In Memoriam: William W. Parmley

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," says 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 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, he 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 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.

"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," says ACC Past President John Gordon Harold, MD, MACC. "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 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," says 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. He is survived by his wife, Shanna Parmley, and their four children."

"I remember him as the most incredible, caring physician, who taught many how to care for patients with eloquence and deep empathy," says 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.

May BOT Meeting Focuses on Workforce, Health Equity, Prevention and More

The College's May Board of Trustees (BOT) meeting focused on advancing strategic priorities across education, science, membership, registries, advocacy and more. The meeting marked Roxana Mehran, MD, FACC's first as ACC President and welcomed three new BOT members: Dinesh Kalra, MD, FACC; Andrea L. Price, MS, CPHQ, FACC; and Fred M. Kusumoto, MD, FACC.

A central theme discussed was workforce culture and engagement, including candid dialogue around perceptions of toxicity, accountability and the importance of embedding inclusive leadership. The BOT also received updates from the Health Equity Committee, highlighting ongoing efforts to integrate health equity across all ACC activities and eliminate disparities in cardiovascular care.

Prevention also emerged as a major priority, and the BOT approved a four-part strategic plan by the Comprehensive CVD Prevention Task Force. Additional updates included progress within the NCDR, including expansion of its registry portfolio and development of new tools such as the Renal Denervation Module and CV Shock Designation – which will complement ACC's Chest Pain Center Accreditation program. The Science and Quality Committee reported on new clinical guidance and digital tools, while Advocacy efforts highlighted key policy wins and ongoing priorities in telehealth, reimbursement and regulatory policy.

In addition to strategic updates, this meeting also provided space for "Blue Sky" discussion about AI and its implications for hospitals, patients and clinicians, potential new revenue opportunities, and ACC's role in defining clear rules of engagement for use in practice. This will be a big topic at the BOT's summer retreat in July, so stay tuned!

Read more about the meeting.

ACC President Receives Andreas Grüntzig Ethica Award

ACC President Roxana Mehran, MD, FACC, was awarded the Andreas Grüntzig Ethica Award on May 21 during EuroPCR in Paris.

The award, named after Andreas Grüntzig, MD, the pioneering German cardiologist who developed the first balloon angioplasty, is the highest honor presented by the Percutaneous Cardiovascular Registry (PCR). It recognizes individuals and teams who have made outstanding contributions to the field of interventional cardiology by improving patient outcomes, advancing interventional techniques, and inspiring collaboration and innovation.

"It is incredibly special to be recognized with the Andreas Grüntzig Ethica Award by the peers with whom I began my journey," says Mehran. "It is a huge and unexpected honor, and I feel so humbled and grateful beyond words. I also hope this award empowers other women to continue pursuing a career in interventional cardiology."

Keywords: Cardiology Magazine, ACC Publications, CM-Jul-Aug-2026, Awards and Prizes, In Memoriam, Leadership