Cardiologist remembered for his ‘great empathy, love and generosity’
James N. Kirkpatrick, MD, a veteran cardiologist and cardiac imaging specialist with the University of Washington, died unexpectedly on Jan. 1. He was 54 years old.
Kirkpatrick was a professor of medicine with the University of Washington Medical Center and served as its chief of cardiac imaging and director of its echocardiography laboratory.
“Jim was an extraordinary colleague, a dedicated friend to all, and an exemplary force for positive change,” Thomas P. Cappola, MD, a cardiologist with the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, said in a loving tribute from the American College of Cardiology (ACC).
“Jim led with great empathy, love, and generosity. His selflessness was pervasive throughout all aspects of his career – as a teacher, mentor, physician, scientist, and administrator,” added Bonnie Ky, MD, director of the Penn Center for Quantitative Echocardiography at Penn Medicine. “His unwavering dedication to serving others, driven by his deep faith, inspired countless individuals throughout his life. The ACC was truly fortunate to have him as a leader within our community.”
Kirkpatrick was also passionate about the ethics of healthcare, becoming a leading voice on the topic and chairing the ACC’s Ethics and Compliance Committee.
“Jim was a pioneer in the field of cardioethics before there even was such a field,” ACC Executive Vice President Brendan J. Mullen said in the same tribute. “He embodied Aristotle’s idea of ‘the golden mean.’ By this, Aristotle meant something like right balance, holding that at the point between deficiency and excess lies true virtue. Jim was a physician, philosopher, and friend, at the mean of which existed a man of exceptional wisdom and kindness.”
The University of Washington shared its own tribute to Kirkpatrick’s legacy, highlighting the substantial impact his leadership had on its echocardiography program. The school also highlighted his long history as a cardiac researcher; he authored or co-authored more than 200 papers and was recognized nationwide as an experts in diagnostic echocardiography and the expansion of medical imaging access in underserved parts of the world.
Kirkpatrick is survived by his wife and three children. Click here to leave a message in his memory.
Michael has more than 18 years of experience as a professional writer and editor. He has written at length about cardiology, radiology, artificial intelligence and other key healthcare topics.