In Memoriam: Announcing the Passing of Dr. Joel Karliner, Former Chief of Cardiology at the SFVA

Dr. Joel Karliner, Emeritus Professor of Medicine, former chief of the San Francisco VA’s cardiology section, and an internationally recognized expert in the mechanisms of ischemic heart damage, died peacefully on October 21, 2024, at his home in San Francisco. He was 87 years old and had battled Parkinson’s disease for the last several years.

Joel completed his undergraduate studies at Columbia College and received his MD from the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. Following his medicine internship at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, he served as a U.S. Army Medical Corps captain before returning to Einstein to complete his medical residency. He subsequently completed a cardiology fellowship at Georgetown University, working under Dr. Proctor Harvey, and a research fellowship at the University of California, San Diego, where he was mentored by Dr. Eugene Braunwald. He served on UCSD’s faculty for 10 years; we were lucky enough to recruit him to UCSF in 1981 to become Chief of Cardiology at the San Francisco VA Medical Center.

Joel served as VA section chief for 18 years, stepping down in 1999. Although he assumed emeritus status then, he continued full-time VA employment with active engagement in research, education, and clinical programs until he was 81, when his progressive disease forced his retirement.

Throughout his distinguished career, Joel investigated the mechanisms of myocardial ischemia, reperfusion injury, cardiac remodeling, and congestive heart failure. In the first half of his rich career, he studied the hemodynamic and pharmacologic influences for isovolumic relaxation and the role of alpha receptors, beta-blockade, and angiotensin II on cardiac myocytes, ischemia, and hypertrophy. Later, he focused on the role of inflammation and adaptive immune response in myocardial injury, cardiac remodeling, and heart failure, including a particular interest in the role of sphingosine-1-phosphate.

Joel had an impact far beyond the walls of our VA and UCSF. He served as an associate editor for Circulation and the Journal of the American College of Cardiology and on many scientific review committees. He was the author of over 200 peer-reviewed publications, as well as numerous reviews, editorials, and book chapters. He maintained active grant funding well into his 70s.

Joel is survived by his wife of over 50 years, Adela, and their three children, Leah (a professor of medicine at UCSF), Josh, and Rachel. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, October 23, at 1:30 PM at Hills of Eternity Cemetery in Colma. The family requests that donations in his name be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research or the American Heart Association.

Throughout his long and distinguished career, Joel taught many generations of students, residents, and fellows, and he was devoted to the clinical care of veterans. Even after the diagnosis of Parkinson’s, he continued to pursue his clinical activities with a cheerfulness, optimism, and courage that inspired his patients and colleagues. He will be deeply missed.