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Aldo A. Luisada, MD, FACC: Physician, scientist, teacher
Editorials
Aldo A. Luisada, MD, FACC: Physician, Scientist, Teacher MARVIN A. KAPLAN, MD, FACC STANLEY J. SARNOFF, MD, FACC CHI KONG LIU, MD, FACC Long Beach and Torrance, Bethesda, Maryland
California
This issue of the Journal represents another significant contribution to the education of physicians by Dr. Aldo A. Luisada. The year 1971 marks a full 50 years of productive research and teaching by this unusual man (although it has been only 4’7 years since his graduation from medical school). In beginning to write this editorial, we made a thorough search into the background of Dr. Luisada and set down a tract outlining his curriculum vitae. It soon became evident that we had developed a rather sterile narrative that did not present the human side of the man. Moreover, it seemed quite unnecessary to delineate his accomphshments in great detail since, as was remarked by one of the readers of the original draft, “Everyone knows Luisada.” What follows, although it deviates from the usual format, is an attempt to summarize the man, in addition to his accomplishments. To be sure, his academic responsibilities have been and continue to be formidable by any standard. He is currently chief of cardiovascular research and professor of medicine at the Chicago Medical School and the Mount Sinai Hospital of Chicago. In addition to lectures to the medical students, house staff and visiting physicians, he has escorted many Fellows in cardiology through techniques of cardiovascular evaluation in the fieIds of phonocardiography, eIectrocardiography and circulatory hemodynamics, always emphasizing the synthesis of objective data and their application to the clinical problem at the bedside. His research activity has produced an important contribution to the cardiovascular literature, both in quality and quantity. He is author or coauthor of some 315 scientific papers, 7 monographs, and 5 textbooks and has served as editor of the prodigious Encyclopedia of Cardiology. Such a bibliography surpasses the expectation of most academicians ; not so with Dr. Luisada. He continues to demonstrate seemingly boundless energy and imagination. He actively participates in all of the research activities in his department, supplying the original germ for most of them and offering Address for reprints: Marvin Section, Veterans Administration St., Long Beach, Calif. 90801.
236
A. Kaplan, MD, Cardiology Hospital, 5901 East Seventh
suggestions, encouragement and stimulation to those who work with him, along with an astute ability to interpret forthcoming data. A visit to his laboratories at the Medical School or Hospital conveys the immediate impression of orderly activity. Associates move in and out of rooms filled with all manner of elaborate scientific apparatus, carrying out voluminous research programs. Between these rooms are hallways with group pictures of the physicians he has trained together with autographed photographs of the great personalities of cardiology. His personal offices convey his deeper, less apparent attributes. The decor is quite comfortable, orderly and modest. One gets the feeling that here is where the “action” begins. Orderliness and control seem to be deeply rooted in the character of the “Chief” as he engages you in conversation. Such conversation is likely to begin with the usual amenities and quickly progress to a discussion of the latest projects taking place in his research activity. Original ideas flow with unusual rapidity, and one cannot help but be impressed with his dedication and youthful vigor. Interspersed with the conversation and telephone calls will be numerous interruptions by secretaries and technicians, his “coworkers.” Each incident is handled with aplomb and understanding, and it becomes clear that such organization is at least part of the reason for continued excellence and productivity. There is never any implication of pause (or even sIowing down) in accomplishment. The sense of activity is the same now as it was 10 years ago, and it would be difficult to think that it has ever been different. Aldo A. Luisada has gained and held the recognition and respect of his ,peers, associates and students. The conferences he attends are always a “little bit better” because of his cogent observations and subtle sense of humor. All is not work, however; his personal interests revolve about the field of worId history, an area in which he is an expert. Art and science fiction provide creative relaxation and the same sort of involvement that characterizes all of his undertakings. To those of us who have had the privilege of working with him, Aldo Luisada embodies qualities of greatness that elude enumeration ; he has been more than a teacher. Countless cardiologists are indebted to him for his years of dedication in his chosen field and for his training of young physicians. His presence on the cardiologic scene has been and continues to be a stimulus and inspiration. We congratulate him for his accomplishments and thank him for sharing them with us.
The American
Journal
of CARDIOLOGY
Aldo A. Luisada, MD, FACC: Physician, Scientist, Teacher MARVIN A. KAPLAN, MD, FACC STANLEY J. SARNOFF, MD, FACC CHI KONG LIU, MD, FACC Long Beach and Torrance, Bethesda, Maryland
California
This issue of the Journal represents another significant contribution to the education of physicians by Dr. Aldo A. Luisada. The year 1971 marks a full 50 years of productive research and teaching by this unusual man (although it has been only 4’7 years since his graduation from medical school). In beginning to write this editorial, we made a thorough search into the background of Dr. Luisada and set down a tract outlining his curriculum vitae. It soon became evident that we had developed a rather sterile narrative that did not present the human side of the man. Moreover, it seemed quite unnecessary to delineate his accomphshments in great detail since, as was remarked by one of the readers of the original draft, “Everyone knows Luisada.” What follows, although it deviates from the usual format, is an attempt to summarize the man, in addition to his accomplishments. To be sure, his academic responsibilities have been and continue to be formidable by any standard. He is currently chief of cardiovascular research and professor of medicine at the Chicago Medical School and the Mount Sinai Hospital of Chicago. In addition to lectures to the medical students, house staff and visiting physicians, he has escorted many Fellows in cardiology through techniques of cardiovascular evaluation in the fieIds of phonocardiography, eIectrocardiography and circulatory hemodynamics, always emphasizing the synthesis of objective data and their application to the clinical problem at the bedside. His research activity has produced an important contribution to the cardiovascular literature, both in quality and quantity. He is author or coauthor of some 315 scientific papers, 7 monographs, and 5 textbooks and has served as editor of the prodigious Encyclopedia of Cardiology. Such a bibliography surpasses the expectation of most academicians ; not so with Dr. Luisada. He continues to demonstrate seemingly boundless energy and imagination. He actively participates in all of the research activities in his department, supplying the original germ for most of them and offering Address for reprints: Marvin Section, Veterans Administration St., Long Beach, Calif. 90801.
236
A. Kaplan, MD, Cardiology Hospital, 5901 East Seventh
suggestions, encouragement and stimulation to those who work with him, along with an astute ability to interpret forthcoming data. A visit to his laboratories at the Medical School or Hospital conveys the immediate impression of orderly activity. Associates move in and out of rooms filled with all manner of elaborate scientific apparatus, carrying out voluminous research programs. Between these rooms are hallways with group pictures of the physicians he has trained together with autographed photographs of the great personalities of cardiology. His personal offices convey his deeper, less apparent attributes. The decor is quite comfortable, orderly and modest. One gets the feeling that here is where the “action” begins. Orderliness and control seem to be deeply rooted in the character of the “Chief” as he engages you in conversation. Such conversation is likely to begin with the usual amenities and quickly progress to a discussion of the latest projects taking place in his research activity. Original ideas flow with unusual rapidity, and one cannot help but be impressed with his dedication and youthful vigor. Interspersed with the conversation and telephone calls will be numerous interruptions by secretaries and technicians, his “coworkers.” Each incident is handled with aplomb and understanding, and it becomes clear that such organization is at least part of the reason for continued excellence and productivity. There is never any implication of pause (or even sIowing down) in accomplishment. The sense of activity is the same now as it was 10 years ago, and it would be difficult to think that it has ever been different. Aldo A. Luisada has gained and held the recognition and respect of his ,peers, associates and students. The conferences he attends are always a “little bit better” because of his cogent observations and subtle sense of humor. All is not work, however; his personal interests revolve about the field of worId history, an area in which he is an expert. Art and science fiction provide creative relaxation and the same sort of involvement that characterizes all of his undertakings. To those of us who have had the privilege of working with him, Aldo Luisada embodies qualities of greatness that elude enumeration ; he has been more than a teacher. Countless cardiologists are indebted to him for his years of dedication in his chosen field and for his training of young physicians. His presence on the cardiologic scene has been and continues to be a stimulus and inspiration. We congratulate him for his accomplishments and thank him for sharing them with us.
The American
Journal
of CARDIOLOGY