In Memoriam: Edward S. Cooper, MD
December 15, 2025
Dear Colleagues,
It is with profound sadness that we write to share that our inspirational colleague, the esteemed physician and trailblazer Edward S. Cooper, M.D., passed away on December 12, just one day after turning 99.
A longtime leader at Penn Medicine, Dr. Cooper dedicated his life to research and to a vision of medicine that guarantees the best care and outcomes for every patient. His contributions transformed the field of cardiology, producing seminal discoveries in heart disease and stroke.
Dr. Cooper lit a spark for the pursuit of health equity that guides us still today: His research highlighted how racial differences affect stroke in Black individuals and other historically underserved populations. By identifying similar risk factors in stroke and coronary disease, such as high blood pressure and high lipid levels, he drew attention to preventable causes and helped inform both public health initiatives and national care guidelines.
He also co-authored the book, Stroke in Blacks: A Guide to Management and Prevention, which is regarded as one of the first comprehensive texts on the epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of stroke in Black patients.
Dr. Cooper served more than 40 years as a faculty member at the University of Pennsylvania and 25 years as a committed trustee at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP), a role he held until he was 97 years old. Importantly, he is also the namesake of the Edward S. Cooper Internal Medicine Clinic in University City.
Throughout a distinguished career, Dr. Cooper broke barriers. He was the first Black tenured faculty member at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, the first Black attending physician at HUP, and the first Black president of the American Heart Association (AHA).
He also served as chair of the AHA’s Stroke Council, leading the committee that produced the organization’s influential scientific statement, “Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke in African-Americans and Other Racial Minorities,” which called on clinicians, researchers, and others for strategies to promote equity in cardiovascular health.
Mentorship was also a defining aspect of Dr. Cooper’s work. He made it a priority to recruit and nurture talent from underrepresented communities, serving as a mentor to many Black physicians in the Delaware Valley and nationwide.
Dr. Cooper’s insight and expertise traveled far and wide. He served as a trusted physician and friend to civil rights icons, including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He also partnered with the administrations of Presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton to advance national efforts in cardiovascular health and research.
In recognition of Dr. Cooper’s lasting impact, the American Heart Association in Philadelphia bestows its highest honor in his name each year. In 2024, Penn Medicine also dedicated a space in the Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine in Dr. Cooper’s honor, where we may be reminded of his influence as we plan for the future that he helped shape.
We hold Dr. Cooper’s family, friends, and colleagues in our hearts during this difficult time, and take comfort in knowing that his legacy endures through the progress he inspired and the countless lives he touched. Across Penn Medicine, we continue to look to his example as we work to strengthen care and support for both patients within our walls and for all of the communities we serve.
Sincerely,
Jonathan A. Epstein, MD
Dean, Perelman School of Medicine, and Executive Vice President, University of Pennsylvania for the Health System
Michael S. Parmacek, MD
Chair, Department of Medicine
Kevin B. Mahoney
Chief Executive Officer, University of Pennsylvania Health System
Judith A. Long, MD
Chief, Division of General Internal Medicine
Thomas P. Cappola, MD
Chief, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine