Robert A. Harrington, MD

Current Position

Title: Stephen and Suzanne Weiss Dean of Weill Cornell Medicine; Provost for Medical Affairs of Cornell University; Clinical Advisory Board Member Company: Weill Cornell Medicine; Cornell University; Atropos Health Location: New York, NY (Weill Cornell Medicine); Previously Stanford, CA

Professional Background

Dr. Robert A. Harrington is a cardiologist with an exceptional track record leading large-scale clinical research initiatives and academic medical institutions. Over a 30+ year career, he has established himself as a thought leader in clinical trial methodology, real-world evidence, health equity, and innovation in cardiovascular medicine.

He began his career as a fellow at the Duke Databank for Cardiovascular Disease before ascending to co-director of cardiovascular research at DCRI. As executive director of the Duke Clinical Research Institute from 2006-2012, he grew it into the world's largest academic research organization, expanding its scope to multiple therapeutic areas while emphasizing worldwide collaborations and quantitative sciences. His work at Duke positioned him as an expert on pragmatic clinical trial design and the integration of real-world data into evidence generation.

In 2012, he moved to Stanford University as the Arthur L. Bloomfield Professor of Medicine and Chair of the Department of Medicine, where he remained until accepting the Deanship at Weill Cornell Medicine in September 2023. Throughout his career, he has authored over 760 peer-reviewed manuscripts, reviews, book chapters, and editorials. He is a senior editor of the 13th and 14th editions of Hurst's The Heart, one of cardiology's leading textbooks.

Career Timeline

Education

• B.A. in English (Magna Cum Laude), College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, MA
• M.D., Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA
• Internship and Residency in Internal Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical Center, Worcester, MA (Chief Resident)
• Fellowship in General and Interventional Cardiology, Duke University

Public Presence

Social Media

Note: Only publicly accessible profiles are documented.

Published Writings

The Bob Harrington Show (Medscape Cardiology podcast series) — ongoing

• "AI and Machine Learning in Healthcare for the Clueless" (with Jenine John) — Medscape Cardiology
• "Topics Cardiologists Love to Hate: MOC and AI" (with C. Michael Gibson) — Medscape/The Bob Harrington Show
• "Coronary Artery Disease: The New Big C" — Medscape Cardiology
• "From Physician to Patient to Reinventing Medicine" — Medscape Cardiology
• "The Career Pivot: Leaving Clinical Medicine" — Medscape Cardiology
• "Publish or Perish and Incentives for Quantity over Quality" — Medscape Cardiology
• "SCD in Athletes: Lessons From High-Profile Cases" — Medscape Cardiology

Textbook Editing:

• Senior Editor, Hurst's The Heart (13th and 14th editions)

Policy and Consensus Documents:

• "2020 American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology Consensus Conference on Professionalism and Ethics: A Consensus Conference Report" — Circulation (2020)

Public Speaking

• "Evidence Matters" — American Heart Association Presidential Address, Scientific Sessions 2020 (focus on clinical trials and supporting next-generation researchers)
• "State of Weill Cornell Medicine: A Bright Future" — Institutional Address, December 2024 (vision for clinical expansion and academic medical center transformation)
• Multiple appearances at American Heart Association Scientific Sessions and American College of Cardiology conferences
• Keynote speaker at cardiovascular and clinical research conferences on topics including trial methodology, real-world evidence, and health equity

Communication Style

Tone: Professional yet accessible; candid and solution-focused; balances optimism with realistic assessment of challenges; conversational in dialogue-based formats (podcasts, interviews)

Recurring themes:

• Evidence-based medicine and the importance of rigorous clinical trial methodology
• Real-world evidence and its integration with randomized controlled trials
• Health equity and diversity in cardiovascular research and cardiology
• Digital innovation and technology's role in clinical research (wearables, mobile health, data science, AI)
• Leadership and mentorship in academic medicine
• Gender equity in medicine and cardiology
• The future of academic medical centers in the age of computational biology

Notable positions:

• Strong advocate for health equity; banned all-male panels at AHA conferences and launched multiple initiatives to increase women's participation in research and leadership
• Proponent of pragmatic clinical trials and real-world data as essential complements to traditional RCTs
• Candid critic of institutional barriers to change (e.g., Maintenance of Certification, legacy practices that impede innovation)
• Champion of early-career investigator support and mentorship

Dr. Harrington communicates with a characteristic blend of personal perspective and evidence-based authority. In interviews and articles, he grounds abstract concepts in concrete examples and relates policy discussions back to clinical impact. His podcast "The Bob Harrington Show" exemplifies this approach—he engages thoughtfully with guests on complex topics (AI adoption, career transitions, private equity in medicine) without oversimplifying. When addressing institutional challenges, he employs candid language ("I know this has been a tough year") while maintaining forward momentum through visible commitment to solutions. His writing style in opinion pieces is accessible yet substantive, deliberately demystifying complex technical topics (e.g., titling an AI article "for the Clueless"). He frequently weaves in personal narrative—particularly his background as a first-generation college graduate raised by a single mother—to contextualize his commitment to equity and inclusion. Overall, his communication reflects deep expertise paired with genuine concern for democratizing knowledge and driving systemic change in medicine.

Notable Achievements

• Grew Duke Clinical Research Institute from mid-size operation to world's largest academic research organization (2006–2012)
• Published over 760 peer-reviewed manuscripts, reviews, book chapters, and editorials in cardiovascular medicine
• Master of the American College of Cardiology (2016) — one of the highest recognitions in cardiology
• American Heart Association President (2019–2021), serving during the COVID-19 pandemic
• AHA Clinical Research Prize (2017)
• AHA Council on Clinical Cardiology (CLCD) Distinguished Achievement Award (2022)
• AHA Gold Heart Award (2024)
• AHA Chairman's Award (2024)
• TCT (Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics) 2024 Career Achievement Award — for extraordinary contributions to interventional cardiology and transformative impact through clinical excellence, pioneering research, and mentorship
• Elected member, National Academy of Medicine/Institute of Medicine (2015)
• Senior Editor, Hurst's The Heart (13th and 14th editions) — one of cardiology's most authoritative textbooks
• Institutionalized women-focused initiatives at AHA, including banning all-male panels and establishing 50% women representation targets on science committees

Key Relationships

• Atropos Health: Clinical Advisory Board member; invested in bringing real-world evidence to healthcare decision-making
• American Heart Association: Board of Directors member; Science Advisory and Coordinating Committee member; Former President (2019–2021)
• American College of Cardiology: Previous Board of Trustees member; Master designation (2016)
• Cytokinetics, Inc.: Board of Directors member (pharmaceutical company focused on cardiovascular and musculoskeletal disease)
• Center for Health Technology & Innovation (AHA): Advisory Board member
• Weill Cornell Medicine: Leadership role overseeing clinical, research, and educational missions
• Stanford University: Previously served as Chair of Department of Medicine; continues academic affiliations
• Duke University/Duke Clinical Research Institute: Former director; mentor to numerous early-career investigators and researchers
• One Brave Idea: Advisory involvement in cardiovascular research initiatives