August 1, 2003, St. Louis - Angela Brown, MD, a Washington University physician at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, has received Specialist in Clinical Hypertension status from the American Society for Hypertension (ASH) after passing the society''s rigorous examination. Dr. Brown is one of fewer than 800 physicians in the United States and Canada to receive this designation.

The ASH specialists program was formed in 1998 in response to the growing recognition that hypertension, or high blood pressure, care requires the coordinated effort of front line health care providers and those physicians with documented expertise in managing high blood pressure. ASH created the Specialist in Clinical Hypertension designation for the specific purpose of identifying and recognizing physicians with expert skills and knowledge in the management of clinical hypertension and related disorders. These physicians can act as local and regional consultants for the more complex and difficult cases and also assist in advice regarding guidelines and process improvement.

Dr. Brown works closely with Washington University cardiologists, cardiac surgeons, endocrinologists and numerous other specialists to help safely manage high blood pressure in their patients.