AHA Presents Distinguished Scientist Award to Sanjay Rajagopalan

Nov. 8, 2025 — 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 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.