Ann Thorac Surg 2006;82:763-764
© 2006 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons
Our surgical heritage
George C. Lindesmith, MD: A Tribute
Winfield J. Wells, MD*
Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Los Angeles, California
* Address correspondence to Dr Wells, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Mail Stop 66, 4650 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027. (Email: wwells@chla.usc.edu).
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Our specialty lost one of its finest leaders on January 7, 2006, when George Lindesmith passed away at his home in Los Angeles from complications of an inoperable thoraco-abdominal aneurysm. He was surrounded by his family including his wife of 55 years, Connie.
In 1989, George was installed as the 24th President of The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS). He assumed that office at a time of turmoil for cardiothoracic surgery. Phase I of the Harvard resource based relative valve scale (RBRVS) had been presented, and it was clear that our specialty would be severely impacted. Working closely with his longtime friend Dr George Miller (Sacramento, California), Dr Lindesmith began a process to thoroughly study what was found to be the flawed methodology of RBRVS. Political action was initiated with appearances before committees of the federal government and the AMA. It was a year when both Georges spent innumerable hours on the telephone and traveling to meetings and hearings. That kind of commitment to our national organizations had in fact been a part of Dr Lindesmith's life for many years. Within The . . . [Full Text of this Article]
Copyright © 2006 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons.
