Former ACC president William Parmley remembered as powerhouse in cardiology
Former American College of Cardiology (ACC) president William W. Parmley, MD, MACC, died May 23 at the age of 90.
He served as ACC president from 1985 to 1986 and editor-in-chief of Journal of the ACC (JACC) from 1992 to 2002. The ACC said in a statement his leadership, scholarship and commitment to advancing cardiovascular medicine helped shape the college and its flagship journal during periods of significant growth and innovation.
"He was a spectacular editor of JACC and set an example for me and, indeed, all subsequent editors. His commitment to service served as a perfect model for our profession," said Anthony N. DeMaria, MD, MACC, professor of medicine at the University of California UC San Diego.
In addition to serving on the ACC Board, Parmley also served on the boards of the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) and the American Heart Association (AHA).
Among his nearly 600 journal articles and four books he co-authored, he is most noted for his research on the harmful effects of secondhand smoke, hemodynamics and new therapies for heart failure.
He was one of the giants of American cardiology, said John Gordon Harold, MD, MACC, MACP, past ACC president 2013-2014, editor in chief of Cardiology Magazine, and professor, Cedars-Sinai Health Sciences University, in a post on LinkedIn.
"Bill’s career reflected the very best of our profession, scientific excellence, editorial leadership, institutional service and a profound dedication to advancing patient care. He was a leader of uncommon integrity and grace, and his influence will continue to be felt for generations," Harold wrote.
Parmley earned a full-tuition scholarship to Harvard University, where he graduated Summa Cum Laude in physics. He attended Johns Hopkins Medical School and graduated in 1963. He completed a cardiology fellowship at the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital with expertise in hemodynamics, catheterization and angiography. He earned a resident position at the National Institutes of Health.
He became associate director of cardiology at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles. In 1974 he joined the faculty of the University of California, San Francisco, where he served for 30 years, and led the cardiology program as chief of the division of cardiology. Parmley considered the mentorship of young cardiologists his greatest professional accomplishment.
“I remember him as the most incredible, caring physician, who taught many how to care for patients with eloquence and deep empathy,” said ACC President Roxana Mehran, MD, FACC in a statement. “He was a tremendous mentor and volunteer, and his brilliance in teaching goes beyond words. He will be dearly missed but never forgotten.”
ACC said Parmley’s legacy will continue to live on through the William W. Parmley Young Author Achievement Award. The college said this distinguished JACC award is given out each year at ACC’s Annual Scientific Session.
His obituary says he sought a strong work-life balance and made sure no professional demand would come before his family. Even though he worked long days, often rising before 4:30 a.m. and not returning home until evening, he never missed his children's sporting events, school concerts, dance recitals or plays. When invited to speak at conferences around the world, he often brought his wife Shanna or one of his children along.
Beyond cardiology, he was a devoted and heavily involved member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints throughout his life. He served two years as a missionary for his church between undergraduate and medical school. He was named to church leadership as part of the General Authority Seventy between 2003-2009. Parmley and his wife also served as Area President of the Africa Southeast Area, overseeing the Mormon community in 20 countries. After returning from Africa, they served as Sacramento Temple President and Matron.
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]