Some cardiologists really love their work. "It's so rhythmic, so musical,"
is the way Dr. Howard Horn describes the human heart. A love of music led
Horn to pursue cardiology during the second year of his internal medicine
residency at the University of Tennessee in Memphis.
"The heart is so appealing," continues Horn, an accomplished trombonist.
"It's not unlike listening to a great piece of music. When I read a cardiogram,
it's almost like reading music."
While Horn knew at age 10 that he'd be a physician, the decision to pursue
cardiology as a subspecialty came later. Initially, he didn't care for cardiology.
"I was deciding among the lungs, the bones, surgery or some other things,"
he recalls. "But the more I listened to the heart, the more fascinated I became.
Then I knew it would be the heart, and I've never regretted my choice."
Two other cardiologists made their career choices at about the same point
in their lives.
"I was a chemistry major at Princeton, but I discovered that I really didn't
like the research -- it was too isolated," explains Dr. George Moran. "Cardiology
has just has the right balance among science, research and contact with people."
Although Moran didn't like life in the laboratory, he continued on in his
studies and finally completed a master's in chemistry. The he spoke with friends
in medical school, physicians and some career counselors and decided on medical
school.
"Me and a few others in the school were in the minority," Moran remembers.
"We were not pre-med majors -- we decided later, so we were about three to
four years older.
"This doesn't have to be something that you think of as a four-year-old.
But you have to be persistent, take the entry tests and don't worry about
what others think. You don't necessarily have to have the pre-med background."
Medical student Kelley Spratt planned to be a primary care physician. But
Spratt realized during her residency that by specializing in cardiology, she
could devote more time to trying to prevent heart disease.
"I think I can be a lot more effective in not just treating heart disease,
but in trying to prevent it," she says.
Spratt is dedicated to generating public awareness on women's cardiovascular
diseases through her work as director of the cardiovascular health program
at the University of Pennsylvania. She is also a private practitioner in Philadelphia.
She is a prolific speaker on the topic and spends many evenings and weekends
spreading the prevention message on the local, regional and national levels.
This is in addition to administrative responsibilities at the hospital,
seeing patients in her office and the hospital, and overseeing numerous stress
tests -- in addition to teaching and researching.
"People need to understand heart disease," Spratt says. "It's America's
number one killer, but we can do something about it. People need to understand
that their emotions, diet or a poor lifestyle can lead to heart disease."
Moran, the reformed chemistry major, has made Baltimore his base. He is
chief of cardiology at a hospital and is also a private practitioner.
Moran is very proud of his administrative accomplishments. During his 12-year
tenure, the hospital has added an open-heart program and a catheterization
laboratory.
Moran remembers his chronic, long-term patients the most. "I'm with them
for a longer period of time," he says.
"Physiologically, things tend to happen quickly in cardiology as compared
with, say, cancer. But the one constant is that we all deal with sick patients.
Some get better. Some die. But all need our care and support, no matter what
setting -- home, hospital, hospice or health-care delivery system."
Spratt learned her bedside manner from a personal experience during her
medical internship. Her grandfather was diagnosed with cancer and had numerous
radiation treatments.
Spratt was with him as much as possible in the months leading up to his
death. She came to know what it's like to wait for another physician's call
and how people in the health-care system deal with death.
"I learned so many things that aren't taught in medical school," she adds.
"You can do so much just to make someone feel better, even if you can't
save their life. There is no need for anyone to suffer. I try to be there
for my patients and their families. I try to treat them like a member of my
own family."
Dr. Ruth Collins-Nakai has treated infants and adults with congenital heart
disease throughout her career.
"Surgery has become very common now for infants," she says. "Many of those
infants grow up to be very healthy adults. The art of medicine is very fascinating,
interesting and exhilarating."
Horn now is a professor of cardiology at the UT-Memphis Health Science
Center and has received numerous awards. "We can do so much for people today,"
says Horn.
"It has become very scientific -- there is so much research being performed.
Many times, if we get to a heart disorder in time and use preventative measures,
we can provide that person with a very healthy life."