In Memoriam: Dr. Aslan Turer and Dr. Sharon Reimold

By James de Lemos, M.D.

Professor of Internal Medicine
Chief of Cardiology

As we celebrate the contributions of our trainees and faculty at #AHA24, we also reflect on the legacies of Drs. Aslan Turer and Sharon Reimold, two giants of UT Southwestern Cardiology who tragically passed away in 2024.

Aslan Turer, M.D., M.H.S., M.B.A., joined UTSW in 2009 after completing his fellowship at Duke University. In the early part of his faculty career, he divided his time between developing the University Hospital interventional cardiology practice and performing cutting-edge research in proteomics and metabolomics. Later, he transitioned into clinical leadership and program development, serving as Director of our Clinical Heart and Vascular Center and helping to launch our regional practices. He was a national expert in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and developed a program at UTSW that is now recognized as a National Center of Excellence. He was selected by our fellows in 2011 for the L. David Hillis Teaching Award, the highest teaching honor in the Division. He will be remembered not only for his creative brilliance, clinical excellence, empathy, and work ethic but also for his irreverent sense of humor, unique fashion style, talent for art and music, and love for his family. Aslan is survived by his wife, Christy Turer, M.D., and their five children.

Sharon Reimold, M.D., joined UTSW in 2000 after almost a decade on the faculty of the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, where she was the Fellowship Program Director for a generation of cardiologists (including me). Sharon was a national leader in echocardiography and a “doctor’s doctor” who was revered for her photographic memory and prodigious intellect as well as her pragmatic approach to patient care. Just a few years after arriving at UTSW, Sharon became the Clinical Chief of the Division and served in this role for 10 years. In this capacity, she led enormous growth in our programs and expansion of the faculty. More importantly, she created a Divisional culture in her image, with empathetic, servant leadership and a commitment to clinical excellence and teamwork. She was a role model for a generation of women (and men) and is most responsible for the Division’s large number of female faculty. Sharon transitioned to the role of Vice Chair for Clinical Operations and Faculty Development in the Department of Medicine in 2016. In this role, she led the expansion of faculty development activities and tremendous growth in the clinical activities of the Department. She received the Patricia and William L. Watson award in 2012, the highest honor given to a clinician at UTSW, as well as the American Heart Association’s Women in Cardiology Mentoring Award in 2019. Her influence on our patients, trainees, and faculty is immeasurable. Sharon is survived by her husband, Andreas Reimold, M.D., and their two children.

We miss both Aslan and Sharon deeply and will be forever grateful for their contributions to the UTSW family and missions.