The award recognizes her outstanding contributions to the society, which she has served in a number of capacities, including that of president in 2006.

More recently, Curtis served as chair of the society’s governance committee. Currently, she chairs its ethics committee.

Curtis is internationally recognized for her clinical research, which has significantly advanced knowledge of human cardiac electrophysiology and heart rhythm abnormalities.

She has been principal investigator, co-investigator, sponsor or steering committee member on 85 research studies and clinical trials. She has written more than 250 peer-reviewed manuscripts, book chapters, reviews and editorials. She also is author of a book on cardiac pacing.

In 2010 Curtis received a Distinguished Fellowship Award from the International Academy of Cardiology.

In 2011 she was a key contributor to guidelines on atrial fibrillation that are issued periodically by the American College of Cardiology Foundation/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines.