Fernando Elijovich, MD, professor of Medicine in the Division of Clinical Pharmacology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, died in Nashville on Oct. 21. He was 77.
A member of the Vanderbilt faculty since 2013, Dr. Elijovich was internationally recognized for his contributions to the field of clinical hypertension, and particularly to current understanding of sodium handling and salt sensitivity of blood pressure.
A native of Argentina, Dr. Elijovich earned his medical degree from the University of Buenos Aires in 1967. He was a fellow of the American Heart Association.
Dr. Elijovich previously held faculty positions at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Michigan State University, Lenox Hill Hospital and New York Medical College.
Prior to coming to Vanderbilt, he was director of General Internal Medicine at Scott & White Memorial Hospital in Temple, Texas, and a clinical faculty member at the Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine.
The author or co-author of dozens of peer-reviewed papers published in high-impact journals, Dr. Elijovich helped bring national recognition to the Vanderbilt Comprehensive Hypertension Center, said David Harrison, MD, professor of Medicine, Betty and Jack Bailey Professor of Cardiology and director of Clinical Pharmacology.
“His fundamental knowledge of hypertension and clinical acumen greatly enhanced our basic and translational research programs,” Harrison said. “He was a dear friend and colleague. We will miss him greatly.”
