Professor Dr. med. Hugo A. Katus is a distinguished German cardiologist renowned for his transformative contributions to cardiovascular medicine and diagnostics. Born on November 30, 1951, in Steinfeld, he has been affiliated with Heidelberg University Hospital since 1977, where he served as Medical Director of the Department of Cardiology, Angiology, and Pneumology from 2002 until 2020. As a C4 Professor of Internal Medicine at Heidelberg University, he established himself as a leading figure in cardiac research and clinical practice, significantly advancing patient care standards across Europe. His leadership extended beyond Heidelberg as he served as President of the German Society of Cardiology from 2016 to 2019, shaping national cardiovascular research priorities and clinical guidelines.
Katus pioneered the development of the Troponin T test, which revolutionized the diagnosis of myocardial infarction and became the global gold standard in cardiac diagnostics. His work enabled the precise identification of cardiac muscle damage and facilitated the clinical definition of non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI), dramatically improving patient outcomes worldwide. Under his leadership at Heidelberg, the first European Chest Pain Unit was established in 2004, now the standard for initial heart attack care, followed by Germany's first Advanced Heart Failure Unit in 2012 for patients with severe cardiac insufficiency. He further advanced the field by founding the Institute for Cardiomyopathies Heidelberg in 2015, establishing new benchmarks in the diagnosis and treatment of myocardial diseases.
Professor Katus has received numerous prestigious honors including the Order of Merit of Baden-Württemberg for his exceptional contributions to cardiovascular research and patient care. In 2024, he was awarded an honorary doctorate by the Medical Faculty of Uppsala University, recognizing his lasting impact on cardiology. Though stepping down as Medical Director in 2020 after 18 years of service, he continues his scholarly work as a Senior Professor at Heidelberg University, actively contributing to the development of the new Heidelberg Heart Center. His legacy endures through the widespread clinical adoption of his diagnostic innovations and his ongoing commitment to advancing cardiovascular medicine for future generations.
