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So, when I was a medical student I got to work with Denton Cooley (world famous heart surgeon). He took 4 of us to see a patient and instructed us to listen to the patients cardiac exam and report what we heard. My 3 classmates described in intricate detail various murmurs and https://twitter.com/dshadowgazer/status/1258728315122094081
heart sounds that radiated to various parts of the body. When he asked me, I almost couldn’t speak. I hadn’t heard anything. Nothing. Nada. I thought for a moment I may have used the wrong part of the combo peds/adult stethoscope and that’s why I hadn’t heard anything.
Not knowing what to do, I looked him right in the eye and told him I hadn’t heard anything. He smiled, and kicked my 3 classmates out of the hospital for making up a physical exam. Turns out the patient had an axial flow pump and, as such, didn’t have any heart sounds!
That day laid the foundation for hundreds more that I would spend with this giant of cardiac surgery. In the operating room, in his clinic, driving to research meetings. Some of my favorite memories....
It all culminated in his offering to write a LOR for my surgery residency and on the last day of medical school he gave me one of his stethoscopes. Highlight moment that I’ll never forget! I’d love to hear your career defining moments/experiences! @AmCollSurgeons @traumadoctors
