Cardiologist Manesh Patel named new American Heart Association president
Manesh R. Patel, MD, a veteran interventional cardiologist with Duke University, is the 2026-27 president of the American Heart Association (AHA) as of Wednesday, July 1. He takes the presidential reins from Keith Churchwell, MD.
Patel is chief of the division of cardiology, vice president of heart and vascular services for Duke Health, the Richard Stack Distinguished Professor of Medicine at the Duke University School of Medicine and senior investigator at the Duke Clinical Research Institute. He is a financial expert in health technology, able to bridge the clinical and business sides of cardiology.
Patel received his medical degree from Emory University School of Medicine and completed his residency and fellowship in cardiology at Duke University. Key mentors he worked with at Duke included Robert Califf, MD, former FDA commissioner and founding director of the Duke Clinical Research Institute, former AHA President Robert Harrington, MD and Duke’s men’s basketball team coach Mike Krzyzewski, better known as Coach K.
"I'm honored and humbled to step into the role of volunteer president of the American Heart Association and proud to be the first South Asian person to hold this role, a moment that reflects my family's journey and the values they instilled in me," Patel said in an announcement of his new role on LinkedIn. "This opportunity also reflects something larger than any one person. It is a testament to the culture of science and teamwork I have been fortunate to be part of at Duke, from the Duke Clinical Research Institute to Duke Heart and Duke Cardiology, where I have spent nearly 30 years building on a legacy of cardiovascular discovery."
He said he plans to focus on making sure discoveries are proven, and that proven therapies can reach everyone.
"By 2050, nearly half the world's population may face some form of cardiovascular disease or its risk factors. That is the scale of the opportunity in front of us. The American Heart Association’s mission and commitment to improving human health is energizing and I look forward to working with the thousands of volunteers, clinicians, and scientists to meet this moment," Patel wrote.
In addition to being involved in cutting edge interventional cardiology research, having published more than 500 peer-reviewed articles, reviews and editorials, he is currently focused on developing systems to discover and deliver innovative personalized care to improve cardiovascular health.
In 2023, Patel was named the AHA Physician of the Year. He has been a longtime AHA volunteer medical expert, was past chair of the Committee on Scientific Sessions Program, and served on the National Board of Directors. In terms of clinical policy, he has served as chair of the American College of Cardiology Task Force for Appropriate Use Criteria for Cardiovascular Procedures and chair of the AHA Diagnostic and Interventional Cath Committee.
Read more about Patel's life and career.
Video interview with Patel about the 2022 AHA sessions he chaired
AHA announces of new volunteer leaders for 2026-27
Svati H. Shah, MD, MS, will serve as president-elect. The AHA also said Lee A. Shapiro, JD, a Florida-based financial expert in health technology, will continue as volunteer chairperson of the board for the second year of a two-year term.
Linda Gooden, MBA, is now the chairperson-elect. Gooden is a retired executive from the aerospace and defense industry. Robert H. Swan, MBA, a venture capital and operations executive, is the current treasurer. Both will continue serving two-year terms.
Dave Fornell has covered healthcare for more than 17 years, with a focus in cardiology and radiology. Fornell is a 5-time winner of a Jesse H. Neal Award, the most prestigious editorial honors in the field of specialized journalism. The wins included best technical content, best use of social media and best COVID-19 coverage. Fornell was also a three-time Neal finalist for best range of work by a single author. He produces more than 100 editorial videos each year, most of them interviews with key opinion leaders in medicine. He also writes technical articles, covers key trends, conducts video hospital site visits, and is very involved with social media. E-mail: [email protected]