2024 Alumni Awards Profiles

Ed Fry ’79

Reunion: 45th
Residence: Indianapolis, Indiana
Grinnell major: Chemistry
Other degrees: Doctor of Medicine from Washington University (in St. Louis) School of Medicine (1983)
Profession: Cardiologist

3 ways Ed embodies Grinnell College’s mission of lifetime learning and service

Ed joined the cardiology practice at Ascension-St. Vincent Medical Group in 1991 and has remained there since as an interventional and general cardiologist. He also is chair of Ascension’s National Cardiovascular Service Line, where he makes critical decisions regarding development of the cardiology services and provision of care for programs across the country.
Ed has successfully advocated at a federal level to promote access to care, clinician well-being, and expanded funding for research and graduate education. Locally, in the Indiana State Legislature he has advocated for high school Cardiac Resuscitation Protocol (CPR) training requirements, education for high school coaches and trainers regarding sudden cardiac arrest in athletes, tobacco-free legislation, and reproductive rights.
Ed has had a long history of leadership in the American College of Cardiology, a nonprofit cardiovascular medical society representing over 54,000 cardiologist and cardiovascular care team members around the world. He worked his way up starting with serving in the state chapter before becoming president of the organization in 2022-23.

Something you probably didn’t know about Ed

Born in Ireland before becoming a U.S. citizen in 1977, Ed was inducted as an Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians Ireland in 2023.

A collage of photos featuring Ed Fry ’79

Bonus Ed Fun Facts

Ed has held several academic positions including serving on the pre-clinical and clinical faculty at Marion University School of Medicine since 2014 and teaching in the cardiology fellowship training program at St. Vincent since 2003.
Ed has published more than 60 peer reviewed article and book chapters and has participated in over 75 clinical trials. He also has presented, moderated, and chaired sessions at multiple national and international meetings.
The Grinnell College research experience was so impactful on Ed that he and his wife endowed a Grinnell summer research fellowship in his parents’ names, the Drs. Michael and Shirley Fry Research Fellowship.
Both Ed’s brother, Peter Fry ’82, and Ed’s son, Colin Fry ’14, graduated from Grinnell.

A quote about Ed

“Ed’s career has been so much more than just his practice to medicine. He has been involved in efforts through the American Heart Association, the American College of Cardiology, Smoke Free Indiana, and the national campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids to successfully raise tobacco taxes and establish smoke-free public spaces and policies. Ed has advocated for reproductive rights, Medicaid expansion, insurance reforms to curb prior authorization obstacles to care, and support of health workers mental health legislation in the Indiana State Legislature.”

– Alan Camp ’79