Cardiac Cowboys

Got me thinking. Why would two famous; wildly successful people cheat on their taxes? Checking in with my AI. The top tax rate in the mid-fifties was approaching 90%! Everyone was cheating on their taxes. I think this is a context important to the story. (I'd like to add. I had a 5 way bypass 25 yrs. ago. A year ago I had a stent, after learning that 3 of the bypass's had failed. Yesterday I had surgery to repair the stent. Not sure where I'll be a year from now. . . but I've had a pretty good run. Thank you Cardiac Cowboys)

Absolutely amazing look at the history of cardiac surgery. I wish there were more podcasts like this!!

Superb Podcast ! As one of my fellows says, “To know where we are going we should first learn where we have been”. This should be required listening for all cardiology fellows, who now spend their time studying for Echo, Nuclear, Cardiac CT and MRI ‘Boards’ . Those were the days of the giants who relied on inspection, palpation, percussion an ECG, and a chest X-ray to make the diagnosis, which was confirmed or rejected in the OR or Autopsy Suite. I have spent 30 years of my life as a cardiologist, and was inspired by my ‘Uncle’ Fernando who told me about Alfred Blalock at Hopkins and about examining a patient with a Hufnagel Valve in 1954. I was fortunate to have contact over my career with a few of the “second” generation of heart surgeons…one of whom worked with Richard Varco. Anyone who loved this Podcast series would enjoy: 2000 “King of Hearts” by G. Wayne Miller the story of Lillehei. You won’t be able to put it down. The 2003 PBS documentary ‘Partners of the Heart’ about Vivien Thomas and whose medical collaboration with surgeon Alfred Blalock ….dont kniw if you can find it anywhere 2005 “The Knife Man,” by Wendy Moore - a thrilling biography of the John Hunter, and the first operation on “his” canal on 12/12/1785. 2024 Blue Baby and Acute Coronary Revascularization by Tracy Berg, focuses on Spokane and acute surgical coronary revascularization in the pre-Thrombolic era . My favorite movie…of all time: “Something the Lord Made” inspired me to look for Anna the dog, who made it all possible. Her painting is no longer on display at Johns Hopkins.

Engaging and fascinating

This was very humbling to listen to. I’ve worked in and around cardiac procedures/surgeries as a nurse for ten+ years. I knew bits, pieces and some names but not much more beyond the current practices. It was nice to hear this history and better know the titans of cardiac innovation whose shoulders I currently stand. It was a reminder of how far and fast the world of cardiovascular care has come.