PITTSBURGH—The Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation today announced that Jamie Dixon, Head Coach, University of Pittsburgh Men’s Basketball, has joined the organization’s Board of Directors as Honorary Chairman. Jamie, who was named 2010 Big East Coach of the Year and Jim Phalen National Coach of the Year, is a strong advocate for the Foundation’s mission to raise awareness and save lives threatened by sudden cardiac arrest. His sister, Maggie Dixon, died suddenly from cardiac arrest in 2006 when she was 28. She had been women’s basketball coach of the United States Military Academy at West Point, which later established the Maggie Dixon Classic in her honor.
“We are thrilled that Jamie accepted our invitation to serve as Honorary Chairman,” said Norman S. Abramson, MD, FACEP, FCCM, Professor Emeritus, Emergency Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, who serves as Chairman of the Board. “With Jamie’s help, we will raise awareness and inspire action nationwide to help prevent needless deaths from unexpected sudden cardiac arrest.”