In memoriam: Amir Lerman 1956–2026

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ID: 320909
2026
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Abstract
We were deeply saddened by the unexpected and sudden passing of Professor Amir Lerman of the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN. Prof. Lerman was a valued friend and colleague, a leading physician-scientist in cardiology who dedicated his professional life to researching and combating coronary artery disease. Born and educated in Israel, Prof. Lerman graduated from the Technion Faculty of Medicine and moved to the US with his family to pursue advanced training in the best institutions in the world. He completed internal medicine and cardiology training at the Mayo Clinic and subsequently joined the cardiology staff with a special focus on coronary interventional cardiology and research on coronary physiology and imaging. Over the years, he rose to the rank of Professor of Medicine, served as vice chair of research in the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, led the centres for cardiovascular research, coronary physiology and imaging, and the chest pain clinic, which he initiated and directed. He was widely recognized as one of the foremost physician researchers at Mayo Clinic and was recognized by the receipt of the Mayo Distinguished Investigator Award, Mayo Clinic's highest honour for researchers, recognizing sustained scholarship, creative achievement, and excellence in leadership and mentorship. His principal research interests were coronary and vascular physiology and the role of coronary imaging in the diagnosis and phenotyping of coronary disease. Over a long and productive career, he maintained his curiosity, sense of excitement, and dedication to discovery. His most important contributions included research on endothelin and endothelin antagonists in CHF and in coronary disease (culminating in a NEJM paper at a very early stage of his career), coronary plaque morphology and vulnerability, and the potential for rupture and erosion, endothelial and microvascular function and dysfunction, including coronary spasm, stress-induced CMP (TakoTsubo), and INOCA. His research in endothelial function led to the establishment of diagnostic protocols that were adopted as a standard worldwide, and his chest pain clinic was one of the first in the world at that time. He also created many investigational protocols for patients with endothelial dysfunction and created a large database of patients with INOCA that led to multiple publications. His research accomplishments were translated into clinical practice and enhanced our understanding of coronary symptomatology, particularly in patients without significant epicardial stenoses. His combination of scientific rigour and commitment to patient care was exceptional, and his positive impact upon the quality of life of many patients exemplifies the concepts of ‘bed to bedside’. He served on numerous committees and task forces that established standards of care, spoke on hundreds of prestigious platforms worldwide, received many awards and honours, and published more than 900 publications in the highest ranking journals in medicine and cardiology including the New England Journal of Medicine, Lancet, Nature Medicine, Circulation and its sub journals, the Journal of the American College of Cardiology and its sub journals, and the European Heart Journal. He has an H-index of 113, further evidence of his impact on cardiovascular medicine. For his research, he was awarded numerous institutional, national, and international awards. Originating from Israel, the start-up nation, Prof. Lerman has had a passion for international collaboration, particularly involving two countries, Israel and the Republic of Korea. First, he was instrumental in establishing the Israel Heart Fellowship in collaboration with the Israel Heart Society, wherein a highly qualified candidate is identified for advanced training at Mayo Clinic. These candidates all have returned to the State of Israel to contribute to, establish, and run programmes. We estimate that almost 20 cardiologists in Israel have been trained at Mayo Clinic. Many of these are now leaders in their fields, leaders of departments, and leaders of their specialty societies. Prof. Lerman established the Mayo collaboration with Sheba Medical Center, which is now recognized among the ten leading hospitals worldwide. Mayo Clinic, through its international platform business, now has a formal international relationship with Sheba Medical Center, its leading innovation centre, and numerous joint innovative programmes have emerged. These include applied research in electroporation and novel device development. Similarly, numerous cardiologists in the Republic of Korea have benefitted from Prof. Lerman's mentorship and training in his laboratory. These cardiologists are similarly recognized as leaders in Korea, and one has risen to the position of president of the largest cardiovascular centre in Daejeon City, Konyang University Medical Center. Prof. Lerman has spearheaded and led the Mayo Israeli startup initiative in collaboration with Mayo Medical Ventures to facilitate collaboration with medical start-up companies, philanthropists, and Israeli innovation authorities. Prof. Lerman was also an exceptional mentor and teacher. He trained and inspired generations of researchers and students from around the world in his research laboratory and at his cardiovascular and imaging research centres. Overall, he mentored more than 50 young researchers, and many of his trainees now hold leadership positions internationally, including Israel, Korea, and Europe. He received many awards for excellence in teaching and mentorship. On a personal level, he embodied humility, warmth, kindness, and consideration of others. He was an outstanding team player who enriched the careers and lives of colleagues and trainees, and considered his colleagues as members of his extended family and personal friends. His warmth and gentle sense of humour will be fondly remembered. Amir was devoted to his family, and our thoughts go out to his wife Lilach, children Shir and Ben, and their spouses Igor and Nina, and we are thankful that he was able to hold his first grandchild, Rennen, only days before Amir’s passing. Prof. Lerman is gone, but his legacy endures with those privileged to have worked with him and the countless patients whose lives he improved. The world of cardiology has lost a giant. All authors declare no disclosure of interest for this contribution. Nothing to declare.
Reference Key
openalex_W7168293761 Use this key to autocite in the manuscript while using SciMatic Manuscript Manager or Thesis Manager
Authors Michael Glikson, Charanjit S Rihal, Bernard J Gersh
Journal european heart journal
Year 2026
DOI
10.1093/eurheartj/ehag433
URL
https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehag433
Keywords Keywords not found

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