James Buchanan, professor emeritus in cardiology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, died July 20 in Philadelphia. He was 85.

Dr. Buchanan grew up in Jackson, Michigan. He received his undergraduate degree in veterinary medicine in 1958 and his doctorate in veterinary medicine in 1960 from Michigan State University. 

In 1960, he accepted a research and teaching position at the University of Pennsylvania Veterinary School and Hospital. He earned his MMS in cardiology from the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Medicine in 1967. Dr. Buchanan was a full professor at Penn Vet for more than 40 years. Dr. Buchanan was integral in establishing veterinary cardiology as the scientific discipline known today. He became an assistant professor of cardiology in 1964, and then associate professor of cardiology clinical studies four years later. In 1976, Dr. Buchanan became a full professor of clinical studies in the Vet School. He retired in 1996 and earned emeritus status.

Dr. Buchanan was part of Penn’s Comparative Cardiovascular Studies Unit, which was one of the first organized bodies to study cardiac disease in companion animals in collaboration with colleagues in the human medical community. One Health was clearly a philosophy championed by Dr. Buchanan decades before it became de rigueur in academic circles. 

Dr. Buchanan, also an accomplished cardiovascular surgeon, performed the first artificial pacemaker implantation in a client-owned dog in 1967 and was instrumental in developing surgical techniques to address various congenital cardiac defects in dogs.

Dr. Buchanan was president of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, Specialty Group in Cardiology, from 1978 to 1981 and was president of the Phi Zeta National Veterinary Honor Society from 1975 to 1980. 

He won numerous awards during his career, including a Research Career Development Award from the NAM in 1968, the Distinguished Alumnus Award from MSU College of Veterinary Medicine in 1988, the National Veterinary Medical Data Base Publication Award in 1992, and the Distinguished Alumnus Award from Michigan State University in 1998.

Dr. Buchanan’s accomplishments also included development of the radiographic vertebral heart size measure that is still used today. Although he retired from academia in 1996 he spent the next 25 years continuing to mentor, teach, and serve as a role model.

Dr. Buchanan is survived by his wife, Marolyn; children, Scott (Kay), Mike (Jill), Maureen, and Dan; and grandchildren, Frankie (Melissa), Sara, and Anna Cucinotta. 

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Friends of Penn Vet Fund at www.vet.upenn.edu/giving