George L. Bakris Obituary, Death: Renowned Professor of Medicine and Director at American Heart Association Comprehensive Hypertension Center Passes Away at 72
The medical community is mourning the loss of Professor Dr. George L. Bakris, a trailblazer in the field of nephrology and hypertension, who passed away on June 16, 2024, at the age of 72 in Munster, Indiana. The cause of his death is yet to be disclosed. Dr. Bakris was a distinguished clinician, educator, and researcher whose invaluable contributions to the field of hypertension will continue to inspire and guide generations to come.
Dr. Bakris’s educational journey began at the University Health Sciences, Chicago Medical School, where he completed his medical degree. He then pursued a residency in Internal Medicine at the Mayo Graduate School of Medicine, followed by a fellowship in Physiology and Hypertension at the same institution. His advanced training continued with fellowships in Clinical Pharmacology and Nephrology at The University of Chicago.
Dr. Bakris was a leading expert in the diagnosis and treatment of complex and resistant hypertension, as well as kidney disease, with a particular focus on reducing the progression of kidney disease associated with diabetes. As the Director of the Comprehensive Hypertension Center, he was instrumental in the interpretation of Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring (ABPM), a crucial method for recording blood pressure readings over a 24-hour period, including during sleep.
Dr. Bakris played a pivotal role in various national and international trials focused on resistant hypertension and diabetic renal disease, serving as a steering committee member or primary investigator. He led the FIDELIO study, which investigated the impact of a novel medication on the development of diabetic kidney disease. Additionally, he was a member of the steering committees for two multinational studies evaluating the effects of blood pressure-lowering and blood sugar-lowering drugs on diabetic kidney disease.
Dr. Bakris’s research also explored the disparities in kidney disease rates between African American and other ethnic groups, as well as indicators of renal disease progression and elevated cardiovascular risk. He investigated the effects of artery modifications on the kidneys and heart, and his recent work focused on the use of patiromer to manage serum potassium in high-risk individuals with advanced kidney disease, as well as renal denervation for resistant hypertension.
Dr. Bakris’s contributions to the field of hypertension were recognized with the Irvine Page-Alva Bradley Lifetime Achievement Award. He chaired the American Diabetes Association Blood Pressure Consensus Panel and was a member of the American Heart Association panel updating guidelines for resistant hypertension, serving on numerous guidelines committees over the past fifteen years.
Dr. Bakris’s legacy will be deeply missed, but his work will continue to have a profound impact on the medical community. His family will release details of his obituary and funeral arrangements in due course. In the meantime, colleagues and friends are invited to share their condolences and memories of this remarkable individual.
The visitation for Dr. Bakris will be held on Friday, June 21st, 2024, from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the Burns Kish Funeral Homes & Cremations – Munster, followed by a funeral service on Friday, June 21st, 2024, from 6:30 PM to 7:00 PM and on Saturday, June 22nd, 2024, from 11:00 AM to 11:45 AM.
Dr. Bakris is survived by his memories cherished by the community. Family and friends can send flowers and/or light a candle as a loving gesture for their loved one. Leave a sympathy message to the family in the guestbook on this memorial page to show support.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the American Heart Association or the National Kidney Foundation would be appreciated.
