image: Dr. Sanjay Rajagopalan
Credit: University Hospitals
CLEVELAND – Sanjay Rajagopalan, MD, MBA, Chief of Cardiovascular Medicine at University Hospitals Harrington Heart & Vascular Institute and Director of the Case Cardiovascular Research Institute at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, has earned the 2025 American Heart Association Distinguished Scientist Award. This prestigious honor, the highest bestowed by the Association, recognizes individuals whose work has significantly advanced the understanding of cardiovascular disease and stroke.
The American Heart Association's Distinguished Scientists are a prominent group of scientists and clinicians recognized for significant, original, and sustained scientific contributions that have advanced the association's mission – building healthier lives, free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke.
An internationally renowned physician scientist, Dr. Rajagopalan is among an elite group whose work has helped transform global perceptions and understanding of the impact of environmental risk factors on cardiovascular disease. Additionally, he has made crucial contributions to the development of next-generation therapeutic modalities for cardiovascular disease, and is a leading authority in advancing innovative approaches for the imaging of complex cardiovascular disorders.
“The breadth and depth of Dr. Rajagopalan’s contributions are incredibly significant and have informed public health policies worldwide,” said Mehdi Shishehbor, DO, MPH, PhD, President, UH Harrington Heart & Vascular Institute; Angela and James Hambrick Chair in Innovation; and Professor at the Case Western Reserve School of Medicine. “His research has led to new understanding of how environmental influences such as air pollution impact cardiovascular health. This important recognition shines a light on this timely work.”
Dr. Rajagopalan’s research has been continually funded by the National Institutes of Health. He is an elected member of the American Society of Clinical Investigation (ASCI), American Association of Physicians (AAP), Association of University Cardiologists (AUC) and the Association of Professors of Cardiology (APC). He is the Herman K. Hellerstein, MD Professor of Cardiovascular Research at UH, as well as Director of the Case Cardiovascular Research Institute at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland, Ohio.
Dr. Rajagopalan has published more than 300 original peer-reviewed research publications in journals such as The New England Journal of Medicine, JAMA, Circulation, and The Journal of Clinical Investigation and Circulation Research. He has led more than 300 invited editorials and reviews. He has also served as an editor for at least two textbooks and several monographs on vascular disease and atherosclerosis.
“It’s deeply humbling to receive this award, not just as recognition of my work, but as a recognition that the environment and heart health are finally being seen as inseparable,” said Dr. Rajagopalan. “The heart does not beat in isolation. It beats in rhythm with the world around us.”
Since 2003, these awards have been presented to 157 individuals including 14 Nobel laureates.
###
About University Hospitals / Cleveland, Ohio
Founded in 1866, University Hospitals serves the needs of patients through an integrated network of 21 hospitals (including five joint ventures), more than 50 health centers and outpatient facilities, and over 200 physician offices in 16 counties throughout northern Ohio. The system’s flagship quaternary care, academic medical center, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, is affiliated with Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Oxford University, the Technion Israel Institute of Technology and National Taiwan University College of Medicine. The main campus also includes the UH Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital, ranked among the top children’s hospitals in the nation; UH MacDonald Women's Hospital, Ohio's only hospital for women; and UH Seidman Cancer Center, part of the NCI-designated Case Comprehensive Cancer Center. UH is home to some of the most prestigious clinical and research programs in the nation, with more than 3,000 active clinical trials and research studies underway. UH Cleveland Medical Center is perennially among the highest performers in national ranking surveys, including “America’s Best Hospitals” from U.S. News & World Report. UH is also home to 19 Clinical Care Delivery and Research Institutes. UH is one of the largest employers in Northeast Ohio with more than 30,000 employees. Follow UH on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter. For more information, visit UHhospitals.org.
About Case Western Reserve University
As one of the fastest-growing research universities in the United States, Case Western Reserve University is a force in career-defining education and life-changing research. Across our campus, more than 12,000 students from around the world converge to seek knowledge, find solutions and accelerate their impact. They learn from and collaborate with faculty members renowned for expertise in medicine, engineering, science, law, management, dental medicine, nursing, social work, and the arts. And with our location in Cleveland, Ohio—a hub of cultural, business and healthcare activity—our students gain unparalleled access to academic, research, clinical and entrepreneurial opportunities that prepare them to join our network of more than 125,000 alumni worldwide. Visit case.edu to see why Case Western Reserve University is built for those driven to be a force in the world.
UH Contact: Carly Belsterling, carly.belsterling@uhhospitals.org
CWRU Contact: Patty Zamora, patty.zamora@case.edu