory patients. In: Thurm RH, editor. Essential Hypertension. Chicago/London: Year Book Medical Publishers; 1979:317-332.

Russell RP, Whelton PK. Hypertension. In: Harvey AM, Johns RJ, McKusick Va, Owens AM, Ross RS, Humphries JO, Fortuin N, section eds. The Principles and Practice of Medicine. 20th ed. New York, NY: Appleton-Century-Crofts; 1980:276-295.

Whelton PK. Thiazide induced hypokalemia-An epidemiologic prospective. In: Wester PO, ed. Electrolytes and the Heart. New York, NY: Transmedica; 1983:77-81.

Whelton PK, Russell RP. Hypertension. In: Harvey AM, Johns RJ, McKusick VA, Owens AM and Ross RS, eds. Fortuin N, Achuff S, section eds. The Principles and Practice of Medicine. 21st ed. New York. NY: Appleton-Century-Crofts; 1984:278-296.

Reid PR, Whelton PK, Bell WR. Cardiovascular therapies. In: Harvey AM, Johns RJ, McKusick VA, Owens AM, Ross RS, eds. Fortuin N, Achuff S, section eds. The Principles and Practice of Medicine. 21st ed. New York, NY: Appleton-Century-Crofts; 1984:321-334.

Whelton PK, Russell RP. Systemic hypertension. In: Margolis S, ed. The Practice of Medicine. 3rd ed. New York, NY: Appleton-Century-Crofts; 1984:38-40.

Whelton PK. Hypertension and the elderly. In: Andres R, Bierman EL, Hazzard WE, eds. Principles of Geriatric Medicine. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill; 1984:536-551.

Whelton PK. Secondary hypertension. In: Fortuin NJ, ed. Current Therapy in Cardiovascular Diseases. Toronto, Ontario: Becker; 1984:285-290.

Whelton PK. Blood pressure in adults and the elderly. In: Bulpitt CJ, ed. Epidemiology of Hypertension. Amsterdam, The Netherlands: Elsevier; 1985:51-69.

Whelton PK. Thiazide associated cardiac arrhythmias: Experience in the general population. In: Potassium in Cardiovascular and Renal Medicine. Whelton PK, Whelton A, Walker WG, eds. New York, NY: Marcel Dekker; 1986:269-279.

Whelton PK. Ventricular ectopic beats: Are they important? In: Potassium in Cardiovascular and Renal Medicine. Whelton PK, Whelton A, Walker WG, eds. New York, NY: Marcel Dekker; 1986:325-335.

Walker WG, Whelton PK, Whelton A. Perspectives on some important public health issues related to potassium balance. In: Potassium in Cardiovascular and Renal Medicine. Whelton PK, Whelton A, Walker WG, eds. New York, NY: Marcel Dekker; 1986:537-546.

Whelton PK, Russell RP. Systemic hypertension. In: The Principles and Practice of Medicine. 22nd ed. Harvey AM, Johns RJ, McKusick VA, Owens AM, Ross RS eds. Fortuin N, Achuff S, section eds. Norwalk, CT: Appleton and Lange; 1988:127-144.

Whelton PK, Russell RP. Systemic hypertension. In: Margolis S, ed. The Practice of Medicine. 4th ed. New York, NY: Appleton and Lange; 1989.

Whelton A, Whelton PK. Bumetanide. In: Messerli FH, ed. Cardiovascular Drug Therapy. Philadelphia, PA: WB Saunders; 1990.

Whelton PK. Potassium and blood pressure. In: Izzo Jl, Black HR, senior eds. Cutler JA, section ed. Hypertension Primer. Dallas, TX: American Heart Association; 1993:170-173.

Whelton PK, He J, Klag MJ. Blood pressure in Westernized populations. In: Swales JD, ed. Textbook of Hypertension. Oxford Boston, MA: Blackwell Scientific Publications; 1994:11-21.

Whelton PK (Contributor). Manual of Hypertension. Swales JD, ed. Oxford: Blackwell Scientific Publications, Ltd., 1995.

Whelton PK, He J, Appel LJ. Treatment and prevention of high blood pressure. In: Manson JE, Ridker PM, Gaziano JM, Hennekens C, eds. Prevention of Myocardial Infarction. New York, NY: Oxford University Press; 1996:154-171.

Klag MJ, Whelton PK. Hypertension. In: Stobo JD, Hellmann DB, Ladenson PW, Petty BG and Traill TA, eds. Traill TA, section ed. The Principles and Practice of Medicine. 23rd ed. Norwalk, CT: Appleton and Lange; 1996:104-112.

Whelton PK, Klag MJ. Renovascular hypertension. In: Stobo JD, Hellmann DB, Ladenson PW, Petty BG, Traill TA, eds. Ladenson PW, section ed. The Principles and Practice of Medicine. 23rd ed. Norwalk, CT: Appleton and Lange; 1996:418-421.

Whelton A, Whelton PK. Bumetanide. In: Messerli F, ed. Cardiovascular Drug Therapy. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: WB Saunders; 1996:396-402.

Whelton PK. Perspectives on primary prevention of hypertension. In: Pastelin G, Gutierrez Avilia H, Roccella EJ, eds. Proceedings of the International Conference on Prevention and Control of Hypertension. Mexico City, Mexico:1997: 6-7.

Whelton PK. Hypertension in the United States: prevalence and trends from 1960-1990. In: Pastelin G, Gutierrez Avilia H, Roccella EJ, eds. Proceedings of the International Conference on Prevention and Control of Hypertension. Mexico City, Mexico: 1997:11-13.

Whelton PK. Scientific basis for primary prevention of hypertension. In: Pastelin G, Gutierrez Avilia H, Roccella EJ, eds. Proceedings of the International Conference on Prevention and Control of Hypertension. Mexico City, Mexico: 1997:19-22.

Whelton PK. Efficacy of nutritional approaches to prevention of hypertension: Alcohol, potassium, magnesium and alcohol. In: Pastelin G, Gutierrez Avilia H, Roccella EJ, eds. Proceedings of the International Conference on Prevention and Control of Hypertension. Mexico City, Mexico: 1997:27-30.

Whelton PK. Policy recommendations for primary prevention of hypertension. In: Pastelin G, Gutierrez Avilia H, Roccella EJ, eds. Proceedings of the International Conference on Prevention and Control of Hypertension. Mexico City, Mexico: 1997:62-64.

Whelton PK. Potassium and blood pressure. In: Izzo JL, Black HR, senior eds., Cutler JA, section ed. Hypertension Primer. 2nd ed. Dallas, TX: American Heart Association: 1998;250-252.

He J, Whelton PK, Klag MJ. Design and interpretation of clinical trials in nephrology and hypertension. In: Brady HR, Wilcox CS, eds. Therapy in Nephrology and Hypertension. Philadelphia, PA: WB Saunders; 1999:6-11.

Whelton PK, He J. Blood pressure reduction. In: Hennekens CH, ed., Buring JE, Manson JE, Ridker PM, section eds. Clinical Trials in Cardiovascular Disease. Philadelphia, PA: WB Saunders; 1999:341-359.

Cutler JA, Gordon DJ, Davis BR, Wright JT Jr, Furberg CD, for the ALLHAT Collaborative Research Group (Whelton PK, Steering Committee Member). Rationale and design for the Antihypertensive and Lipid-Lowering Treatment to Prevent Heart Attack Trial (ALLHAT). Clinical Trials in Hypertension. New York, NY: Marcel Dekker; 2001:531-586.

He J, Whelton PK. Epidemiology of end-stage renal disease. In: Brenner BM, Kurakawa K, eds. International Handbook of Renal Disease. Paris, France: Euromed Communications: 1999.

Muntner P, He J, Whelton PK. The roles of sodium, potassium and calcium in the treatment of hypertension. In: Kaplan NN, ed. Hypertension Therapy Annual 2002. London, England: Martin Dunitz, 2002.

Whelton PK. Potassium and blood pressure. In: Izzo JL, Black HR, senior eds., Appel LA, section ed. Hypertension Primer, The Essentials of High Blood Pressure. 3rd ed. Dallas, TX: American Heart Association; 2003:280-282.

He J, Kearney PM, Whelton PK. Hypertension as an important public health challenge. In: Whelton PK, He J, Louis GT, eds. Lifestyle Modification for Prevention and Treatment of Hypertension. New York, NY: Marcel Dekker, 2003.

Whelton PK, He J. Potassium supplementation. In: Whelton PK, He J, Louis GT, eds. Lifestyle Modification for Prevention and Treatment of Hypertension. New York, NY: Marcel Dekker, 2003.

Muntner P, Whelton PK, He J. Dietary cations and hypertension. In: Egan BM, Basile JN, Lackland DT, eds. Hot Topics: Hypertension. Philadelphia, PA: Hanley & Belfus, 2004.

Whelton PK, He J. Blood pressure reduction clinical trials. In: Manson JE, Buring JE, Ridker PM, Gaziano MJ, eds. Clinical Trials in Heart Disease. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2004:282-296.

Muntner P, He, J, Whelton PK. Detection, treatment and control of hypertension in the general population. In: Hypertension: Principles and Practice. Battegay EJ, Lip GYH, Bakris GL, eds. Boca Raton, FL: Taylor & Francis 2005: 315-330.

Krousel-Wood MA, Materson BJ, Whelton PK. Initial evaluation and approach to the patient with hypertension. In: Cardiovascular Therapeutics: A Companion to Braunwald’s Heart Disease. Antman EM, ed., Givertz MM, Josephson ME, deLemos J, Oparil S, Sacks FM, section eds. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders-Elsevier 2007: 567-576.

Bazzano LA, He J, and Whelton PK. Blood pressure in westernized and isolated populations. In: Comprehensive Hypertension. Lip GYH and Hall JE, eds.; section eds. Hall JE, Lip GYH and Whelton PK. Philadelphia, Mosby Elsevier, 2007: 21-30.

Whelton PK. Potassium and blood pressure. In: Izzo JL, Sica DA, Black HR, eds. Hypertension Primer: the essentials of high blood pressure: basic science, population science, and clinical management. 4th ed. American Heart Association. Lippincott Williams and Wikins. 2008;304-306.

Personal Statement:

Born in Cork, Ireland and a medical school graduate (M.B., B.Ch., B.A.O.) of the National University of Ireland (University College Cork), Dr. Whelton also earned a master of science degree in epidemiology from the University of London, School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (M.Sc.) and an advanced research degree in medicine (M.D.) from the National University of Ireland, University College Cork. He received post-graduate training in internal medicine and nephrology at the Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, and in epidemiology at the Medical Research Council Epidemiology and Medical Care Unit at Northwick Park Hospital (London).

Dr. Whelton spent 26 years in Baltimore, where he was professor of epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health, professor of medicine at the School of Medicine, director of the Outpatient General Clinical Research Center, and founding director of the Welch Center for Prevention, Epidemiology, and Clinical Research. In 1997 he moved to New Orleans as dean of the Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine and in 1999 was appointed Senior Vice President for Health Sciences. He also served as dean of the School of Medicine at Tulane, president and chair of the Louisiana Gene Therapy Research Consortium, chair of the Louisiana Cancer Research Consortium, chair of the Louisiana Biomedical Research and Development Park Commission, and vice-chair of the New Orleans BioInnovation Center. In 2007 he moved to Chicago as President and CEO of the Loyola University Health System and Medical Center and concurrently served as Senior Vice President for Health Sciences at Loyola University Chicago where he was professor of preventive medicine and epidemiology at the Stritch School of Medicine. In 2011 he returned to New Orleans where he serves as the Show Chwan Health System Endowed Chair in Global Public Health at the Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine.

Dr. Whelton has played a leadership role in many large NIH funded observational studies and clinical trials. Currently, he serves as national chair of the Antihypertensive and Lipid Lowering Treatment to Prevent Heart Attack Trial (ALLHAT) and the Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT). He is a member of the Johns Hopkins Society of Scholars, a recipient of the Distinguished Alumnus Award from University College Cork/National University of Ireland and the American Heart Association Population Research Prize, and a past member of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Advisory Council.

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