Dr. Tammy Kindel Named 2020 Michael H. Keelan Jr., MD Scholar

Tammy Kindel, MD, PhD, associate professor of surgery and a member of the Cardiovascular Center, has received the 2020 Michael H. Keelan Jr., MD Scholar Award for her project, “How the Microbiome Mediates Changes in Hypertension After Bariatric Surgery.” The study will further our understanding of how the gut microbiome can be used to treat high blood pressure and support future manipulation of the gut microbiome to resolve obesity-related hypertension and reduce the mortality risk associated with heart disease and stroke. Manipulation of the gut microbiome can be achieved through surgical intervention, probiotics, or microbial transplants.

This $50,000 competitive award is made possible by the Michael Keelan, Jr. Research Foundation Grant, an endowment managed by the Greater Milwaukee Foundation and designated for cardiovascular research in the Medical College of Wisconsin Cardiovascular Center. Over the last four years, the Michael Keelan, Jr. Research Foundation Grant has leveraged over $8.7M in extramural funding for junior and mid-level investigators. The fund, established by the Tendick Family, honors the life and career of Michael H. Keelan, Jr., MD, ’60, whose career as a cardiologist spanned several decades. Dr. Keelan has served as a member of the Cardiovascular Center Board.