Bijoy K. Khandheria, a cardiologist known for his generosity and kindness, dies at 66

The American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) has shared a tribute to Bijoy K. Khandheria, MD, a cardiologist and longtime advocate for the field of cardiac ultrasound who died on Feb. 13. He was 66 years old.

Khandheria had a long career in cardiology and echocardiography. He was the medical director of Aurora Global and Executive Health Program Services, medical director of the Echocardiography Center for Research and Innovation and medical director of echocardiography services at Aurora St. Luke’s Medical Center, in addition to being an adjunct professor at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine. He also served as the ASE’s president in 2005-2006 and edited seven different books on echocardiography.

Bijoy K. Khandheria, MD
Image courtesy of the American Society of Echocardiography.

Khandheria’s impact was also felt on the research and innovation side of healthcare. He was named on two patients in the United States—one for, “Method for assessing vascular disease by quantitatively measuring vasa vasorum” and another for, “Method for imaging intracavitary blood flow patterns”—and authored or co-authored more than 350 academic articles. In addition, he held key roles with multiple journals over the course of his career, including the Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography, Journal of Echocardiography, Journal of the American College of Cardiology and more.

“Dr. Khandheria was a dedicated advocate for the field of cardiovascular ultrasound and his commitment to education was unwavering,” the ASE wrote in its loving tribute. “He had a deep insight into the educational needs of sonographers and physicians and an exceptional ability to tailor his knowledge and presentations to meet the needs of the audience. He was a world-renowned clinician and sought-after speaker and educator throughout his career as a cardiologist. He was a visionary in the field with an enthusiasm, generosity, and kindness that touched many lives. He will be deeply missed by everyone who had the pleasure of interacting with him and learning from him.”

Michael Walter
Michael Walter, Managing Editor

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.

Around the web

Ron Blankstein, MD, professor of radiology, Harvard Medical School, explains the use of artificial intelligence to detect heart disease in non-cardiac CT exams.

Eleven medical societies have signed on to a consensus statement aimed at standardizing imaging for suspected cardiovascular infections.

Kate Hanneman, MD, explains why many vendors and hospitals want to lower radiology's impact on the environment. "Taking steps to reduce the carbon footprint in healthcare isn’t just an opportunity," she said. "It’s also a responsibility."