In Memoriam: James N. Kirkpatrick, MD, FACC

James N. Kirkpatrick, MD, FACC, a leader in echocardiography, a gifted mentor and teacher, and a pioneer in the field of medical ethics, passed away unexpectedly on Jan. 1.

Kirkpatrick was professor of medicine, section chief of cardiac imaging and the director of the echocardiography laboratory at the University of Washington (UW) Medical Center at the time of his death. He was also a professor of bioethics and humanities, Ethics Committee chair and an ethics consultant for UW.

“Jim was an extraordinary colleague, a dedicated friend to all, and an exemplary force for positive change,” said Thomas P. Cappola, MD, FACC.

Cardiology

He received his MD from Loma Linda University, completed his residency at Yale University, and completed fellowships in clinical medical ethics, echocardiography and cardiovascular disease at the University of Chicago. Prior to joining the UW Medical Center in 2015, Kirkpatrick was part of the University of Pennsylvania’s Cardiovascular Medicine faculty, rising to the rank of associate professor and serving as chair of the Ethics Committee at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.

Kirkpatrick was globally recognized for his work and leadership in heart failure imaging, hand-held/point-of-care ultrasound, echocardiography in resource-limited settings, global health, and cardiac palliative care. He was also one of the few cardiologists with specific training in medical ethics and currently serving as chair of ACC’s Ethics and Compliance Committee.

“Jim was a pioneer in the field of cardioethics before there even was such a field,” said ACC Executive Vice President Brendan J. Mullen. “He embodied Aristotle’s idea of ‘the golden mean.’ By this, Aristotle meant something like right balance, holding that at the point between deficiency and excess lies true virtue. Jim was a physician, philosopher, and friend, at the mean of which existed a man of exceptional wisdom and kindness.”

In addition to his clinical roles, Kirkpatrick was an active volunteer and leader for the ACC and other societies, including the American Society of Echocardiography.

“Dr. Jim Kirkpatrick was an essential member of ACC’s Geriatric Cardiology Section, co-founding the Palliative Care Working Group and later serving as our Section Chair,” said Scott L. Hummel, MD, FACC. “He approached everything he did with warmth, generosity, and enthusiasm and inspired others to do the same. At the time of his death, he was mentoring cardiology fellows on an ACC Chapter Section Grant to understand care disparities in older cardiovascular patients from minoritized groups. This effort encapsulates Jim’s core passions - he always aimed to make everyone feel included and strongly supported early career professionals, myself included when I first joined the Section. His loss is deeply felt by our community, and we hope to honor him by continuing the important work he started.”

“Jim led with great empathy, love, and generosity. His selflessness was pervasive throughout all aspects of his career – as a teacher, mentor, physician, scientist, and administrator,” said Bonnie Ky, MD, FACC. “His unwavering dedication to serving others, driven by his deep faith, inspired countless individuals throughout his life. The ACC was truly fortunate to have him as a leader within our community.. We hope to honor his memory and legacy by supporting each other, with the same wisdom, compassion, and caring that he shared with us.”

Kirkpatrick is survived by his wife and three children. Individuals wishing to share a story or memory about Jim, may do so here.