Annual Heart of San Diego Gala Honors Audrey Geisel Feb. 9

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Audrey Geisel will be honored as part of the annual Heart of San Diego Gala on Feb. 9

The University of California, San Diego’s 16^th annual Heart of San Diego Gala will honor local philanthropist and community leader Audrey Geisel Feb. 9 at the Grand Hyatt Aviara Resort. The formal fete will include dinner, dancing and a silent auction. Former San Diego Charger Rolf Benirschke will serve as the evening’s emcee. All proceeds from the event will benefit the UC San Diego Sulpizio Cardiovascular Center.

Audrey Geisel, wife of the late Theodor “Dr. Seuss” Geisel, has provided longstanding support to the Sulpizio Cardiovascular Center. She was one of many generous donors who helped make UC San Diego Health System’s new leading-edge cardiovascular center a reality. The facility, which opened on the UC San Diego medical campus in La Jolla in 2011, is the only one of its kind in the region, providing cardiovascular research, services and programs all in one location.

 “We are very pleased to honor Mrs. Geisel’s loyal and generous support of improving cardiovascular care in our community,” said Kirk Peterson, MD, director of the Sulpizio Cardiovascular Center. “She recognized the Sulpizio Cardiovascular Center’s potential to change the way heart and stroke care are delivered—and save lives—throughout the San Diego region.”

As the population grows and the incidence of cardiovascular disease rises, the need for more cardiovascular specialists is increasing rapidly.  This year’s gala will raise funds for fellowship educational support, which will enable the Sulpizio Cardiovascular Center to bring the most talented young physicians to the UC San Diego School of Medicine and to train the next generation of top cardiologists and cardiothoracic surgeons who will serve the local community and patients from around the nation.

Set at the Park Hyatt Aviara Resort in Carlsbad, the Feb. 9 Heart of San Diego Gala will begin with cocktails and silent auction at 6:00 p.m.  At 7:30 p.m., emcee Benirschke will lead the evening of dinner and dancing. The cost per person to attend is $500 for Ruby Seating and $650 for Diamond Seating. Attire is black-tie. Sponsorship opportunities are still available.

For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit www.heartcentergala.com or call (858) 534-6223.