The following cardiologists lead departments at hospitals ranked in the top 10 for cardiology, heart & vascular surgery by U.S. News & World Report for 2025-26, following a previous look at the leaders of the top five programs.
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (Los Angeles)
U.S. News rank: 6
Christine Albert, MD, is chair of cardiology and the Lee and Harold Kapelovitz Distinguished Chair in Cardiology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. A leading cardiac electrophysiologist, her research focuses on the prevention of sudden cardiac death and atrial fibrillation, emphasizing the impact of lifestyle, diet and genetics. Dr. Albert leads large NIH-funded studies on heart rhythm disorders and previously directed the Center for Arrhythmia Prevention at Boston-based Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
Northwestern Memorial Hospital at Northwestern Medicine (Chicago)
U.S. News rank: 7
Clyde Yancy, MD, is chief of cardiology, vice dean for diversity and inclusion and the Magerstadt Professor of Medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. He also serves as associate director of the Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. A leading expert in heart failure and health equity, Dr. Yancy has authored more than 700 peer-reviewed publications and served as chair of the ACC/AHA Heart Failure Guideline Writing Committee from 2011 to 2020. He is a former president of the American Heart Association and an elected member of the National Academy of Medicine.
Massachusetts General Hospital (Boston)
U.S. News rank: 8
Patrick Ellinor, MD, PhD, is executive director of the Heart and Vascular Institute at Mass General Brigham and a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. He also directs the Telemachus & Irene Demoulas Family Foundation Center for Cardiac Arrhythmias at Massachusetts General Hospital and the Cardiovascular Disease Initiative at the Broad Institute. Dr. Ellinor’s research focuses on the genetics and molecular mechanisms of atrial fibrillation and other cardiac arrhythmias. He leads the international AFGen Consortium and has been funded by the NIH and major global research organizations for his work in cardiovascular genomics and precision medicine.
Hospitals of the University of Pennsylvania-Penn Presbyterian (Philadelphia)
U.S. News rank: 9
Thomas Cappola, MD, is chief of the division of cardiovascular medicine and the William Smilow Professor at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine. A leading heart failure specialist, he directs programs integrating clinical care, translational research and training in cardiovascular medicine. Dr. Cappola’s research focuses on uncovering molecular mechanisms of heart failure through genomics, population science and clinical investigation. He leads the Penn Heart Failure Study and co-leads the Myocardial Applied Genomics Network, advancing precision medicine approaches for patients with advanced heart failure and cardiomyopathy.
Johns Hopkins Hospital (Baltimore)
U.S. News rank: 10
Charles Lowenstein, MD, is the Michel Mirowski Professor of Cardiology, director of the division of cardiology and co-director of the Johns Hopkins Heart and Vascular Institute. A cardiologist and physician-scientist, Dr. Lowenstein’s research focuses on vascular biology, specifically the molecular mechanisms of vascular inflammation and thrombosis. His lab uses human genetics to identify and characterize genes that regulate hemostasis and thrombotic disease. Previously, he led the division of cardiology and Aab Cardiovascular Research Institute at the University of Rochester in New York before returning to Johns Hopkins in 2020 to lead its cardiology program.
