Nov. 3, 2025 — Juan Aranda, M.D., UF Health’s chief of cardiovascular medicine, has put his heart into working with the heart for over 30 years.

Since beginning the heart failure fellowship program at UF in 2004, he has mentored 22 fellows who have gone on to fight heart failure across the world, from the U.S. to the Caribbean to Asia.

Throughout his time as a physician, he has given over 100 talks in 11 countries and has shared best practices and research with fellow doctors at 88 events.

This fall, he was awarded the Distinguished Leadership Award by the Heart Failure Society of America for a lifetime of mentorship and education for tomorrow’s physicians.

Shaping the future of medicine

In his positions over the years as a professor, director, consultant and now division chief at UF, Aranda has worked with fellows, residents and students at every level. He focuses his teaching philosophy on hands-on learning alongside observation.

“We lead by example,” Aranda said. “I’m always out there rounding on patients during clinic. I get an opportunity with everyone to showcase what we’re about and set a good example.”

From a young age, Aranda knew he would pursue medicine. The oldest of seven children, he grew up watching how much his dad, a cardiologist, cared about his patients and how strong his work ethic was.

“The example I had in front of me was truly inspiring,” said Aranda, the only one of his siblings to follow in his dad’s footsteps. “It was a no-brainer.”

After years of training, Aranda met another person whose example would shape his future in medicine: Guillermo ‘Bill’ Cintron, M.D., who was part of the heart transplant program at Tampa General Hospital.

“He was one of the pioneers of how we treat heart failure today, and he took me under his wing,” Aranda said. “It was extra work; it wasn’t in the curriculum. But he taught me everything I know.”

‘The kiss of death’

When Aranda began training in cardiology, heart failure was known as “the kiss of death.” People weren’t expected to survive longer than five years after their diagnosis. The urgency to find a solution and help people drove Aranda to pursue this niche. He was part of the effort to make heart failure part of the curriculum not only in fellowship training but also in general medical school and residency training.

In 2008, Aranda made huge strides in promoting innovation in the field. He and a team of electrophysiologists created algorithms for pacemakers to manage heart failure. That multidisciplinary approach was a new undertaking at the time, and Aranda published a paper on the research.

Six years later, as president of the Florida Chapter of the American College of Cardiology, he and his team won a $15.9 million grant to put together criteria for chest pain diagnoses and algorithms for appropriate use. They worked with multiple doctors at several research sites to improve cardiovascular care and reduce unnecessary testing.

“I think the highlight of my career, though, is just taking care of heart failure patients,” Aranda said. “We show we care and do things that distinguish us from other heart failure centers in Florida.”

Now 28 years into working at UF, Aranda knows how special the culture of Gainesville and UF Health are. It’s a culture of caring, helping each other and solidarity; that level of support among physicians improves patient outcomes. He calls UF the safety net of the Southeast.

“I’m very proud of UF,” Aranda said. “I bleed orange and blue. I’d give anything for this institution.”

Returning to his roots

Aranda’s medical career is what brought him to Florida, but completed his bachelor’s degree, medical degree and internal medicine residency in his native Puerto Rico before moving first to Tampa and then to Gainesville.

Since leaving home, he’s been able to give back to the community by making trips back to the island for plenary sessions and scientific meetings. He’s helped medical students and residents find opportunities in Puerto Rico, Florida and the rest of the U.S.

That vision of community sticks with Aranda as he teaches and works with UF’s next generation of cardiac care providers. His advice for future physicians leans back on the lessons he’s learned in the past three decades.

“Treat patients like they’re your family members,” he said. “If it feels good in your heart and it feels like you’re doing the right thing, don’t be afraid to go outside the box for your patients.”