2025 Distinguished Scientist Sanjay Rajagopalan, MD, FAHA, FACC

Sanjay Rajagopalan, MD, FAHA, FACC

Case Western Reserve School of Medicine
Cleveland, Ohio

Dr. Sanjay Rajagopalan is the Chief of Cardiovascular Medicine at University Hospitals. Dr. Sanjay Rajagopalan is the Chief of Cardiovascular Medicine at University Hospitals; Chief Academic and Scientific Officer at the Harrington Heart and Vascular Institute; the Herman Hellerstein, MD Professor of Medicine and Biomedical Engineering; and Director of the Case Cardiovascular Research Institute at Case Western Reserve School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio.

Dr. Rajagopalan is widely recognized for his pioneering studies that have led to a better understanding of the outsized influence of pollution and external environmental exposures on cardiovascular disease. Dr. Rajagopalan’s studies have led to the recognition of air pollution as a major preventable risk factor in national and international guidelines. More recently, his studies have focused on systems biology and artificial intelligence approaches to characterize the exposome and its health effects. He has led many high impactful translational studies in the U.S. and globally, and has played a pivotal role in advocacy and policy solutions to help reduce the public health impact of pollution and climate change.

Dr. Rajagopalan is also recognized for his leadership in nationally recognized programs in public health and prevention, including a free coronary artery calcium screening program and multi-disciplinary comprehensive disease management initiatives to address cardiometabolic health. Dr. Rajagopalan is an elected member of the American Society of Clinical Investigation (ASCI), American Association of Physicians (AAP), is President Elect of the American Professors of Cardiology and is the recipient of the American College of Cardiology’s Distinguished Scientist Award. Dr. Rajagopalan has been funded continuously through the NIH for more than 20 years.