Paul Underwood, MD FACC

Medical Director
Boston Scientific Corporation

Paul Underwood MD, FACC, FSCAI, RAC
Medical Director, Interventional Cardiology
Boston Scientific Corporation

Dr. Underwood is a cardiologist with 30 years’ experience in coronary interventions. Originally from Knoxville, TN, he trained at Mayo Clinic-Rochester followed by cardiology fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic. In 1994 he relocated to Phoenix, AZ and in 2000 he founded Eclipse Clinical Research Associates, an independent clinical research site. In 2009 he joined Boston Scientific Corporation as a clinical medical director. Boston Scientific, a global manufacturer of medical devices, specializes in cardiovascular products ranging from coronary stents to implantable defibrillators. Dr. Underwood is responsible for medical risk management involving investigational and commercialized cardiology products. He also supports, Close the Gap, Boston Scientific’s health equity initiative.

Leadership in the cardiovascular medical device space has created a platform Dr. Underwood leverages to amplify the call for minority participation in clinical trials. He’s played an integral role in Boston Scientific’s novel clinical studies to assess coronary stent outcomes in non-white populations. These mark the first statistically powered studies to use randomized controlled clinical data. The recently published, Platinum Diversity: Outcomes in Women and Minorities Compared with White Men 1 Year after Coronary Stenting, prospectively collected social determinant of health data as well.

Throughout his career, Paul has participated in a variety of community, national and global health initiatives. In the mid 90’s he worked with Project MedHelp to establish cardiovascular surgery in Dakar, Senegal. In Arizona his work with the American Heart Association (AHA) Desert Mountain Affiliate placed him on the Metro Phoenix board of directors to lead Operation Heartbeat (AEDs) and the Community Health Initiatives (Corazon de Corazon). He chaired the Disparity Task Group for the Arizona Cardiovascular Disease Coalition from 2006-8. Dr. Underwood’s engagement with AHA on a national level includes the Women and Minorities Leadership committee and the Scientific Advisory Coordinating Council. He was also an American Stroke Association Power to End Stroke campaign advisor. He is a former president of the Association of Black Cardiologists and a recipient of the National Forum for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Chairperson’s Award. He is a former councilor for the American College of Cardiology-Arizona chapter and a current councilor for the Arizona Latin Medical Association.

Dr Underwood focuses on the impact clinical trials can have in facilitating dissemination and adoption of state-of-the-art therapeutic technology. Universal access to contemporary, evidence-based care reduces treatment disparities and improves clinical outcomes. He believes collaboration between healthcare providers, consumers, payors and policymakers is critical to achieve health equity.

Presentation(s):

• Panel I: Diverse Representation in Clinical Trials—Why Does It Matter and How Do We Move Forward?

  Monday, November 18
  10:15 AM – 11:30 AM