Arthur Agatston, M.D., is a cardiologist and an associate professor of
medicine at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. He has served on
committees of the American Society of Echocardiography, the American College of
Cardiology, and the Society of Atherosclerosis Imaging, where he is a founding
member of the board of directors. He was recently elected to serve on the board
of directors of The American Dietetic Association Foundation.
Dr. Agatston has authored over 100 articles and abstracts for scientific
journals, including the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, the
American Journal of Cardiology, and the Annals of Internal Medicine. He has
served as an expert consultant to the Clinical Trials Committee of the National
Institutes of Health, and he has participated as a speaker, faculty member, and
organizer of numerous academic cardiology meetings and symposia. Along with his
renown as a researcher, lecturer, and pioneer in clinical and preventive
cardiology, Dr. Agatston is best known publicly as the author of the
best-selling The South Beach Diet.
Where It All Began
Raised on the north shore of Long Island, Dr. Agatston's father and
grandfather were doctors, and Arthur Agatston knew from an early age that he
also desired a career in medicine. After graduating from New York University
School of Medicine and completing his cardiology fellowship at NYU, Dr. Agatston
elected to combine academics with clinical practice. He accepted a position at
Mt. Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach, which was associated with the
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.
Where It's Led
Over the years, Dr. Agatston's pioneering work in noninvasive cardiac imaging
has resulted in computerized tomography scanning methods and measures that bear
his name: the Agatston Score and the Agatston Method, which are used for
screening coronary calcium — and are recognized worldwide.
As a practicing cardiologist, Dr. Agatston did not set out to develop a
weight-loss plan. But he did create what became known as the South Beach Diet in
the mid-1990s to help his patients whose weight and blood chemistries were not
improving on the standard, low-fat American Heart Association diet. His balanced
approach became the basis for The South Beach Diet, his first nonacademic book,
which became an international best seller. Subsequent books published under The
South Beach Diet® franchise also became best sellers, including: The South Beach
Diet Cookbook (2004); The South Beach Diet Good Fats Good Carbs Guide (2004);
The South Beach Diet Quick & Easy Cookbook (2005); and The South Beach Diet
Dining Guide (2005). His latest books are The South Beach Diet Parties &
Holidays Cookbook (2006), The South Beach Diet Taste of Summer Cookbook (2007),
and the recently re-released South Beach Heart Health Revolution.
Where It's Going
In 2004, Dr. Agatston founded The Agatston Research Foundation for the
purpose of conducting and funding original research on diet, cardiac, and
disease prevention. The Foundation is dedicated to improving the heart health
and wellness of the nation through research, education, and prevention. His goal
is to educate and empower both his patients and the public about healthy
lifestyle choices and disease prevention, encouraging the practice of such
prevention in America and throughout the world. In creating The Agatston
Research Foundation, Dr. Agatston is fulfilling a personal dream as he continues
to "change the way America eats."
Dr. Agatston lectures extensively on prevention both nationally and
internationally and has served as a reviewer for major medical cardiology
journals. In addition to his work with his wife, Sari, on the South Beach Diet
and The Agatston Research Foundation, Dr. Agatston maintains a cardiology
practice in Miami Beach, where they reside. The Agatstons have two sons.
