Dinesh Kalra, M.D., FACC, FSCCT, FSCMR, FNLA, on September 1 joined the faculty of the University of Louisville Department of Medicine as the new Chief of the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine. He will also serve as Professor of Medicine and Endowed Chair of Cardiovascular Innovations.

Dr. Kalra comes to UofL from Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, where he was Director of Advanced Cardiac Imaging, Director of the Infiltrative Cardiac Disease Program, and Director of the Lipid Clinic.

He is internationally renowned for his work in advancing the understanding of cardiac CT and MRI and lipidology, especially as it relates to finding new ways to prevent atherosclerosis.

"I am proud to be part of an exceptional institution like UofL with a rich history and tradition of excellence, innovation, and research," Kalra said of accepting his new role at UofL. "Their consistent goal to deliver the best care for our patients and the strong emphasis on academics are inspirational. This Division is poised to be a nationally recognized cardiovascular program and top-tier division in all areas and will be supported with the funds necessary to meet a high standard of excellence in clinical care, research, and education.

"It is my mission to transform cardiovascular care and improve heart health for Kentuckians and the greater Louisville community. We have the talent, resources, and institutional commitment to become national leaders in this area again. All the elements of a successful transition are here including our academic, clinical, industry, and technology partners and we will bring to bear all these resources to propel the science and practice of cardiovascular medicine to the top-most tier.

"The program has a very strong reputation for clinical training and outstanding patient care. The resident and fellow teaching and the service to the community are outstanding. With my clinical operations, leadership, and education background, the opportunity to lead such an outstanding Division was appealing, and I have no doubt it will achieve national excellence in multiple areas over the next few years."

Prior his arrival at UofL, Dr. Kalra served at many top-tier institutions, including the Baylor College of Medicine, Lahey Clinic, and his recent stint at Rush University Medical Center. His unique and multimodal expertise is expected to play an instrumental role in supporting the UofL cardiology faculty and staff as well as growing and leading the Cardiovascular Medicine Service Line across the entire UofL Health system.

Dr. Kalra's recruitment was made possible through the trust and dedication of UofL senior leadership and colleagues in other departments and programs.

"With Dr. Kalra at the helm of the UofL Cardiology team, I am confident that we will deliver on building upon our successful history of cardiovascular care and scale new heights of innovative and accessible care for our patients," Dr. Kristine Krueger, Professor and Interim Chair of the Department of Medicine who spearheaded the search committee said. "He is an experienced physician with a demonstrated history of building successful programs in academic cardiology. Skilled in patient-care delivery, change leadership, and lean management processes, his arrival at UofL will catalyze our progress forward in transitioning cardiology to meet our future needs.

"He has the ability to set a vision, effectively inspire, manage and mentor. He is passionate about building collaborative research programs of excellence, mentoring outstanding junior faculty, and continuing to advance cardiovascular medicine on the national and international stage."

Dr. Jason Smith, Chief Medical Officer of UofL Health, noted Dr. Kalra's vision and vigor will infuse new energy and talent into the varied ranks within Cardiology and related disciplines at UofL health.

"He is uniquely well suited to lead UofL Cardiology academic group during this unprecedented time," Smith said. “His clinical and leadership experience will be invaluable in optimizing interdisciplinary care along the continuum, as consumers and clinicians navigate new paradigms in healthcare stemming from the recent COVID-19 pandemic and new models of cardiovascular care delivery. The new Chief will shape the growth of cardiovascular services and, in collaboration with community cardiology leaders, will be intimately involved in developing and executing a strategic plan for integrated cardiovascular care across the UofL System."

Dr. Kalra is a graduate of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences where he completed his MD with honors. He then completed his residency in Internal Medicine in the MERIT pathway at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, and stayed on to do his fellowship in Cardiology at Baylor graduating with advanced training in cardiac imaging (echocardiography and nuclear cardiology). He is board-certified in cardiology, cardiovascular CT and MRI, echocardiography, nuclear cardiology, and lipidology.

The Division of Cardiovascular Medicine is one of 10 divisions of the Department of Medicine and comprises its most extensive service line. The core mission of the Cardiovascular Medicine Division is to provide the highest standard of cardiovascular clinical care to the community, while also promoting scientific discovery and training for the next generation of leaders in Cardiovascular Medicine.