Charanjit (Chet) Rihal, MD, is a graduate of the University of Manitoba Medical School and completed all postgraduate training at Mayo Clinic, including interventional cardiology under the mentorship of Dr. David Holmes. 

He began his faculty career at McMaster University, where he developed a strong interest in critical appraisal and research methodology, before returning to Mayo Clinic as faculty in 1995. Dr. Rihal has held several key leadership roles, including Director of the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory (2003–2010) and Chair of the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine (2010–2018). 

Under his leadership, the catheterization laboratory advanced the use of drug-eluting stents, introduced percutaneous ventricular assist devices, and launched several novel therapeutic procedures, including transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and mitral edge-to-edge repair. He also pioneered techniques such as paravalvular leak closure and mitral valve-in-valve implantation, which he has taught globally through proctoring and multiple live case demonstrations. 

Dr. Rihal focuses on structural interventional procedures in collaboration with colleagues and the clinical research team at Mayo Clinic.  His research has focused on outcomes of interventional cardiology procedures, adoption of new technology, as well as genotype directed antiplatelet therapy following PCI. Among his most valued contributions is the mentorship of approximately two dozen structural interventional trainees—many of whom now serve in leadership roles. With many of them he co-authored a widely-read handbook on structural heart interventions, which emphasizes a “building block” approach to structural procedural training.  Dr Rihal continues to value the opportunity to contribute to the field through active clinical practice, clinical research, and education.