2026 Thomas Smith Memorial Lecturer – Howard A. Rockman, MD, FAHA

Howard A. Rockman, MD, FAHA

Duke University School of Medicine
Durham, North Carolina

Howard A. Rockman, MD, FAHA, is the Edward S. Orgain Professor of Cardiology, Professor of Medicine and Cell Biology and Director of the Cardiovascular Research Center at Duke University. His research is focused on the molecular mechanisms of cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure with emphasis on the role of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). He received his MD from McGill University in 1983, completed medical residency at the Montreal General Hospital in 1987 and Cardiology Fellowship at the University of California, San Diego, in 1991. Work in his laboratory has led to a new understanding for GPCR signaling in the pathogenesis of the failing heart as it relates to the concept known as biased signaling. He pioneered the development of mouse models to study the molecular underpinnings of cardiac hypertrophy and failure.

He has received many awards and honors, including the Distinguished Achievement Award in 2011 and in 2015 was named a Distinguished Scientist by the American Heart Association. In 2016, he received the Distinguished Faculty Award from the Duke Medical Alumni Association. He has been elected to the Association of American Physicians and the American Society for Clinical Investigation. He is the former editor-in-chief of the Journal of Clinical Investigation and founding editor of JCI Insight.

Dr. Rockman has trained more than 75 scientists and is recognized for his passion in mentoring young scientists and physicians. He is a recipient of both the Duke University School of Medicine Research Mentoring Award and the prestigious Master Teaching Award.