Newswise — George Bakris, MD, Professor of Medicine in the Section of Endocrinology at the University of Chicago and Director of the Comprehensive Hypertension Center, died on June 15, 2024. He was 72 years old. "Dr.
Bakris was passionate and worked tirelessly to advance and provide the best care to patients. He was an exceptional leader, mentor, and friend who we will miss dearly," wrote Everett Vokes, MD , John E. Ultmann Distinguished Service Professor and Chair of the Department of Medicine, in a letter to faculty and staff.
Bakris published more than 500 peer-reviewed manuscripts and guidelines, including a New England Journal of Medicine article just two months ago showing that the glucagon-like peptide 1 agonist semaglutide (drugs known under brand names such as Ozempic or Wegovy) reduces the risk of clinically important kidney outcomes in patients with Type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease. Among his many leadership roles, Bakris served as President of the American College of Clinical Pharmacology (2000-2002) and President of the American Society of Hypertension (2010-2012). He also served as Chair of the American Diabetes Association Consensus Report on Hypertension in Diabetes (2016-2017), Co-Chair of the American Society of Hypertension Writing Committee for the Hypertension in Diabetes Guidelines (2008, 2010), and member of the American Diabetes Association Clinical Practice Guideline Committee (2018-2021).
Bakris came to the University of Chicago in 2006 a.
