Michael Hess, MD

Before his death in 2019, Dr. Hess was a heart failure cardiologist at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA, where he published more than 200 research papers and three books and was revered as a teacher, earning a dozen outstanding teacher awards. Dr. Hess is credited with founding ISHLT when he convened an international group of cardiologists and cardiac surgeons at the first informal meeting of the ISHLT at the 1980 AHA meeting in Miami; and the first formal meeting on 14 March, 1981. His vision for the ISHLT included a venue for the discussion of cardiac transplantation, which became the Annual Meeting, a scientific registry, a truly international Society, and an independent Journal. All of these ideas have become realities in the modern incarnation of ISHLT.

Dr. Hess served the Society as the first ISHLT President from 1981-1982. He received the ISHLT Lifetime Achievement Award on April 24, 2021 at the ISHLT 41st Annual Meeting and Scientific Sessions, the Society's first fully virtual meeting.

Watch a quick video honoring Michael Hess on the ISHLT YouTube channel.