2025 Distinguished Scientist Donna K. Arnett, PhD, MSPH, FAHA

Donna K Arnett PhD, MPH, FAHA

University of South Carolina
Columbia, South Carolina

Dr. Donna Arnett is a distinguished leader in cardiovascular genetic epidemiology, renowned for her groundbreaking research and transformative academic leadership. She has been consistently ranked among Stanford’s Top 2% of Scientists Worldwide and is recognized as one of the top 500 female scientists in the United States.

With approximately $70 million in NIH funding, Dr. Arnett has led pivotal studies such as GenHAT, HyperGEN, GOLDN and multiple R01s focused on the genetic determinants of cardiovascular disease. Her work has advanced understanding of gene-environment interactions and pharmacogenomics, contributing to the evolution of precision medicine.

Her expertise is internationally recognized, with Expertscape ranking her among the top global experts in Genetic Polymorphisms (top 0.3%), Hypertension (top 0.8%), and Obesity (top 0.8%). In 2012, she was elected as the first PhD President of the American Heart Association, and the AHA has honored her with its highest accolades, including the Gold Heart Award and the Population Research Award in 2017.

Dr. Arnett has played a vital role in shaping clinical practice guidelines, serving as Co-Chair of the ACC/AHA 2019 Prevention Guidelines and Chair of the peer review for the ACC/AHA 2025 Hypertension Guidelines. Her commitment to mentorship is evident through her leadership of an NIH T32 training program and earning UAB's Graduate School Dean's Award for Excellence in Mentorship. Her election as Fellow of the American Epidemiological Society and the American College of Epidemiology further attest to her standing in the field.

She has completed prestigious leadership programs, including Harvard’s Institute for Management and Leadership in Higher Education and the Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine program. Recent honors, such as the Joseph Stokes III MD Award and her selection as the Ancel Keys Memorial Lecturer in 2022, underscore her enduring impact at the intersection of genetic epidemiology, precision medicine and public health.