Dr. Barry Massie, a San Francisco cardiologist for over forty years, passed away earlier this month in Belmont, California.  He was 76 years old.

Dr. Massie was born in St. Louis, Missouri and obtained his undergraduate degree at Harvard University, subsequently graduating from Columbia University and completing his medical training at Bellevue Hospital in New York City (where he was chief resident).  His fellowship in cardiology was completed at UCSF/VA Medical Center in San Francisco in 1977.

In a long and distinguished career, Dr. Massie served as Director of the CCU and Heart Failure Program of the San Francisco VA Medical Center (SFVAMC), Professor at UCSF Department of Medicine, and Chief of the Division of Cardiology at the SFVAMC.  He was a consultant to the Food and Drug Administration, Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Heart Failure, and on the editorial boards of numerous other cardiology/heart failure academic journals.  Dr. Massie wrote over 300 scholarly articles and 50 book chapters on the topic of heart failure.  He retired in October 2013, having been awarded the Barnwell Award by the Veterans Administration for outstanding achievements in clinical research.

A long-time leader at the Heart Failure Society of America, Dr. Massie served as President from 2010 to 2012.

“Barry Massie was an excellent scientist and clinician and a true collaborator,” said Nancy Albert, PhD, RN, President of the Heart Failure Society of America.  “Barry brought people from multiple disciplines together to understand and study problems related to acute and chronic heart failure in patients with reduced and preserved ejection fractions.  He studied issues and clinical challenges in heart failure management from both the patient and provider spheres.  His publications on optimized medical therapies in heart failure continue to have relevancy today.”

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Physicians for a National Health Plan and Doctors Without Borders/MSF.  A memorial service will be held at a later date.