Dr. Robert Eckel, MD
Not yet claimedEndocrinologist, Preventive cardiologist, Lipidologist · Physician (MD)
Aurora, CO
Endocrinologist at UCHealth Heart and Vascular Center and Professor of Medicine at the University of Colorado whose clinical interests include lipid disorders, metabolic syndrome, diabetes and nutrition/lifestyle management; he describes treating 'the person as a whole.'
About Dr. Robert Eckel, MD
Updated Sep 20, 2026Dr. Robert H. Eckel is an endocrinologist and lipid specialist in Aurora, Colorado. He sees patients through UCHealth in endocrinology, diabetes and metabolism, and at the UCHealth Heart and Vascular Center (https://www.uchealth.org/provider/robert-eckel-md/). He earned his medical degree at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, trained in internal medicine at University of Wisconsin Hospitals in Madison, and completed a senior fellowship in metabolism and endocrinology at the University of Washington in Seattle (https://medschool.cuanschutz.edu/endocrinology/about-us/endo-team/Eckel-Robert-UCD12770).
At the University of Colorado School of Medicine he is Professor of Medicine, Emeritus, in the divisions of endocrinology/metabolism/diabetes and cardiology, Professor of Physiology and Biophysics, and holds the Charles A. Boettcher II Endowed Chair in Atherosclerosis (https://www.acc.org/membership/person?id=edd2bb63-3804-464b-83a2-397730ef134e). He founded the Lipoprotein Apheresis Program at CU Anschutz, now the Cardiometabolic and Advanced Lipid Clinic, and formerly directed the Lipid Clinic at University of Colorado Hospital (https://medschool.cuanschutz.edu/endocrinology/about-us/endo-team/Eckel-Robert-UCD12770).
His work focuses on cholesterol, diabetes, obesity and heart disease prevention. He has published more than 300 peer-reviewed articles (https://www.acc.org/membership/person?id=edd2bb63-3804-464b-83a2-397730ef134e) and co-chaired the 2013 AHA/ACC Guideline on Lifestyle Management to Reduce Cardiovascular Risk (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24239922/). He also co-authored a 2025 international report on how to define and diagnose clinical obesity (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41393538/).
Public federal records show he received $42,796.32 in industry payments across 57 records from 2021 to 2025, with the largest amounts from Madrigal Pharmaceuticals, Janssen Scientific Affairs, TOLMAR Pharmaceuticals, Amarin Pharma and Sanofi-Aventis. Payments from drug and device companies are common and legal, and are reported publicly (https://openpaymentsdata.cms.gov/).
- Guideline co-chair
- He co-chaired the 2013 American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology guideline on lifestyle changes to lower heart disease risk. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Endowed professorship at CU
- He is Professor of Medicine, Emeritus, and holds the Charles A. Boettcher II Endowed Chair in Atherosclerosis at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. acc.org
- Founded lipid apheresis program
- He founded the Lipoprotein Apheresis Program at CU Anschutz, which is now the Cardiometabolic and Advanced Lipid Clinic, and previously directed the hospital's Lipid Clinic. medschool.cuanschutz.edu
- Large research record
- Institutional and society pages credit him with more than 300 peer-reviewed articles; ResearchGate lists 462 publications and about 127,931 citations. researchgate.net
- Fellowships in three societies
- He is listed institutionally with the post-nominals FAHA, FACC and FNLA (American Heart Association, American College of Cardiology, National Lipid Association). medschool.cuanschutz.edu
- Colorado license since 1979
- His CV lists a Colorado medical license (#22425) issued in 1979, along with earlier Wisconsin and Washington licenses. som.cuanschutz.edu
- Obesity definition consensus
- He co-authored a 2025 Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology report on the definition and diagnostic criteria of clinical obesity. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Industry payments reported
- CMS Open Payments records total $42,796.32 across 57 records from 2021 to 2025, led by Madrigal Pharmaceuticals ($9,999.16) and Janssen Scientific Affairs ($8,998.50). openpaymentsdata.cms.gov
Worth knowing
- Board certification status with the American Board of Internal Medicine was not confirmed in the sources reviewed. His CV notes he served on an ABIM endocrinology subspecialty writing committee from 2003 to 2009. som.cuanschutz.edu
- Some consumer directories list his location as Morrison, CO, and one lists a 'DMD' credential. The federal NPI record and his institutional pages list an MD degree and an Aurora, CO practice address. npiprofile.com
Industry payments (CMS Open Payments)
Open the CMS recordFederal law requires drug and device companies to report what they pay clinicians: meals, travel, speaking, consulting, and research. Payments are common and legal; the point is that you can see them.
2021 to 2025
$42,796
57 payments
| 2021 | $11,186 |
| 2022 | $8,549 |
| 2023 | $10,086 |
| 2024 | $4,173 |
| 2025 | $8,803 |
Top payers
- Madrigal Pharmaceuticals$9,999
- Janssen Scientific Affairs, LLC$8,999
- TOLMAR Pharmaceuticals, Inc.$7,609
- Amarin Pharma Inc.$4,290
- SANOFI-AVENTIS U.S. LLC$4,250
Payment types
- Consulting Fee$25,253
- Honoraria$7,220
- Compensation for services other than consulting, including serving as faculty or as a speaker at a venue other than a continuing education program$5,390
- Food and Beverage$2,942
- Travel and Lodging$1,992
A word of caution about these numbers
A payment does not mean your doctor is compromised or acting unethically. Most of these entries are drug samples left for patients, or lunch brought in for the office staff, and the amounts are usually small. Research funding and speaking at medical meetings are also normal parts of a clinical career.
As a rough guide, a total under $15,000 a year is usually not a concern. Much larger sums, especially from one company whose product your doctor recommends to you, are worth asking about. You are allowed to ask.
Sources: uchealth.org · som.cuanschutz.edu · medschool.cuanschutz.edu · som.cuanschutz.edu · npiprofile.com · acc.org · researchgate.net · ahajournals.org. Something wrong or out of date? Tell us and we will correct it.
Summary prepared with AI assistance from the public sources linked above. It is not a review, a rating, or an endorsement.
Practice location
UCHealth Heart and Vascular Center - University of Colorado Hospital
12505 E 16th Ave, Anschutz Inpatient Pavilion 2, 3rd floor
Aurora, CO 80045
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