Dr. Robert O. Bonow, MD, MS, MACC, MACP, FAHA

Robert O. Bonow, MD, MS, MACC, MACP, FAHA, is a cardiologist specialising in valvular heart disease and imaging based at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, Illinois, recognised internationally for work in valvular heart disease and cardiovascular imaging. He serves as Max and Lilly Goldberg Distinguished Professor of Cardiology and Editor in Chief of JAMA Cardiology.

He served as Senior Investigator and Deputy Chief of the Cardiology Branch at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute from 1980 to 1992, then led the Division of Cardiology at Northwestern from 1992 to 2011. Among the honours held by Dr. Robert Bonow is the Distinguished Scientist Award.

Cardiologists who work mainly in research design and run the studies that decide how heart disease is treated. They hold the same medical qualifications as clinicians, and many continue to see patients, but the bulk of their work is clinical trials, population studies and guideline development. The field of Dr. Robert Bonow is valvular heart disease and cardiovascular imaging.

Dr. Robert Bonow Specialty And Hospital Summary

• Full Name And Credentials: Robert O. Bonow, MD, MS, MACC, MACP, FAHA
• Profession: Cardiologist specialising in valvular heart disease and imaging
• Field Of Focus: Valvular heart disease and cardiovascular imaging
• Current Position: Max and Lilly Goldberg Distinguished Professor of Cardiology and Editor in Chief of JAMA Cardiology
• Institution: Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
• Location: Chicago, Illinois
• Sees Patients: Yes, in a clinical setting
• Previous Appointments: Served as Senior Investigator and Deputy Chief of the Cardiology Branch at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute from 1980 to 1992, then led the Division of Cardiology at Northwestern from 1992 to 2011

How Dr. Robert Bonow Trained

The qualifications below are drawn from the institutional, professional body and publisher sources listed at the end of this profile.

• Medical Degree: MD, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
• Graduate Degree: MS
• Professional Standing: Master of the American College of Cardiology and Master of the American College of Physicians

Dr. Robert Bonow Scope Of Practice

Published professional sources describe the work of Dr. Robert Bonow as centred on:

• Valvular heart disease, including aortic stenosis and mitral regurgitation
• Cardiovascular imaging to predict outcomes and guide timing of intervention
• Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
• Ischaemic left ventricular dysfunction
• Coronary artery disease and heart failure

Institutional And Society Roles Of Dr. Robert Bonow

• Max and Lilly Goldberg Distinguished Professor of Cardiology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
• Editor in Chief of JAMA Cardiology, which he founded and launched in 2016
• Vice Chairman of the Department of Medicine and Director of the Center for Cardiovascular Innovation
• Past President of the American Heart Association
• A principal editor of Braunwald’s Heart Disease, a standard textbook of cardiovascular medicine
• Served on the Board of Scientific Counselors and the Board of Extramural Advisors of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
• Served on the Subspecialty Board on Cardiovascular Disease of the American Board of Internal Medicine

Notable Achievements Of Dr. Robert Bonow

• Distinguished Scientist Award, the highest honour of the American Heart Association, 2024
• Gold Heart Award, Distinguished Leadership Award, Distinguished Achievement Award and James B. Herrick Award, American Heart Association
• Distinguished Scientist Award, Distinguished Fellowship Award and Distinguished Service Award, American College of Cardiology
• Denolin Award, European Society of Cardiology
• John Phillips Memorial Award, American College of Physicians
• NIH Director’s Award and the United States Public Health Service Commendation Medal and Outstanding Service Medal
• Elected to the American Society for Clinical Investigation and the Association of American Physicians
• Author or co-author of more than 650 papers and 120 book chapters

Dr. Robert Bonow Primary Location

Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine

Chicago, Illinois. Clinical commitments at this institution are arranged through its own departments and services. Confirm the current address, department and telephone number with the institution before travelling, because academic appointments and clinic sites change.

How Valvular Heart Disease And Cardiac Imaging Shapes Heart Care

Cardiac imaging is how cardiologists see the heart without opening it. Echocardiography, which uses ultrasound, is the everyday workhorse: it measures the chambers, watches the valves and estimates pumping strength at the bedside, with no radiation. Computed tomography shows the coronary arteries themselves; magnetic resonance characterises the muscle tissue; nuclear scans show blood flow. The skill is less in running any one test than in choosing the right one for the question and interpreting it alongside the patient in front of you.

Related Valvular Heart Disease And Cardiac Imaging Specialists

If you are comparing specialists, these profiles cover closely related areas of cardiology:

• Dr. Steffen Petersen, cardiovascular magnetic resonance at William Harvey Research Institute, Queen Mary University of London, and Barts Heart Centre, Barts Health NHS Trust
• Dr. Tom Marwick, echocardiography and cardiac imaging at Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute
• Dr. Jeroen Bax, cardiovascular imaging at Leiden University Medical Center
• Dr. Ntobeko Ntusi, cardiac magnetic resonance and inflammatory heart disease at South African Medical Research Council and the University of Cape Town

Browse the full cardiologist directory for more heart specialists.

Appointments And Consultations With Dr. Robert Bonow

Dr. Robert Bonow is a cardiologist and clinical investigator whose career spans nearly fifty years, with referrals accepted through Northwestern Medicine. Access is usually arranged through the institution, a referring doctor or its own clinic rather than through this directory. Insurance participation, fees and waiting times vary by institution and by plan, and they change over time, so check coverage with both the institution and your insurer before scheduling. Use the enquiry button on this page to ask about availability.

What People Ask About Dr. Robert Bonow

What did Dr. Robert Bonow study?

MD, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. Full training details appear in the education section above.

What are the qualifications of Dr. Robert Bonow?

Robert O. Bonow, MD, MS, MACC, MACP, FAHA. Master of the American College of Cardiology and Master of the American College of Physicians.

What position does Dr. Robert Bonow hold?

Dr. Robert Bonow is Max and Lilly Goldberg Distinguished Professor of Cardiology and Editor in Chief of JAMA Cardiology, based at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

What is Valvular Heart Disease And Cardiac Imaging?

Valvular Heart Disease And Cardiac Imaging is the area of cardiology concerned with valvular heart disease and cardiovascular imaging. Cardiologists working in it, including Dr. Robert Bonow, diagnose and treat these conditions and carry out the research that sets the standard of care for them.

Has Dr. Robert Bonow received professional recognition?

Yes. Distinguished Scientist Award, the highest honour of the American Heart Association, 2024. Further awards and distinctions are listed above.

Does Dr. Robert Bonow hold leadership roles in the field?

Yes. Max and Lilly Goldberg Distinguished Professor of Cardiology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. A fuller list of appointments appears above.

Citations And Further Reading On Dr. Robert Bonow

• American Heart Association 2024 Distinguished Scientist citation
• Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine news
• European Society of Cardiology profile

How This Profile Of Dr. Robert Bonow Was Compiled

This profile was compiled from the public professional sources listed above, including university faculty pages, professional register and society records, journal author statements and publisher biographies. Qualifications, appointments and awards were checked against at least two independent sources where available. Last reviewed on 30 October 2026.

Update note: Served as Senior Investigator and Deputy Chief of the Cardiology Branch at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute from 1980 to 1992, then led the Division of Cardiology at Northwestern from 1992 to 2011.

Found something out of date? Contact the Find MD Health editorial team and we will review the entry.

How To Use The Information About Dr. Robert Bonow

Information only, not medical advice. Location, services, insurance and availability change, so confirm details with Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Severe or sudden chest pain is a medical emergency.