Heartfelt Praise for Dr. Mehlman at Echocardiology Fellowship Celebration
About 45 patients, colleagues, family members, and friends gathered over lunch on October 21 to celebrate a new echocardiography fellowship named for David J. Mehlman, MD, a renowned cardiologist of more than 50 years and associate professor at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.
Many attendees were donors who banded together to endow the fellowship, which represents a long-held dream of Dr. Mehlman’s to offer a fellowship dedicated to advanced training in echocardiography. Fellowships support specialized training, and the Mehlman Fellowship now assures advanced imaging training through less stable periods of funding.
In remarks at the celebration, held in the Robert H. Lurie Medical Research Center on Northwestern’s Chicago campus, Vinay Guduguntla, MD, the inaugural David J. Mehlman, MD Advanced Echocardiography Fellow, quoted Francis Peabody, a physician from the turn of the 20th century who famously said that “the secret of the care of the patient is in caring for the patient.”
“That best exemplifies Dr. Mehlman’s approach to care,” Dr. Guduguntla said. “He's a relentless advocate for his patients: He's always available, always eager to take care of them, sit down with them, and talk with them. It's with privilege and gratitude that I am thankful to be the inaugural Mehlman Fellow and to everyone here who has made it a reality.”
Robert O. Bonow, MD, the Max and Lilly Goldberg Distinguished Professor of Cardiology, Akhil Narang, MD, director of the Echocardiography Lab and associate professor of Medicine (Cardiology), and Dr. Mehlman himself also shared remarks.
The event culminated with heartfelt stories and expressions of gratitude from numerous attendees, including patients, who shared that Dr. Mehlman had helped them through life-altering and often challenging cardiac diagnoses with unparalleled compassion, attention to detail, and good humor.
Julia Katz ’82 ’88 MBA, a patient, has donated to the echocardiography fellowship fund for many years.
“I attribute my good health and longevity to Dr. David Mehlman,” Katz said. “More than 30 years ago, he taught me that awakening each day is a miracle and walking each day is a must.”
She continued, “His care and example have enriched my life in countless ways. I am deeply grateful to help make possible the David J. Mehlman, MD Advanced Echocardiography Fellowship, which will enable him to mentor future physicians in patient-centered care and advance expertise in cardiovascular imaging for the benefit of patients for years to come.”
Dr. Mehlman's wife, Arlene Alpert-Mehlman; three of his nieces, Sara Mervis, Lauren Litchfield, and Dana Mehlman; and his sister-in-law, Diane Mehlman, also attended the event.
Read more about the Mehlman Fellowship (2023)
Donate to the Mehlman Fellowship
For more information about supporting the fellowship, please contact Kathleen Praznowski at
kathleen.praznowski@northwestern.edu or 312-503-0762.