William W. Parmley, MD, MACC, a transformative leader in cardiovascular medicine whose impact on the ACC spanned decades, passed away peacefully on May 23 at the age of 90, surrounded by his family.

Parmley served as ACC President from 1985 to 1986 and as the second Editor-in-Chief of JACC from 1992 to 2002, succeeding Simon Dack, MD, MACC. Through his leadership, scholarship and vision for the future of cardiovascular medicine, he helped shape both the College and its flagship journal during periods of significant growth and innovation in the field.

“He was an extraordinary cardiologist and an even better human being,” said Anthony N. DeMaria, MD, MACC, who, like Parmley, served as ACC President, as well as Editor-in-Chief of JACC and chair of ACC’s Annual Scientific Session. “He was a spectacular editor of JACC and set an example for me and, indeed, all subsequent editors. His commitment to service served as a perfect model for our profession. He will clearly be missed.”

Born Jan. 22, 1936, in Salt Lake City, Utah, Parmley graduated summa cum laude in physics from Harvard University in 1957. He earned his medical degree from Johns Hopkins Medical School in 1963 and completed internship and residency training in internal medicine before finishing his fellowship at Peter Bent Brigham Hospital.

Following his fellowship, Parmley was one of only six residents selected for a prestigious position at the National Institutes of Health. He then went on to serve as associate director of cardiology at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles, before joining the faculty of the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), School of Medicine in 1974. Over his 30 years at UCSF, Parmley helped to build one of the nation’s premier cardiology programs and rose to the rank of endowed professor. He also served as chief of the Division of Cardiology for 25 years, mentoring generations of physicians and investigators while helping define modern academic cardiology.

“Bill was one of the giants of American cardiology, embodying the very best of our profession through his scientific excellence, editorial leadership and unwavering dedication to patient care,” said ACC Past President John Gordon Harold, MD, MACC. “We at Cedars-Sinai remember with pride his time at our institution and celebrate the extraordinary legacy he built at UCSF, the ACC and JACC. He was a leader of remarkable integrity and grace whose influence will endure for generations.”

A prolific scholar, Parmley authored nearly 600 journal articles and edited or co-authored four books, including Cardiology, a widely used textbook. Among his many scientific contributions, Parmley helped to shape public understanding of secondhand smoke and cardiovascular risk. In 1985, his landmark JAMA review, co-authored with Stanton A. Glantz, MD, titled “Passive Smoking and Heart Disease: Mechanisms and Risk,” drew national attention.

“He was an extraordinary physician, educator and human being,” said Valentin Fuster, MD, PhD, MACC, former Editor-in-Chief of JACC. “As a cardiologist, he stood among the finest clinicians of his generation; as an educator and editor-in-chief, he elevated JACC to extraordinary prominence; and as a human being, he led with profound empathy, unwavering faith, and a consummate commitment to his patients, colleagues and family.”

Parmley retired from UCSF in February 2003. In retirement, he devoted himself to full-time volunteer service for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, reflecting the deep faith that guided his life and work. He is survived by his wife, Shanna Parmley, and their four children, who described him as “a man of rare gifts who gave them all away – to his patients, his students, his church and his family. In every arena, he set a standard not merely of excellence, but of integrity and grace.”

“I remember him as the most incredible, caring physician, who taught many how to care for patients with eloquence and deep empathy,” said ACC President Roxana Mehran, MD, FACC. “He was a tremendous mentor and volunteer, and his brilliance in teaching goes beyond words. He will be dearly missed but never forgotten.”

At the ACC, Parmley’s legacy will continue to live on through the William W. Parmley Young Author Achievement Award – one of the distinguished JACC awards given out each year at ACC’s Annual Scientific Session and a fitting tribute to a man who devoted so much of his life to advancing science and supporting the next generation of cardiovascular leaders.

Keywords: Leadership, In Memoriam