‘A giant in the metabolic and hypertension field’: A tribute to George L. Bakris, MD
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Key takeaways:
- George L. Bakris, MD, an internationally recognized expert in hypertension and chronic kidney disease, passed away at age 72.
- He worked across specialties to improve cardiovascular, kidney and metabolic health.
Hypertension expert and longtime editorial board member for Healio | Cardiology and Healio | Endocrinology George L. Bakris, MD, died June 15, 2024, at the age of 72.
Bakris, a nephrologist by training whose work intersected with multiple specialties, was an internationally recognized expert in hypertension and diabetic kidney disease.
“Dr. Bakris was passionate and worked tirelessly to advance and provide the best care to patients. He was an exceptional leader, mentor and friend who we will miss dearly,” Everett E. Vokes, MD, the John E. Ultmann Distinguished Service Professor, chair of the department of medicine and physician in chief at the University of Chicago Medicine & the Biological Sciences, wrote in a statement issued to the University of Chicago Department of Medicine.
Bakris served as professor of medicine in the section of endocrinology, diabetes and metabolism at the University of Chicago and as the director of the university’s Comprehensive Hypertension Center. He completed his fellowship in nephrology in 1986 at the University of Chicago and then held faculty appointments at Tulane, University of Texas San Antonio and Rush before returning to the University of Chicago in 2006.
During his career, Bakris published more than 500 peer-reviewed manuscripts and guidelines. He pioneered research that showed angiotensin receptor blockers decrease the progression of diabetic nephropathy and trials that led to the approval of patiromer (Veltassa, Vifor Pharma) for the treatment of hyperkalemia.
Bakris won numerous awards and held many leadership roles, including president of the American Society of Hypertension in 2010-2012 and a chair of the Cardiometabolic Health Congress (CMHC).
“Dr. Bakris, a man of exceptional character, dedicated his life to the betterment of medicine, particularly in the fields of kidney disease, hypertension and diabetes,” CMHC stated in an email announcement. “His tireless commitment championing evidence-based care to improve patient outcomes has left an indelible mark on the practice of medicine, touching countless lives. For nearly two decades, Dr. Bakris has been a pillar of CMHC, generously sharing his expertise, passion and unwavering dedication to advancing the field of cardiometabolic health. His presence, wisdom and invaluable contributions have been a guiding light for our organization, and his absence will be keenly felt by all who had the privilege of knowing and working with him.”
Many colleagues shared their sentiments of Dr. Bakris’ passing.
“George Bakris was a longtime personal friend and colleague of mine, starting as early as 1988 when he was in New Orleans on staff at Tulane University and a specialist in hypertension at Oschner Clinic,” Keith C. Ferdinand, MD, FACC, FAHA, FASPC, FNLA, the Gerald S. Berenson Endowed Chair in Preventative Cardiology and professor of medicine at Tulane University School of Medicine and Healio | Cardiology Today Editorial Board Member, told Healio. “I have worked with George in multiple venues, including the National High Blood Pressure Education Program, the Joint National Committee, the American Society of Nephrology, the CMHC, the American Society of Hypertension and others. Our banter back and forth on many stages at major symposia was entertaining for the audience, but also invigorating for the both of us as we went back and forth on how best to apply the emerging data not just on hypertension but cardio-kidney-metabolic disease. He was prescient in identifying that we should not work in silos; that cardiologists, nephrologists, endocrinologists, advanced practice nurses, nurse practitioners, pharmacists and internists are all part of a team; and that patients need everyone to chip in and do their part to control the ravages of cardiovascular, kidney and metabolic disease.”
Deepak L. Bhatt, MD, MPH, described Bakris as “a wonderful friend and a generous collaborator.”
“He was kind and had a great sense of humor. We worked together closely on many projects, including resetting the field of renal denervation and putting it on solid scientific ground with sham-controlled trials — an extremely unpopular approach at the time, which subsequently had far-reaching implications in many fields of procedural medicine. He was a major contributor to the Braunwald’s Heart Disease family of textbooks with his carefully written chapters for the main book and also a dedicated editor of the book on hypertension,” Bhatt, who is director of Mount Sinai Heart, the Dr. Valentin Fuster Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and a Healio | Cardiology Today Editorial Board member, told Healio.
“He has a long legacy of devoted trainees. In fact, on his recommendation, I just hired a star nephrologist who is a former fellow of his to bolster our efforts in hypertension management at the Mount Sinai Fuster Heart Hospital. In this way, his knowledge and wisdom will be kept alive for many generations to come,” Bhatt said.
Bakris was a valued, longtime member of the Healio | Cardiology Today and Healio | Endocrine Today Editorial Boards.
“We lost a giant in the metabolic and hypertension field who started in New Orleans and made his reputation in Chicago. His most recent work targeting hepatic angiotensinogen synthesis with an RNA interference molecule (zilbesiran) injection every 6 months has the potential to be a game-changer in hypertension,” Carl J. Pepine, MD, MACC, Eminent Scholar Emeritus and professor in the division of cardiovascular medicine at University of Florida, Gainesville, and Chief Medical Editor Emeritus of Healio | Cardiology Today, told Healio.
From the entire Healio team: We are deeply grateful for Dr. Bakris’ guidance over the years as a member of our various editorial boards, from participating in roundtables to providing perspective to breaking down complex research in a way that was easily understood by journalists. Here is a selection of Dr. Bakris’ contributions to Healio: https://www.healio.com/authors/gbakris.
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