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Ann Thorac Surg 2003;75:1366-1371
© 2003 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons

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Presidential address

A partnership in courage

^a Division of Cardiovascular-Thoracic Surgery, Children’s Memorial Hospital, Chicago, Illinois, USA
^b Department of Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA

^* Address reprint requests to Dr Mavroudis, Division of Cardiovascular-Thoracic Surgery, Children’s Memorial Hospital, M/C #22, 2300 Children’s Plaza, Chicago, IL 60614-3394, USA.
e-mail: cmavroudis@childrensmemorial.org

Presented at the Forty-ninth Annual Meeting of the Southern Thoracic Surgical Association, Miami Beach, FL, Nov 7–9, 2002.

The first 300 words of the full text of this article appear below.

	Introduction

 
In these days of fast travel and changing venues it is no surprise that a kid born in Greece and raised in Jersey City would grow up to live in Chicago and become President of the Southern Thoracic Surgical Association. Such developments are, of course, not new. Past Presidents Kit Arom and Francis Robicsek are excellent examples of our meritocracy and melting pot philosophy. A choice, not a birthright, has brought us all together; and it was a choice, not an obligation, to build on the founding principles of this Association. If we have had fun along the way, so much the better. I only hope that I have given as much to this Association as I have received.

It is my great fortune and privilege to have been chosen to serve as President of the Southern Thoracic Surgical Association (STSA). I have always treasured my now 19-year membership in the STSA and the warm friendships that have been fostered over the years. Ours is a special organization that nurtures and promotes its younger members, honors its seniors, and creates a unique atmosphere of camaraderie and mutual respect. To be President of this Association is my greatest professional honor—one that I will always cherish as a gift from my esteemed colleagues.

	Courage as a virtue

 
The subject of my talk is courage. One definition of courage is an individual’s selfless pursuit of a moral good while risking personal harm, injury, or death. We know of various forms of courage, which have many modifying adjectives and synonyms. Adjectives have included intellectual, moral, corporeal, steadfast, intrepid, heroic, and extraordinary; synonyms have included fortitude, daring, bravery, and valor, among others. Physicians have been known to display many forms of courage by virtue of their basic human behavior, intellectual fortitude, and resolve while taking care of their patients. . . . [Full Text of this Article]

This article has been cited by other articles:

				C. Mavroudis, C. D. Mavroudis, K. S. Naunheim, and R. M. Sade Should Surgical Errors Always Be Disclosed to the Patient? Ann. Thorac. Surg., August 1, 2005; 80(2): 399 - 408. [Full Text] [PDF]