Arthur Leon, M.D., professor in the School of Kinesiology, has been selected by the American College of Sports Medicine as a 2016 Honors Award recipient. This award is granted to an individual with a distinguished career of outstanding scientific and scholarly contributions to sports medicine and/or the exercise sciences.

Dr. Leon received his B.S. from the University of Florida (1952) and an M.S. (1954) and an M.D. (1957) from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In 1973, Leon joined the Laboratory of Physiological Hygiene and Exercise Science (LPHES) at the University of Minnesota, where his research resulted in over 100 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters. Today Dr. Leon is internationally recognized for his research on the role of physical activity in the prevention of cardiovascular disease and for advancing the understanding of the role of genetic and non-genetic factors in the variability of responsiveness to exercise training.

“Arthur S. Leon, M.D., M.S., one of the ‘World’s Top Cardiologists’ and a ‘giant’ in the fields  of exercise science and cardiovascular medicine, is most deserving of the 2016 ACSM Honor Award,” said Wayne State University professor and ACSM past president Barry Franklin. “His primary research focus, the role of exercise, diet and lipids in the primary and secondary prevention of coronary disease, has culminated in ~300 peer-reviewed scientific publications, including several seminal papers. He has served as the PI on 5 major, multi-year NIH grants and PI or Co-PI on dozens of additional grants.”

Currently Leon is the Henry L. Taylor Professor of Exercise Science in the School of Kinesiology, where his continued commitment to research and teaching serves as a model and motivation for both students and colleagues.

Dr. Leon will be honored at the ACSM’s Annual Meeting Awards Banquet on June 3 in Boston, MA.