Dr. Eckhard Altis a professor of medicine at Technische Universität in Munich, a professor at Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana, is the Todd and Linda Broin Distinguished Professor and chair at University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine and was a professor at the University of Texas – MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas.
Dr. Alt received his medical degree as valedictorian from Heidelberg Medical School. After two years in cardiac surgery at the Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich, he completed his education at Rechts der Isar Medical Center of the Technische Universität Munich in internal medicine/cardiology and became one of the youngest professors there. He is a frequent reviewer and serves on the editorial boards of respected journals. From 2001 to 2007, he was president of the International Cardiac and Electrophysiology Society. Prof. Alt has organized major national and international congresses, authored more than 500 publications in peer-reviewed journals, books and book chapters. His scientific publications have been cited by other scientists more than 18,000 times. His scientific H-index is 73.
He is a highly sought-after global lecturer. His innovative spirit is demonstrated by more than 700 worldwide patents he has been granted, primarily in the fields of stem cells, electrophysiology, and interventional cardiology. He has introduced an impressive number of new therapies to clinical practice, including novel methods and devices such as rate-adaptive pacing, defibrillators, treatment of atrial fibrillation and stem cell treatment. His contributions have substantially influenced the modern practice of medicine. Prof. Alt was elected among the leading 1,000 physicians in Germany, the magazine Focus rated him among the “Best 12 Cardiologists in Germany.” He received the Hahn Research Award from the European Society of Thoracic Surgery and from the Erasmus University in Rotterdam, the prestigious Andreas Gruentzig Ethica Award as “Best Experimental Researcher.” In 2009, he was named “Entrepreneur of the Year” in Munich and “Health Care Hero and Innovator of the Year” in Houston, Texas.
Dr. Alt is chairman of the board of the Isar Klinikum in Munich and of InGeneron, Inc., in Houston, Texas. In addition to being a renowned physician, scientist, prolific researcher and inventor, Prof. Alt is deeply committed to charity in Germany, USA and Africa.