Tributes have poured in from across the world of cardiology following the death of Bruce Wilkoff, a pioneer of cardiac electrophysiology and former president of the Heart Rhythm Society (HRS), who passed away early in January aged 69.
Wilkoff had been the director of cardiac pacing and tachyarrhythmia devices at Cleveland Clinic (Cleveland, USA) for 30 years, having first joined the institution in 1987. He specialised in the treatment of heart rhythm disorders, implantation of defibrillators and the computerised analysis of cardiac pacemakers and electrophysiologic studies, and his recent work included highlighting proper practice around the removal of cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs).
Throughout his career, Wilkoff authored over 500 peer reviewed manuscripts, book chapters and five editions of the primary textbook on Cardiac Implantable Electronic Devices.
Wilkoff held the HRS presidency from June 2011, and had held numerous leadership positions with the HRS, including abstract chair of the Scientific Sessions Program Committee, co-chair of the Strategic Priority Work Force Task Force, and a member of the Executive and Finance Committees.
The organisation honoured Wilkoff with its Pioneer in Cardiac Pacing and Electrophysiology Award in late 2023.
He was educated at the Northwestern University Technological Institute (Evanston, USA), where he received a degree in Biomedical Engineering, and later studied at the Ohio State University College of Medicine at Columbus, USA, then going on to conduct his internal medicine residency and cardiology fellowships at Case Western Reserve University at the University Hospitals of Cleveland (Cleveland, USA).
Wilkoff spoke to Cardiac Rhythm News in 2010 to chart his early career, research interests and then vision for the future of cardiology, as well as the influence of his faith on his work. Wilkoff described his love for maths and science, as well as his fascination with computers, as being catalysts for his entry into medicine and clinical research.
Reflecting on some of the highlights of his career, Wilkoff described the presentation and publication of results from the DAVID trial, examining dual-chamber pacing or ventricular backup pacing in patients with an implantable defibrillator, as well as his selection as HRS president as being particular sources of pride.
“The DAVID trial was significant because, despite my incorrect expectation of a positive result, it provided one of the most impactful and directional bits of data influencing the therapy of many thousands and the selection by HRS because it validated that my peers believed that my contributions and voice had value,” Wilkoff said.
Read the full 2010 Cardiac Rhythm News interview here.
A dedicated family man, Wilkoff is survived by his wife of 44 years, Ellyn, three sons and eight grandchildren.
