Michael Silka, M.D. '78

Michael Silka, M.D. '78, interim co-director of the Heart Institute at Children's Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA), has received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Pediatric & Congenital Electrophysiology Society (PACES).

He is the sixth recipient of the award which is in recognition of extraordinary contribution to the diagnosis and management of arrhythmias in children. PACES is a nonprofit organization made up of physicians and allied professionals dedicated to improving care for children and young adults with cardiac rhythm disturbances. It's the largest society of pediatric heart rhythm specialists in the world.

Dr. Silka is an innovator in the fields of pediatric cardiology and electrophysiology and has pioneered the development of guidelines for the use of implantable cardiac rhythm devices. He has published over 200 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters and served as lead investigator for multiple NIH-funded studies as well as multi-center collaborative research efforts. In addition to his involvement at CHLA, Dr. Silka has held posts in several national organizations committed to advancing the care of children, most notably as past president of PACES.