Clyde Yancy

Clyde Warren Yancy (born January 2, 1958) is an American cardiologist and the Magerstadt Professor at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. He has previously served as the Past President of the American Heart Association. His research considers heart failure, heart transplantation and ways to prevent heart failure. He is Vice Dean of Health Equity.

Early life and education Yancy was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to Hilda Jones and Clyde Yancy Senior. When he was a child, his parents moved to Scotlandville, where his mother worked as a teacher. Yancy completed his medical residency and internship at the Parkland Memorial Hospital in Texas. In 1989 Yancy moved to the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center as a Fellow in Cardiology in 1989.

Research and career In 1989 Yancy joined the faculty at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, where he eventually became the Carl H. Westcott Distinguished Chair in Medical Research. In 2006 Yancy moved to the Baylor University Medical Center, where he was made the medical director of the Baylor Heart and Vascular Institute. Yancy was appointed Magerstadt Professor at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in 2011.

During the COVID-19 pandemic Yancy investigated the reasons that Black and African-American people were more likely to suffer from severe forms of coronavirus disease. He believes that the pandemic should drive society to address healthcare disparities. In an event with the American College of Cardiology, Yancy remarked, “My greatest risk of death is no longer COVID-19. It is the color of my skin”. He does not believe that health disparities in the United States will be entirely solved by the creation of new policies, but by asking the question, “How can we interject compassion, civility and concern for all communities and not allow some communities to remain marginalized?”. He worked with Robert Bonow to better understand the impact of coronavirus disease on people with cardiovascular conditions. He is particularly concerned that people who have recovered from coronavirus disease appear to suffer from heart abnormalities.

Academic service Yancy works to improve the representation of Black people working in medicine.

Awards and honours

2001 Association of Black Cardiologists Daniel Savage Award for Scientific Achievement 2016 Elected to the National Academy of Medicine 2020 Elected to the Association of American Physicians

Select papers

Personal life Yancy has two daughters.