Allegheny Health Network (AHN) named Akshay KhandelwalMD, Gerald E. McGinnis Chair in Cardiovascular Medicine.
This appointment was made possible thanks to the generous 2 million dollars donation from the family of Gerald “Jerry” E. McGinnis, the late bioengineer, entrepreneur, founder Pittsburgh– based at Respironics and collaborating with the late cardiovascular surgeon and Allegheny General Hospital (AGH) pioneer, George Magovern Sr.Doctor of Medical Sciences.
The purpose of establishing the chair is to provide funding to a world-renowned surgeon or physician from the AHN Cardiovascular Institute to advance therapeutic approaches to complex cardiovascular diseases.
Purpose notes one eight chairs and professorships at the nationally recognized AHN Cardiovascular Institute.
Dr. Khandelwal, a practicing interventional cardiologist, is the Chief of the AHN Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, part of the AHN Cardiovascular Institute. In his leadership role, he leads AHN’s strong team of physicians, fellows, residents and other physicians to ensure the delivery of state-of-the-art, high-quality cardiovascular care in AHN’s hospitals, outpatient facilities and physician offices.
Since joining AHN in 2023, Dr. Khandelwal has been instrumental in supporting interdisciplinary collaboration between AHN cardiologists and surgical teams throughout all phases of patient care. As an interventional cardiologist, he specializes in treating heart disease using catheter-based techniques; His areas of expertise include complex coronary interventions such as angioplasty, stenting and diagnostic cardiology.
“Of course there are similarities between Jerry McGinnis and Dr. Khandelwal,” said Stephen BaileyM.D., chairman of the AHN Cardiovascular Institute, in a video shown at the event. “They are both problem solvers, driven and action-oriented people. I can think of no better recipient of the Gerald E. McGinnis Award than Akshay Khandelwal“
This landmark donation is intended to support Dr. Khandelwal’s vision for advancing cardiovascular care at the AHN Cardiovascular Institute. With this donation, the department will focus on advancing new, breakthrough treatments for cardiovascular disease and reducing the burden of cardiovascular disease among all patient groups.
“On behalf of the Cardiovascular Institute and Allegheny Health Network, I want to express our sincere gratitude to the entire McGinnis family for their remarkable generosity and support in helping us continue to advance the frontiers of cardiovascular medicine. This donation is another fitting tribute to an incredible legacy Jerry McGinnis and all that he achieved during his remarkable life and career,” said Dr. Khandelwal.
The legacy of Gerald “Jerry” McGinnis
Gerald “Jerry” E. McGinnis was a biomedical engineer by profession, spending much of his career
improving human health through innovative medical devices. After completing a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering at University of PittsburghHe spent more than a decade in Westinghouse Electric’s biomedical engineering division, where he was involved in projects including artificial hearts, cardiac devices, and equipment used to measure blood and respiratory gas levels.
McGinnis’ passion for applying technology to human needs led him to AGH in 1969, where he served as director of surgical research with his close friend, colleague and legend in the field of cardiovascular disease, Dr. Jones. George Magovern Sr. This experience ignited his entrepreneurial spirit, and in 1976 he founded Respironics, a company that revolutionized the treatment of sleep apnea.
As the driving force behind Respironics, McGinnis led the development and commercialization of the first commercialized CPAP machine, an innovative device that treats obstructive sleep apnea. His company has expanded to include other essential medical equipment, including oxygen concentrators, childhood apnea monitors and hospital ventilators.
Respironics has become a global leader in the medical device industry, and McGinnis’s legacy continues with numerous patents, an endowed chair in sleep medicine, Harvard Medical Schoolthe medical wing of the AGH that bears his name, and now the department of AHN. He is also celebrated along with Dr. Magovern Sr. with a permanent display of their innovations at the exhibition Pittsburgh Heinz Historical Museum.
“The importance to me of having a chair like this is that Jerry’s name will always be there because over time people can forget you… and he was special,” said Audrey McGinnisdeceased’s wife Jerry McGinnis.
Jerry McGinnis died in January 2024 after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease; Audrey and other family members will attend the event on Tuesday.
For more information about the AHN Cardiovascular Institute or to become a chair, visit ahn.org.
Media Contact
Nikki BuccinaAllegheny Health Network, 412-596-2679 [email protected]www.ahn.org
SOURCE Allegheny Health Network
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