The Department of Medicine is deeply saddened by the sudden passing of one of their most beloved colleagues, Kirk T. Spencer, MD. Dr. Spencer was a longstanding and distinguished member of the Department of Medicine who was recognized as for his outstanding work as a clinician, investigator, mentor and leader. During his nearly 25 year career, Dr. Spencer contributed immensely to the Section of Cardiology, the Department and the institution through his service. He will be greatly missed.
Dr. Spencer was born on February 8, 1962. He received his bachelor’s degree in physics (with highest distinction) from the University of Michigan in 1984, and his medical degree (with honors) from the Pritzker School of Medicine in 1989. He completed his internal medicine residency training at Johns Hopkins, followed by his cardiovascular fellowship training at the University of Iowa, where he also served as chief fellow from 1994 to 1995. In 1995, Dr. Spencer joined the Department of Medicine faculty as an assistant professor in the Section of Cardiology and was promoted to professor in 2011.
Dr. Spencer was an expert in cardiac imaging and a recognized leader in the field of echocardiography. His clinical interests included valvular heart disease, transesophageal echocardiography, cardiac stress testing, congestive heart failure and cardiac disease in renal failure/renal transplant. He participated in several important clinical research studies investigating new methods to assess the heart with imaging. A prolific author, Dr. Spencer authored more than 100 journal articles and book chapters on cardiac imaging.
http://www.kurtzmemorialchapel.com/obituaries/Kirk-Thomas-Spencer-MD?obId=3261977#/obituaryInfo
https://www.uchospitals.edu/heart-and-vascular-articles/kirk-spencer-obituary