Festschrift Editorial: Current and Future Trends in Cardiovascular Surgery

Excerpt

This editorial introduces to the reader of the World Journal of Surgery the proceedings of The Alexander S. Geha Symposium, which was held in the Cathedral Room of the University Club in Chicago on October 8, 2006, in tandem with the 2006 Clinical Congress of the American College of Surgeons. The symposium was sponsored by the Office of Graduate Medical Education at the University of Illinois at Chicago. The symposium was held in two sessions that were moderated by Norman J. Snow and Hendrik B. Barner. Alex’s old-time mentor and later colleague Arthur E. Baue served as Master of the Ceremony. The proceedings are summarized in this festschrift published as a tribute to Dr. Geha for his contributions to the fields of cardiothoracic surgical research, clinical cardiothoracic surgery, and graduate and postgraduate education over the last forty years (Fig. 1). It is intended to provide the thoracic and cardiovascular surgeons and other health care professionals with the illuminating perspectives of national experts on current and future trends in cardiovascular surgery. Dr. Geha has retired from his position as Professor and Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery at the University of Illinois Medical Center at Chicago since 1998 and had held similar appointments at Yale University and Case Western Reserve University. Before that he was an Associate Professor and attending cardiothoracic surgeon at the University of Vermont and Washington University in St. Louis, MO. He was responsible for the training of 64 cardiothoracic residents and fellows who practice in the United States and abroad, including seven current or former chiefs of cardiothoracic surgery in various academic institutions. Born and raised in Beirut, Lebanon, Dr. Geha is a graduate of the American University of Beirut where he completed his general surgical residency. His cardiothoracic surgical training was at the Mayo Clinic under the tutelage of Drs. John Kirklin, Dwight McGoon, Philip Bernatz, and H.J.C. Swan. During his service at five academic centers he developed new programs in cardiac transplantation, cardiac arrhythmias, and valve repair. He has coauthored three surgical textbooks, has over 200 full scientific publications, has been an invited speaker at many institutions, and has received numerous awards and honors.

…