The American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) has selected G. Burkhard Mackensen, MD, PhD, FASE, FSCAI, as the 2026 recipient of its prestigious Outstanding Achievement in Perioperative Echocardiography Award. This honor recognizes Dr. Mackensen’s exceptional and sustained contributions to clinical excellence, research innovation and education in the field of perioperative echocardiography.
Mackensen is the Allan J. Treuer Endowed Professor and Chair of the Department of Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine at the University of Washington School of Medicine. He also serves as director of interventional echocardiography at the UW Medicine Heart Institute. A renowned clinician-scientist and international expert in perioperative and interventional echocardiography, his influence spans anesthesiology, cardiology, interventional cardiology and cardiac surgery.
“This recognition is both humbling and energizing,” Mackensen said. “As a longstanding member of the ASE, I see it less as an individual achievement, but rather as a reflection of the extraordinary mentors, colleagues and trainees who have fueled my passion for perioperative and interventional echocardiography—and my strong commitment to advancing the field of cardiovascular ultrasound for the next generation.”
A contributor to numerous echocardiography guidelines published by the ASE and related societies, he has played a significant role in advancing the body of literature related to perioperative and interventional echocardiography. Notably in 2023, under his leadership, the University of Washington became one of the first four centers in the nation to be awarded accreditation in perioperative transesophageal echocardiography by the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC).
He has previously served on the board of directors and in several leadership roles within the ASE, such as chair of the industry relations committee, chair of the Council on Perioperative Echocardiography (COPE) and currently as the director of the annual State-of-the-Art (SOTA) Echocardiography meeting, soon to be held in Scottsdale, AZ (February 13-16, 2026).
Mackensen and the recipients of other ASE’s 2026 awards will be honored at the annual Research Awards Gala hosted by the ASE Foundation in June in Denver Colorado – all part of the ASE’s Annual Scientific Sessions.