Dev a. GnanaDev, M.D., a former president of the California Medical Association, has received the prestigious John P. McGovern Compleat Physician Award from the Houston Academy of Medicine. Dr. GnanaDev is medical director and chairman of the surgery department at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center (ARMC) in Colton, CA.

The McGovern award is named after its first recipient and is presented annually by the Houston Academy of Medicine to recognize a physician who exemplifies the ideals of William Osler, M.D. - medical excellence, humane and ethical care, commitment to medical humanities and writing, and the harmonious union of science, the humanities and the art of medicine. It is named after its first recipient, John P. McGovern, M.D., who founded the American Osler Society.

"I was really honored to receive the award, especially as an emigrant," said Dr. GnanaDev, a native of India who came to the United States in 1974 to pursue his dream of becoming a surgeon. "Two of my idols in cardiovascular surgery, Drs. Michael DeBakey and Denton Cooley, were previous recipients of the award, which makes it even more special."

Dr. GnanaDev has dedicated his career to improving health care for minorities and the underserved. Using his personal funds, he started ARMC's Cardiac Health Management Program, which provides free services to uninsured patients who are recovering from heart attacks and coronary bypasses.

He also founded a laser tattoo-removal program to help former gang members re-enter mainstream society and become productive. He assisted in creating a community health initiative to improve the health of San Bernardino's African American population. and after Hurricane Katrina, Dr. GnanaDev brought a team of 16 physicians to Houston to treat evacuees injured by the storm.

Dr. GnanaDev also spearheaded a grassroots campaign to win approval for construction of ARMC, the hospital in which he works. ARMC opened in 1999 as the replacement facility for the old San Bernardino County Medical Center.

Dr. GnanaDev plans to donate the $5,000 honorarium he received as part of the award to the CMA endowment for member recruitment that he recently founded, and the ARMC Foundation, the fundraising arm of the Medical Center.