For Kanu Chatterjee, MD, music, medicine and Gandhi keep his life centered

After nearly four decades at the University of California at San Francisco, Chatterjee has retired and is focusing on research at the University of Iowa.

When not rooting for the San Francisco 49ers, Kanu Chatterjee, MD, can likely be found reading, walking or listening to classical music.

Born and educated in India, Chatterjee received his medical degree from the Royal College of Physicians in London in 1965. He then moved to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, where he served as director of inpatient cardiology until 1975. Chatterjee then joined the medical staff at the University of California at San Francisco as director of the cardiac care unit and associate chief of cardiology. He remained at UCSF for 34 years, during which time he became the Ernest Gallo Distinguished Professor of Medicine and was formally selected as a Master Physician. The Chatterjee Center for Cardiac Research at UCSF was also named in his honor. Chatterjee retired from UCSF in June to join the research faculty at the University of Iowa.

Chatterjee has been a reviewer and served on editorial boards for many publications, including the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, Circulation, the New England Journal of Medicine, the International Journal of Cardiology and others. A prolific writer and researcher, Chatterjee has also published and edited hundreds of papers, as well as dozens of books and individual book chapters. He is the recipient of numerous teaching awards, including the Kaiser Award for Teaching, the Excellence in Teaching Award and the ACC’s Gifted Teacher Award.

What do you enjoy doing when you’re not practicing medicine?

I do not have too many hobbies. I listen to classical music like Mozart and to Indian classical music. I also watch sports quite a bit, but do not play them. I am a rabid, avid fan of the 49ers. I also watch tennis and golf. I do not play golf; I used to play tennis, but not anymore. I also try to read, and most of the time I end up reading journals and manuscripts. I do not get much time to read when I am at work at the hospital.

Kanu Chatterjee, MD Member, CHD and Prevention Section, Cardiology Today Editorial Board. Research faculty at the University of Iowa.

If you hadn’t gone into cardiology or medicine, what would you have done?

I was going to go into biochemistry, but my father said no. He actually made it clear that I needed to go into medicine. We were born in Bangladesh and we were refugees to India. When we were in Bangladesh at that time, my father had a close physician friend. He must have influenced my father to tell me to go into medicine, but I really wanted to go into biochemistry.

What would you consider one of your biggest successes in your specialty?

It happened in phases. When I was in Cedars Sinai in 1971 and the end of 1974, if I had to say what I did that makes me proud, it would be when I worked with the Swan-Ganz catheter and did many studies demonstrating the hemodynamics. When I was in London, I worked at St. George’s Hospital in the late 1960’s, and I think I was the first person to report on post-pacing T-wave changes, which is now called “memory.” That was my discovery, of which I was very proud.

When I moved to the University of California at San Francisco, again, I had many people working with me and we worked on vasodilators. We were the first to demonstrate that you can get oral hydralazine and nitrates to treat chronic HF, which has now become a standard treatment. Along with my colleagues and fellows, that was probably one of the most important contributions I have made.

What I feel is most satisfying regarding medicine, though, is working with and teaching residents, interns and fellows.

What is the last book you read / art collection you saw / CD you bought? Why, and what did you think of it?

We went to Paris last year and went to all of the museums. I have gone there almost every other year. I also enjoyed seeing Rembrandt in the Netherlands. The last book I read was a religious book called the Bhagavad Gita. I am still reading it on and off. The last CD I bought was by Ravi Shankar, who was a patient and friend of mine. I also listen to the music of Rabindranath Tagore, who was a famous Nobel laureate from Bengal, although he passed away a long time ago.

Whom do you most admire, and what would you ask that person if you had five minutes with him/her?

I still admire Gandhi as a historical figure. If the world listened to him, it would be to some extent a nicer place. In terms of somebody who influenced me when I was growing up, we had a lot of turmoil in India and in Calcutta, and Gandhi influenced me in terms of humanity and how one should not look to oneself. That is what I learned from him — you have to think of others as well as yourself. I never forget that.

Dr. Chatterjee and his wife, Docey, of 34 years. Source: Kanu Chatterjee, MD

What is the best advice you’ve ever received?

The best advice I have received in my career and life from mentors and colleagues, and even from my wife is to be honest and not be critical. Do for others rather than for yourself.

Whom do you consider a mentor?

Jeremy Swan, MD, and William Ganz, MD, really taught me a lot. That certainly does not mean that other people have not taught me anything, but they stand out in my mind.

What kind of diet and exercise regime do you have?

I exercise regularly. I used to jog but do not do that anymore. I went for a walk this morning because there were no patients, and walked just over five miles at 30 minutes per mile, which is pretty good for my age. As for diet, we have a diet of fruits, vegetables, fish and chicken at home, but my diet tends to get changed a bit when I travel.

What do you think will have the biggest influence on cardiology in the next 10 years?

I believe that the within the next 10 years, two things will happen. The technology in terms of intervention will not go away, no matter what we say. It will be superseded by basic understanding of the disease, including the molecular cardiology. That will actually take a great leap forward, and once we understand molecular biology and how the cell works and why we have the disease, that will be it. I am not sure stem cells are going to be it — maybe, but they are going to need help. The advances in molecular cardiology and basic understanding of disease are going to be important. For example, in the area of HF, we know the maximum that we can do now. We have no further advances in terms of understanding of the disease, so that is what needs to happen in other areas.

What is your favorite travel destination?

I have visited so many places. I still like Europe because I was there for so long in England. London is one of my favorite places, as is France. I still enjoy Egypt, some parts of India and China. There are a lot of places I have traveled to, and many creep up in my mind when I think about it.

What is your favorite restaurant?

I do not go to restaurants often, but when I do go, I tend to go to Indian restaurants. There are three or four good Indian restaurants around here. That does not mean I do not go to other restaurants. We usually go out once every three or four months. – by Eric Raible