Charles H. Hennekens, M.D., Dr.PH
Sir Richard Doll Professor | Florida Atlantic University
Boca Raton, FL, UNITED STATES
Charles Hennekens is the first Sir Richard Doll Professor and senior academic advisor.
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Biography
Charles H. Hennekens is the first Sir Richard Doll Professor and Senior Academic Advisor. He was first John Snow and first Eugene Braunwald Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and first Chief of Preventive Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. His 173 H-index ranks him #14 Top Scientist in World. He was 3rd most widely cited medical researcher in world and 5 of top 20 were former trainees. He is #81 in world history for saving 1.1 million lives. He is a Fellow of the American College of Preventive Medicine (FACPM) and the American College of Cardiology (FACC).
Areas of Expertise (7)
Cardiovascular Disease
Strengths and Limitations of Descriptive and Analytic Studies
Prevention and Treatment of Chronic and Acute Diseases
Preventive and Internal Medicine
Epidemiology
Study Design
Research
Accomplishments (7)
14 Top Scientists in the World
2015: based on H index of 173
Alton Ochsner Award Relating Smoking and Disease
2014: American College of Chest Physicians
Fries Prize for Improving Health
2013: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Inductee, Queens College Athletic Hall of Fame
2014: 30 of 150,000 graduates and the only inductee in Athletic and Achievement Halls of Fame
Founder’s Circle
2012: Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University
Dean’s Circle for establishing Sir Richard Peto Scholarship
2013: Weill-Cornell Medical College
Walter D. Kelly Award
2009: for distinguished contributions to mental health
Education (7)
Queens College, The City University of New York: D.Sc. 1997
Honoris causa
University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey: D.Sc. 1996
Honoris causa
Harvard School of Public Health: Dr.P.H., Epidemiology 1975
Harvard School of Public Health: M.S., Epidemiology 1973
Harvard School of Public Health: M.P.H. 1972
Cornell University Medical College: M.D. 1967
Queens College: B.S. 1963
Affiliations (4)
- Florida Medical License (ME 84539)
- Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine : Member, Advisory Board
- Queens College Athletics Hall of Fame : Honorary Chair, Selection Committee
- Data Monitoring Committee, AMG 785 Phase 3 trials : Chair
Links (3)
Selected Media Appearances (22)
Even Before Uvalde, Gun-Related Deaths to Texas Schoolchildren Were Rising
U.S. News & World Report online
2022-10-13
“The increasing rates from firearm deaths in the U.S. among school-age children are not unique to Texas. These rapidly increasing rates have been noted across the entire country,” said senior study author Dr. Charles Hennekens, a professor of medicine at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton.
How ultra-processed foods can make us depressed
The Citizen online
2022-08-31
“Data from this study add important and relevant information to a growing body of evidence concerning the adverse effects of ultra-processed consumption on mental health symptoms,” said Dr Charles H. Hennekens, study co-author in a press release.
The Worst Drinking Habit for Fatal Liver Disease, New Study Finds
Eat This, Not That online
2022-07-02
"The hypothesis is that people are drinking more and starting earlier in life," said lead researcher Dr. Charles Hennekens, via Merck Manual. Hennekens explained that, combined with other unhealthy habits, this "leads to fatty liver."
Those trying to quit smoking during the COVID-19 pandemic actually smoked more, study finds
Consumer Affairs online
2022-04-13
“These data may aid health care providers to identify and provide counsel to cigarette smokers at greater risk for tobacco consumption during current and future stresses such as the COVID-19 pandemic,” said researcher Dr. Charles H. Hennekens. “All of these efforts have the potential to reduce many premature deaths from cigarette smoking, which remain alarmingly and unnecessarily high in the U.S. and are increasing worldwide.”
How anti-vaxxers triggered another, deadlier Covid wave in the US
The Independent online
2021-07-28
Dr Charles Hennekens, a professor and senior academic advisor at Florida Atlantic University, located in the city of Boca Raton, says after having suffered the largest number of cases and deaths in the world, the US appeared to be leading the fightback with its vaccine rollout.
Assaults on science causing alarming and avoidable deaths in the U.S.
Phys.org online
2020-10-13
"The anticipated number of deaths from COVID-19 may become comparable to the most lethal epidemic of influenza in U.S. history, which occurred from 1918 to 1919 when approximately 675,000 Americans died," said Charles H. Hennekens, M.D., Dr.PH, senior author, first Sir Richard Doll Professor and senior academic advisor in FAU's Schmidt College of Medicine. "In stark contrast to both the current U.S. epidemic of COVID-19 and the Spanish Flu of 1918-19, the 2018-19 flu season affected about 42.9 million Americans, of which about 61,200 died."
Study Finds Lack of Colonoscopy Knowledge Among High-Risk Patients for Colorectal Cancer
Cancer Network online
2020-10-06
“Data from our study pose clinical and public health challenges to reduce the rates of recurrences of colorectal polyps as well as subsequent risks of colorectal cancer in these high-risk patients,” senior author Charles H. Hennekens, MD, DrPH, first Sir Richard Doll Professor and senior academic advisor in FAU’s Schmidt College of Medicine, said in the release. “More than 90% of patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer are 50 years or older. The major risk factors for colorectal cancer are similar to those for heart attacks and stroke and include overweight and obesity, type 2 diabetes, as well as physical inactivity.”
Practicing mindfulness with paced breathing could lower blood pressure
Consumer Affairs online
2020-09-09
“This pilot randomized trial might lead to further randomized trials of intermediate markers such as inhibition of progression of carotid intimal thickening or coronary artery atherosclerosis, and subsequently, a large scale trial to reduce stroke and heart attacks,” said researcher Dr. Charles H. Hennekens.
Researchers Urge Halt in Prescribing Hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19
Infection Disease Special Edition online
2020-06-15
“Many patients who would benefit from the drug with lower risks [are] unable to fill their prescriptions,” said Charles H. Hennekens, MD, DrPH, the first Sir Richard Doll professor and a senior academic advisor at Florida Atlantic University Schmidt College of Medicine, in Boca Raton, and the senior author of the commentary.
First Do No Harm
Infection Disease Special Edition online
2020-06-15
Researchers urged a moratorium on the prescription of chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine to treat or prevent COVID-19, except in the context of a randomized clinical trial or for compassionate use (Am J Med 2020 Jun 2. [Epub ahead of print]). Charles H. Hennekens, MD, DrPH, the first Sir Richard Doll Professor and senior academic advisory to the Dean of the Charles E. Schmidt Florida Atlantic University Schmidt College of Medicine, in Boca Raton, and the senior author of the commentary, talked with Marie Rosenthal, MS, managing editor of Infectious Disease Special Edition about why this is important.
Racial Disparities Emerge in Live Cancer Deaths
Everyday Health online
2020-06-09
"A major clinical and public health priority should be to decrease racial inequalities in mortality following the introduction of lifesaving drugs in the United States and worldwide," said study senior author Charles H. Hennekens, MD, the Sir Richard Doll Professor and senior academic advisor in FAU's Schmidt College of Medicine in Boca Raton, Florida.
How safe are simple painkillers?
Pharmaceutical Technology online
2020-06-04
Professor Charles Hennekens from Florida Atlantic University acknowledges that the painkiller situation is far more complicated than most people would think. He urges healthcare providers to make individual clinical judgements about prescribing these common medications on a case-by-case basis. “You’ve got to look at the totality of evidence and what’s going with patients to make the best individual decision about what to do,” he says. “I’m not a big fan of making blanket statements.”
Will an Aspirin a Day Help Your Heart?
Health Central online
2020-03-26
“In primary prevention [of cardiovascular disease], the balance of absolute benefits, which are lower than in secondary prevention patients, and risks of aspirin, which are the same as in secondary prevention, is far less clear,” said study author Charles H. Hennekens, M.D., senior academic advisor in Florida Atlantic University's Schmidt College of Medicine, in a news release.
Scientists have created a special toothpaste that could 'reduce heart attacks and stroke'
Yahoo! Life online
2020-02-23
"The current findings are similar to those from our previous pilot trial,” said Professor Charles Hennekens, from Florida Atlantic University.
High dose of aspirin effective against migraines for some
United Press International online
2019-12-10
The bottom line: "Our review supports the use of high-dose aspirin to treat acute migraine as well as low-dose daily aspirin to prevent recurrent attacks," senior author Dr. Charles Hennekens, professor and senior academic advisor at the university's College of Medicine, said in a school news release.
Aspirin Key to Expanding Access to Effective Migraine Treatment?
Medscape online
2019-12-10
"The take-home message is that most headache disorders are treated by primary care providers and that many patients have no health insurance or high co-pays, so that the prescription drugs of proven benefit may neither be available or affordable," senior author Charles H. Hennekens, MD, DrPH, Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, told Medscape Medical News.
More US school-age children die from guns than on-duty US police or global military fatalities, study finds
CNN online
2019-03-22
“It is sobering that in 2017, there were 144 police officers who died in the line of duty and about 1,000 active duty military throughout the world who died, whereas 2,462 school-age children were killed by firearms,” said Dr. Charles Hennekens, the study’s senior author and an academic adviser at the medical college.
Firearm deaths of US school-age children at 'epidemic' levels, study says
USA Today online
2019-03-21
"It is sobering that in 2017, there were 144 police officers who died in the line of duty and about 1,000 active-duty military throughout the world who died, whereas 2,462 school-age children were killed by firearms," said Charles Hennekens, the study's lead author from Florida Atlantic University's Schmidt College of Medicine.
Aspirin to prevent colon cancer underutilized in high-risk patients
EurekAlert! online
2019-02-07
Colorectal cancer is the third most common cause of cancer deaths in the United States and advanced colorectal polyps are a major risk factor. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) concluded that aspirin reduces the risk of colorectal cancer by 40 percent as well as recurrence of advanced polyps. Their guidelines suggest that, without a specific contraindication, health care providers should routinely prescribe aspirin to all patients with advanced colorectal polyps.
Study examines aspirin use to prevent colorectal cancer
ScienceDaily online
2019-02-07
Colorectal cancer is the third most common cause of cancer deaths in the United States and advanced colorectal polyps are a major risk factor. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) concluded that aspirin reduces the risk of colorectal cancer by 40 percent as well as recurrence of advanced polyps. Their guidelines suggest that, without a specific contraindication, health care providers should routinely prescribe aspirin to all patients with advanced colorectal polyps.
Professor, MSD high school senior collaborate on homicide trends
Medical Xpress online
2018-10-02
The vast majority of homicides in the United States are attributable to firearms. The rate of homicide due to guns is about 25 times higher in the U.S. than many other high-income countries. In the U.S., there are approximately 357 million guns among a population of about 323 million. Guns are present in about 1 in 3 households. In addition, gun-related suicide rates in the U.S. are about eight times higher than other high-income countries.
Selected Articles (3)
Regular physical activity: Forgotten benefits
The American Journal of MedicineSteven F. Lewis, Charles H. Hennekens
2015 Both men and women who engage in regular physical activity experience statistically significant and clinically important reductions in the risk of dying from coronary heart disease, the leading cause of death in the United States.1 Physical activity also reduces the risks of developing diabetes, hypertension, and colon cancer; enhances mental health; improves muscle, bone, and joint health, and helps maintain function and preserve independence in older adults.1 In fact, regular physical activity may ameliorate many of the emerging and increasingly prevalent clinical, public health, and fiscal challenges that accompany the “Graying of America.” For example, today, 24% of the US population is 50 years of age and over, and 17 million are aged between 75 and 85 years, a number estimated to grow to 30 million during the next 30 years.
High frequencies of negative pretreatment results following presumptive antibiotic treatment for chlamydia and gonorrhea.
Southern Medical JournalAndric B, Drowos J, Trepka MJ, Suciu G, Alonso A, Hennekens CH
2013 The purpose of this study was to determine the frequencies of negative test results among all patients aged 18 years and older receiving presumptive antibiotic treatment for chlamydia and/or gonorrhea at the Sexually Transmitted Disease Clinic of the Palm Beach County Health Department. The treatment algorithms were based on guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. METHODS: Clinic logs were retrospectively reviewed for a consecutive case series of all 1209 patients treated from November 1, 2007 to October 31, 2008. Urogenital specimens were collected and analyzed. Laboratory results were obtained from the Health Management System of the Palm Beach County Health Department. RESULTS: Of the 1209 patients, 556 (46%) were treated for chlamydia, 30 (2.5%) for gonorrhea, and 623 (51.5%) for both. The frequencies of negative results were 68% for chlamydia or gonorrhea, 70.9% for chlamydia, 86.6% for gonorrhea, and 65.2% for chlamydia + gonorrhea. CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that implementation of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines by the Sexually Transmitted Disease Clinic of the Palm Beach County Health Department results in presumptive treatment of more than two-thirds of patients with negative nucleic acid amplification test results for chlamydia, gonorrhea, or both. They also suggest the potential value of developing treatment algorithms to maximize treatment of patients with positive test results and minimize treatment of those with negative test results. One possible strategy to explore is the future utility of new testing and treatment methodologies in development.
United States Counties with Low Black Male Mortality Rates
The American Journal of MedicineLevine RS, Rust G, Kilbourne B, Aliyu M, Pisu M, Zoorob R, Goldzweig P, Juarez B, Husaini B, Hennekens CH
2013 In the United States, young and middle-aged black men have significantly higher total mortality than any other racial or ethnic group. We describe the characteristics of US counties with low non–Hispanic Black or African American male mortality (ages 25-64 years, 1999-2007).
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