Dr. Antonio M. Gotto Jr. is a distinguished cardiologist and seminal figure in cardiovascular medicine whose career has spanned more than five decades of groundbreaking research and academic leadership. He currently holds the prestigious positions of Dean Emeritus and Provost for Medical Affairs Emeritus at Weill Cornell Medicine, where he also serves as Professor of Medicine, following his tenure as Dean of Weill Medical College of Cornell University until January 2012. Dr. Gotto received his undergraduate degree from Vanderbilt University in 1957, followed by a D.Phil. from Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar in 1961, and completed his medical education at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in 1965. Prior to his leadership role at Cornell, he served for twenty years as chairman of the department of internal medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, establishing himself as a leading authority in lipid metabolism and cardiovascular disease.
Dr. Gotto's pioneering research into blood lipids and lipoprotein metabolism has fundamentally transformed the understanding and treatment of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease, establishing critical links between cholesterol levels and heart disease risk. His groundbreaking work at Baylor College of Medicine, particularly in collaboration with Michael DeBakey, led to significant advances in understanding apolipoproteins and lipid modification that directly informed clinical practice for managing dyslipidemia. His research contributions include pivotal studies such as the Air Force/Texas Coronary Atherosclerosis Prevention Study (AFCAPS/TexCAPS) and analysis of the JUPITER trial, which demonstrated the clinical benefits of statin therapy for patients with normal LDL but elevated C-reactive protein levels. With more than 500 scholarly publications to his name, Dr. Gotto has not only advanced the scientific understanding of cardiovascular pathophysiology but has also developed practical clinical approaches that have improved patient outcomes worldwide. His investigations into HDL cholesterol and residual cardiovascular risk have particularly reshaped treatment paradigms in lipid management.
Beyond his research accomplishments, Dr. Gotto has profoundly influenced cardiovascular medicine through leadership roles including National President of the American Heart Association and President of the International Atherosclerosis Society, where he championed educational initiatives for cardiovascular risk reduction. His commitment to public education is exemplified by his co-authorship of the influential "Living Heart" book series, which explains cardiovascular disease origins and treatments to the general public in accessible terms. Recognized with the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American College of Cardiology in 2015, Dr. Gotto is also a distinguished member of both the Institute of Medicine and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, reflecting the breadth and significance of his contributions. As Dean Emeritus at Weill Cornell Medicine, he continues to contribute his expertise to academic medicine while his research legacy endures through ongoing clinical applications of his work in lipid management and cardiovascular prevention strategies.
