Caldwell B. Esselstyn, Jr.

Caldwell B. Esselstyn, Jr., MD, (Essy) has been a surgeon, researcher, and clinician at the Cleveland Clinic for more than 35 years and is the first recipient of the Benjamin Spock Award for Compassion in Medicine. He received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the Cleveland Clinic Alumni Association in 2009. Essy summarized his pioneering research in his best-selling book, Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease, and has written for more than 150 scientific publications. He and his wife, Ann Crile Esselstyn, have followed a plant-based diet for more than 26 years. Essy currently directs the cardiovascular prevention and reversal program at the Cleveland Clinic Wellness Institute.