Robert Soufer, MD, Groundbreaking Cardiovascular Medicine Researcher and Longtime Yale Leader, Retires August 1

Robert Soufer, MD, professor of medicine, vice chair for clinical research at Yale, and associate chief of medicine for research and faculty development at the VA Connecticut in West Haven, will transition to professor emeritus status on August 1, 2025, after more than 40 years of dedicated service.

"Bob leaves behind an extraordinary legacy—not only as a brilliant physician-scientist, but also as a trusted colleague and dear friend," says Gary V. Désir, MD, department chair, Paul B. Beeson Professor of Medicine, and vice provost for faculty development at Yale. "His dedication to patients, passion for teaching and mentoring, and unwavering curiosity have profoundly shaped our department. His groundbreaking work in the 1990s, defining the syndrome now recognized worldwide as heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), revolutionized our understanding of cardiovascular disease. As an early visionary in PET imaging for cardiac research, Bob bridged disciplines and technologies, pushing the boundaries of how we study the heart. His insights into the connection between mental stress and coronary artery spasm revealed the intricate interplay between mind and body, reshaping the approach to psychosomatic influences in cardiology."

A child of immigrants, Soufer received his bachelor’s degree from New York University. Although he considered careers in music or philosophy, it was his early interactions with patients that solidified his path in medicine. He completed his residency in New York City’s hospital system and quickly became intrigued by patients whose symptoms did not fit traditional diagnoses. "I saw patients dying of heart failure, even though their heart's pumping function was normal," Soufer recalls. "The paradigm didn’t fit the reality."

His search for answers led him to Yale in 1984 for a fellowship in cardiovascular medicine. Under the mentorship of the late Barry L. Zaret, MD, then chief of cardiovascular medicine, Soufer began his work on heart failure, using newly developed techniques to analyze the heart’s filling patterns. This research culminated in a seminal publication that defined the frequency and mechanisms of diastolic heart failure—now known as HFpEF.

Soufer’s curiosity extended beyond the mechanics of the heart. He began exploring the brain's influence on cardiac health, collaborating with the late Patricia Goldman-Rakic in neuroscience and behavioral scientists in psychiatry. In 1989, Soufer established one of the world’s first positron emission tomography (PET) centers with an on-site cyclotron. There, he and his colleagues used mental stress tests to demonstrate how emotional reactions—especially anger—can trigger spasms in tiny heart vessels, causing ischemia even when the larger arteries are unobstructed. "We learned that the brain and heart are in constant dialogue," Soufer explains. "Our emotions can literally shape our biology." These insights helped redefine cardiology's understanding of cognitive and emotional triggers in heart disease.

"We at Yale owe Bob a great debt for his central role in establishing and leading the first PET Center at Yale’s VA campus, which paved the way for today’s Yale Biomedical Imaging Institute," says John H. Krystal, MD, Robert L. McNeil, Jr., Professor of Translational Research and chair of psychiatry.

Education and mentorship have been constants in Soufer’s career. "Bob’s academic success is paralleled by his passion for teaching," says Parul Gandhi, MD, assistant professor of medicine and associate fellowship director for cardiovascular medicine. "He always made time for fellows, understood their goals, and offered guidance and mentorship. In every interaction—with patients, mentees, and colleagues—he showed unwavering compassion."

Reflecting on his career, Soufer expresses gratitude for the opportunities Yale has provided him. "I’m so grateful I was able to pursue ideas that weren’t yet accepted," he says. "Yale’s environment is about discovering knowledge and using it generously for patients."

As for retirement, Soufer sees it not as a retreat or an end, but as the next form of curiosity. "I want to acknowledge what it means to step away from a life built around medicine, teaching, and service," he says. "I hope to explore the world with the same attention and humility I tried to bring to my work here. I want to see what happens to my mind when it’s given space to wander, learn new things, and maybe even get a little lost. I’m not running away from medicine or my colleagues; I’m walking toward something undefined but necessary. I plan to read more, write more, and seek out the conversations that have kept me here for so long. I want to listen as much as I speak and see where that leads. I’m deeply grateful for the friendships, challenges, laughter, and even debates. You have all shaped me, and whatever I find or become next, your influence will be with me."

After 43 years at Yale, Soufer's impact will endure in research, in the lives of patients, and the heart of the department.

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