Navin C. Nanda, M.D., professor, UAB Division of Cardiovascular Disease, director of the UAB Heart Station/Echocardiography Laboratories and senior scientists in the UAB Center for Aging, has been named president of the Society of Geriatric Cardiology by its board of directors.

Nanda, who will hold the position for one year, is internationally known for his pioneering work in echocardiography and for advancing the development of cardiology.

“It is a distinct honor to be named president of the society,” Nanda said. “With the support of my colleagues, I hope to be able to advance the society with initiatives that fulfill its mission to reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease in older people and improve the care of older adults with cardiovascular disease.”

Nanda has been at UAB since 1984. He has more than 700 scientific publications, authored 13 books and video textbooks and has given more than 2,000 lectures and presentations. He also has been listed in Best Doctors in America since 1994.

In addition to his work with the Society of Geriatric Cardiology, Nanda is editor-in-chief of Echocardiography: A Journal of Cardiovascular Ultrasound and Allied Techniques, and is founding president of the American Association of Cardiologists of Indian Origin.

He also has served two terms as a director of the Association of Black Cardiologists, is a Fellow of the Society of Geriatric Cardiology, the American College of Cardiology, the American Heart Association, and president and Distinguished Fellow of the International Society of Cardiovascular Ultrasound.

Nanda was the first recipient of the Tufts University Award in Echocardiography, and he received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor in 2006. He also has received The Bridge Award from the Association of Black Cardiologists, Citizen of Rome by the mayor of Rome, Italy, the Andreas R. Gruntzig Award by the Swiss Society of Cardiology, the Prince of Echocardiography of the Heart and Blood Vessels award by the Italian Society of Echocardiography and the Echocardiographer of the Millennium award from the Argentinean Society of Cardiology. He also has been honored by the United Arab Emirates and the Emirates Society of Cardiology for pioneering lifetime contributions to the advancement of cardiology.

Nanda is a graduate of Bombay University and received his training in cardiology at National Heart Hospital in London and at the University of Rochester in Rochester, N.Y.

The Society of Geriatric Cardiology is headquartered in Bethesda, Md. It was founded in 1987 and today is the leading association in the world focusing on the special issues and needs of geriatric cardiology.