Dr. David Booth celebrates 40 years at UK HealthCare

Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2021, marks an incredible 40-year career anniversary at UK HealthCare for David C. Booth, MD.  

Dr. Booth, an expert cardiologist, began his UK career in 1981 by studying the effect of smoking on coronary blood flow. He was involved in the first coronary angioplasties at the UK Cath Lab and is internationally renowned for his involvement in many multicenter trials on the medical treatment of coronary artery disease. Dr. Booth was named director of the UK and VA Cath Labs in 1983 and remains VA Cardiovascular Chief.

“Dr. Booth has a lifetime of outstanding achievements in the field of cardiovascular disease and has served as a role model through service, clinical research and teaching,” said Dr. Vince Sorrell, Interim Chair, Gill Heart & Vascular Institute. “As a Professor of Internal Medicine, Director of the Pulmonary Hypertension program, a member of the Interventional Cardiology section and the Advanced Heart Failure team, and the Chief of Cardiology at the Lexington Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, he has served in numerous leadership roles, including as past interim Chief of the Division, past Director of the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory, and past Director of the Heart Transplantation Program.” 

Throughout his career, Dr. Booth has been on the forefront of innovative techniques and treatment— from intravascular ultrasound studies to digital angiography and more. He has earned the Chairman’s Award for Excellence in Clinical Care and has served as Acting Chief of Cardiology three times during his remarkable career. 

“Dr. Booth is an outstanding clinician with a broad repertoire of skills that is unusual in cardiologists today,” said Dr. Sorrell. His leadership, research and educational contributions to Kentucky have had a fundamental impact on the trajectory of the practice of cardiovascular medicine over the last forty years. He has participated in the training of more than 200 cardiovascular trainees over his career and many more medical students and residents.” 

In addition to his achievements as a leader, researcher and professor, Dr. Booth is a skilled, caring clinician. He has earned the Chairman’s Award for Excellence in Clinical Care. 

“I have had the pleasure of working with Dr. Booth for the past 11 years. He has enthusiastically shared with me his vast knowledge of pulmonary hypertension,” said Kimberly Jackson, RN, BSN, Nurse Cardiovascular Coordinator, Pulmonary Hypertension Clinic. “One of my first impressions of Dr. Booth was that he is a caring practitioner who truly loves what he does and has a genuine concern for his patients and their families. I have witnessed him personally call and extend his heartfelt condolences to the families of his deceased patients.”

We are grateful to Dr. Booth for 40 years of extraordinary service, patient care, research and teaching. 

“He is the ultimate professional, and I have the utmost respect and admiration for him as a physician and a man,” Jackson said.