LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Dinesh Kalra, M.D., FACC, chief of cardiology at the University of Louisville (UofL) Medical Center in Louisville, Kentucky, and professor of medicine and radiology at the UofL School of Medicine, will serve as the next chair-elect of the American College of Cardiology Board of Governors, the American College of Cardiology announced Oct. 29. Kalra, who is currently ACC governor for Kentucky, will assume his role in April 2026, following ACC.26 in New Orleans, and will assume the role of BOG Chair from 2027 to 2028 after Renuka Jain, M.D., FACC.
Kalra is an international expert in multimodality cardiac imaging, as well as preventive cardiology and lipidology. He is board-certified in cardiology, echocardiography, CT, CMR, lipidology and nuclear cardiology. In addition to his roles at the UofL Medical Center and School of Medicine, Kalra serves as vice chair for quality in the Department of Medicine and is on the Board of Directors, is chair of the Quality Assurance Committee for Cardiology, and serves as the Director of the Heart Board for the Cardiovascular Service Line at UofL Health – UofL Hospital. He also holds an endowed chair position in the UofL Health – Jewish Hospital Cardiovascular Innovation Institute.
Kalra is active in the Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance, the Society for Cardiovascular Computed Tomography and the National Lipid Association. He also serves on the Joint Performance Committee, Scientific Publications committee and the Research Committee for the ACC and American Heart Association, and is a member of the National Quality Forum in Washington, D.C. In 2025, Kalra was awarded the ACC’s Distinguished Educator Award for his exemplary teaching and mentoring skills.
“The ACC has been my professional home since my training over 20 years ago, guiding my growth in clinical practice, advocacy, leadership and personal development,” Dr. Kalra said. “Serving as chair of the BOG is both a tremendous honor and a profound responsibility. I see it as an opportunity to give back to an organization that exemplifies what we strive for as clinicians—to lead with purpose, vision, collaboration and compassion, advancing cardiovascular health for all. At this pivotal moment for our profession and our patients, I look forward to working hand in hand with our chapters and members to champion excellence, drive innovation and elevate heart care delivery.”
