Donald C. Harrison

Biography

Dr. Harrison is professor of medicine and senior vice president and provost for health affairs emeritus at the University of Cincinnati. From 1986 to 2002, he was senior vice president and provost for health affairs and directed the university’s medical center, which included more than 1,000 faculty members and over $240 million in funded research. He was one of the organizers of the Health Alliance of Greater Cincinnati, an affiliation of major university and community medical centers, and he served as its chairman of the board for a two-year period after its founding. Prior to 1986, Dr. Harrison was professor of medicine and cardiology, chief of the division of cardiology, and co-director of the Falk Cardiovascular Research Center of Stanford University, where he also served as chief of cardiology for 20 years. During his 24 years at Stanford, he trained 156 post-doctoral cardiology fellows, many of which now head their own departments. Among his many professional honors and achievements, Dr. Harrison served as president of the American Heart Association, vice president and trustee of the American College of Cardiology, and is a member of the American Society of Clinical Investigation and the Association of American Physicians. He has also been a member of the editorial boards of 13 professional journals and has authored eight books and more than 585 scientific articles and reviews. His most recent book, “Healing Broken Hearts,” is the story of his life in cardiology development for more than 50 years. Currently, Dr. Harrison is a managing partner at Charter Life Sciences, a clinical stage life sciences venture capital firm based in Santa Clara, California. He is also a director of AtriCure, Sidis, Inc., Surgical Energetics, Ischemia Care, Enable Injections, and Medical Education and Consultation. Prior to their successful acquisitions, he was director of InControl, EP Technologies, and SciMed. He was also a founder, or co-founder, of EP Technologies, Vesta, AtriCure, and two life science incubators, Bio/Start and Venturi Group. Dr. Harrison received a B.S. in chemistry from Birmingham Southern College, an M.D. from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and an honorary Doctor of Law from Birmingham Southern College. He received his training in medicine and cardiology at the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital of the Harvard Medical School and the National Institutes of Health.

Research Interest

cardiology