Alumni Profile

David Kandzari, MD

What impact did the Sarnoff Fellowship year have on your career?

I credit my experience in the Sarnoff Program for several of my career successes to date—many of which stem from the relationships created within the Program. In 1993, when I began as a Sarnoff Fellow in the lab of Pascal Goldschmidt, I could not possibly have imagined the enduring relationships that would develop. Dr. Goldschmidt not only convinced me to become an Osler resident in the Johns Hopkins medicine program (which then fostered countless relationships and introduced new opportunities), but he also participated in my wedding! Similarly, I remain personally close and professionally collaborate with former cardiology fellows and medical students who also worked in the lab at that time.

My experience in the Sarnoff Program not only reinforced my passion for cardiovascular medicine, but it also helped focus my interests and identify my strengths and limitations; in particular, while my understanding of basic science research exceeded my expectations (beyond any experience I could have limited to a classroom), I also recognized my interests were focused more in clinical and translational research. And this has been the foundation of my career ever since.

Why should medical students consider the Sarnoff Fellowship apart from other programs?

Like many applicants to the Sarnoff Program, I was fortunate to have alternative opportunities for funded research. After meeting with those involved in the Sarnoff Program, however, it became readily apparent that this Program is distinguished from any other by the dedication of the alumni to the Program and to both the development of a productive research experience and successful career for its Fellows. The attention focused on the Fellows is clearly unique from other competitive programs; while I believe this is very transparent for prospective Fellows, I am impressed each time as I am reminded of the Program's emphasis on Fellow education and experience in every administrative meeting—it is certainly the central point of the Program's (and Dr. Sarnoff's) core values. Finally, I think it is important to note that while the Sarnoff Program offers an unparalleled experience in cardiovascular research, many former Fellows whose careers are in other medical disciplines are nevertheless committed to the program as alumni. To be sure, this speaks to the endearing relationships that are created within this program.

In short, I believe a candidate for the Sarnoff Fellowship should view this opportunity as an entry point to a lifetime experience rather than one limited to a research year or even to the duration of one's profession.

What are your professional aspirations?

That's a difficult question for me! Right now, I just try to do something (or everything) better tomorrow than I did today. But some of my thoughts follow in the next question….

What is your greatest professional accomplishment?

I have been fortunate to have uniquely experienced cardiovascular medicine from the perspectives of a clinician-investigator, chief medical officer within industry and as a medical officer within the Food and Drug Administration. I would not trade any of these experiences. My role in industry helped me develop maturity in corporate decision-making and leadership skills. My regulatory experience highlighted for me the daily challenges that confront the FDA, how dedicated and talented the medical reviewers are to their mission (two of them are former Sarnoff Fellows!) and how many criticisms from the clinical community are founded more in lack of awareness of the FDA's responsibilities and procedures than in bureaucratic ineffectiveness. Most of all, however, my enthusiasm is for being an interventional cardiologist and investigator. In a related manner, I feel blessed to have been part of the education and mentorship for many younger clinicians. I am grateful to have been recognized professionally for all these related endeavors, but really each day I have the privilege to be involved in patient care and/or in clinical trial design and leadership is a success for me.

What is your most memorable Sarnoff moment?

Without question, my most memorable Sarnoff moment was visiting the Sarnoff home as a Fellow and listening to Dr. Weisfeldt's delivery of a dedication speech regarding Dr. Sarnoff. I was so impressed by learning Dr. Sarnoff's passion as an educator and equally by Dr. Weisfeldt's admiration and gratitude for his experience and friendship with Dr. Sarnoff. The crowd was silenced. If you hadn't realized it before, you really knew then that you were fortunate to be part of a very special group.

Aside from that moment, however, I am also regularly impressed with the alumni's unwaivering commitment to this program and its membership at all levels.

What are your hobbies?

My family and I moved to La Jolla, California less than 1 year ago, where I am now a member of the Scripps Clinic Division of Cardiovascular Medicine. I still travel within the US and internationally a great deal, so my real hobby is trying to spend as much quality time with my family as possible. We are very dedicated to collecting early Southern American furniture and pottery, but not surprisingly, there is not much here in California. Otherwise, I am a fanatic for extreme snow skiing, but this may now be rivaled by my latest passion here in California—surfing! I try to go at least 2-3 times per week, and to my wife's dismay, I am already starting to develop a surfboard collection. I think I'm attracted to these activities because they require your absolute concentration and there is no forgiveness for error (but trust me, I make them!).