Victor Joseph Dzau was born in Shanghai to a father who taught chemistry and owned a chemical manufacturing company, but his family lost everything in fleeing the Chinese Communist regime and relocating to Hong Kong.  Along with his parents and two sisters, Dzau struggled in difficult circumstances but learned to adapt.  Eventually, he was able to study medicine in Canada, receiving his M.D. from McGill University.  Dr. Dzau did his medical residency at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and his cardiology fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard University in Boston.  In 1990 he became Chairman of Stanford University’s Department of Medicine and returned to Harvard in 1995 as Chairman of its Department of Medicine.  In 2004 Dr. Dzau became Chancellor for Health Affairs at Duke University, President and CEO of the Duke University Health System, and the James B. Duke Professor of Medicine.  In 2014, he was elected to a six-year term as President of the National Academy of Medicine, formerly the Institute of Medicine, based in Washington, D.C.

Dr. Dzau has made a significant impact on medicine through his seminal research in cardiovascular medicine and genetics and his leadership in health care innovation. His important work on the renin angiotensin system (RAS) paved the way for the contemporary understanding of cardiovascular disease and the development of RAS inhibitors as widely used, lifesaving drugs. In his role as a leader in health, Dr. Dzau has led efforts in health innovation, including the development of the Duke Translational Medicine Institute, the Duke Global Health Institute, the Duke-National University of Singapore Graduate Medical School, and the Duke Institute for Health Innovation. As one of the world’s preeminent health leaders, Dr. Dzau advises governments and universities worldwide. He has served as a member of the Advisory Committee to the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and as Chair of the NIH Cardiovascular Disease Advisory Committee.

Since arriving at the National Academies, Dr Dzau has emphasized leadership, innovation, and impact. He has led important initiatives such as the Global Health Risk Framework for the Future, the Human Gene Editing Initiative, Vital Directions for Health and Healthcare, and Grand Challenges in Health and Medicine. His vision is to advance science, medicine, and policy to improve health globally.

Among his many honors and recognition are the Gustav Nylin Medal from the Swedish Royal College of Medicine, the Distinguished Scientist Award from the American Heart Association, the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, the Henry Freisen International Prize, and the Public Service Medal from the President of Singapore.  He is a member of the National Academy of Medicine, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the European Academy of Sciences and Arts.  He has received nine honorary doctorates.