��ɫֱ��

Altruism has driven throughout his successful career. 

A prominent cardiologist and researcher at University of Texas (UT) Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas, Hill directs the , specializes in treating heart failure and cardiomyopathies, and is the editor-in-chief of the prestigious journal, Circulation. 

“I decided long ago that I only have one life, and I am going to try to make the world a better place,” says Hill, MD, PhD, reflecting on his career.

Hill, who has authored or co-authored more than 280 scholarly articles and served as president of the and chair of the Academic Council of the , will share his career insights in Calgary as this year’s E.R. Smith Lecturer at the ’s Tine Haworth Research Day on April 28. 

Hill's research has been instrumental in uncovering molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying heart conditions and events such as heart attacks, hypertension and ischemia. 

Most recently, Hill’s lab has focused on heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), a deadly type of heart failure that is increasing globally, driven largely by obesity and its impact on the cardiometabolic system.

Education and early career

Hill grew up on a farm in North Carolina and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry and mathematics from Wake Forest University. Although he briefly considered pursuing pure science, he realized he wanted to work closely with patients, leading him to earn his MD and PhD in pharmacology at Duke University.

He completed his internal medicine internship and residency, as well as a clinical cardiology fellowship, at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, preceded by a five-year postdoctoral fellowship in molecular neurobiology at the Institut Pasteur in Paris, an experience he describes as “life changing.”

Hill joined the UT Southwestern faculty in 2002, where he served as chief of cardiology for 21 years.

Research impact and challenges

A multi-year and recipient of the 2023 Medal of Merit, Hill notes that one of the ongoing challenges in cardiovascular science is bridging the communication gap between scientists and physicians, which has historically slowed progress in understanding conditions like HFpEF.

“As a physician-scientist, I can move between the worlds of front-line health care and research,” he says. “Although it has had its challenges, my career has been incredibly fulfilling. I would do it all again tomorrow.”

Hill is proud of the progress has made in unravelling HFpEF mechanisms and emphasizes that flexibility is key to advancing cardiovascular health. 

Hill also points to global challenges, such as the widespread consumption of ultra-processed foods and the influence of powerful food-industry lobbyists.

Despite these hurdles, Hill remains optimistic. 

“We have incredibly powerful tools, like gene editing, to help solve problems,” he says. “And new treatments, like weight-loss drugs, are creating a revolution worldwide. They’re not a miracle, but they bring real excitement to the field.”

Advice for the next generation

A strong advocate for the physician-scientist career path, Hill encourages cardiovascular researchers to maintain close connections with clinicians.

“The problems that we need to solve are constantly changing,” says Hill. “You don’t have to be a physician, but if you are a scientist who wants to stay at the forefront of changes, you must talk to doctors. A good question to ask a physician is, ‘If you had a magic wand, what would you change?’”