Michael Silka, MD, professor of pediatrics at the Keck School of Medicine of USC and interim co-director of the Heart Institute at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, has received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Pediatric and Congenital Electrophysiology Society (PACES).

Silka 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.

The award recognizes Silka’s innovations in pediatric cardiology and electrophysiology, as well as his pioneering work to develop guidelines for the use of implantable cardiac rhythm devices. He has published more than 200 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, and served as lead investigator for multiple NIH-funded studies as well as multicenter collaborative research efforts.