Intermountain Medical Center Cardiologist receives Physician Volunteer of the Year Award from American Heart Association

This award is presented annually to a physician for his/her outstanding achievements and distinguished commitment to the mission of the AHA, which is to advance the health of individuals and communities. 

“Dr. Anderson exemplifies the best in healthcare,” said Donald Lappe, MD, chief of cardiology of the Intermountain Heart Institute at Intermountain Medical Center. “He is a great clinician who provides great care and concern for all his patients and has been the source for extensive evidence-based guidelines that have contributed significantly to the excellence of cardiovascular care.” 

Dr. Anderson has volunteered for the American Heart Association for 35 years as part of numerous planning committees and in leadership positions. He advocated at Utah’s Hearts of the Hill Day, secured funding for the Utah division, served as president of the WSA Board and currently serves as Chair of the Task Force on Practice Guidelines for the national AHA. 

He is also a member of the Scientific Advisory Coordinating Committee, which helps prevent and treat the nation’s first and fourth killers, heart disease and stroke. 

“If I had limited my experience to my personal clinical practice alone, I would have missed out on a world of opportunity,” said Dr. Anderson. “Volunteering has given me the chance to interact with a much broader range of healthcare professionals and patients that never would have been possible. Volunteering has unquestionably made me a better physician.” 

Dr. Anderson graduated from Harvard Medical School in 1972 before completing his residency in Internal Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. He later went on to complete a fellowship program in Cardiovascular Disease at Stanford University. 

Throughout his career he has served in many positions, including: associate chief of cardiology, the co-director of Cardiovascular Research and as a professor of Internal Medicine at the University of Utah. He specializes in cardiology and electrophysiology. 

“Dr. Anderson is a true asset to both the American Heart Association and the state of Utah,” said Roman Bowser, Executive Vice President & CEO of the AHAs’ Western States Affiliate. “He has led the way on a number of measures that helped make Salt Lake City among America’s most heart friendly communities. He rises to every occasion.” 

The AHA/WSA serves people in 11 western states, including Utah, Nevada, California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Idaho, Montana, Alaska, Hawaii and New Mexico.