Kalpaj Parekh has been named chair and departmental executive officer of the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery with University of Iowa Health Care, following a national search.

Parekh’s appointment is effective Nov. 1. He has served as interim chair of the department since September 2021. The Board of Regents, State of Iowa, approved the university’s request to establish a freestanding Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery in summer 2021.