| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ann Thorac Surg 2006;82:763-764
© 2006 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons
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{at}chla.usc.edu).
|
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 STS, he had served three terms on the Council, and chaired several important committees including the Standards and Ethics Committee ('84–'88), the Committee on Standardization of Data Reporting ('77–'78), and the Committee on C-T Surgical Practice Guidelines ('88–'89). He was equally active in the American Heart Association chairing the membership and program committees before heading the Council of Cardiovascular Surgery from 1989 to 1991. George frequently commented that we might better spend our time interacting with our cardiology colleagues at the AHA rather than preaching to the choir at our own subspecialty meetings. There was also time spent on the Executive Committee and The Advisory Council for Thoracic Surgery of the American College of Surgeons, and a tour on the Residency Review Committee from 1981 to 1987.
What were the origins of this remarkable individual? George was born in Grand Junction, Colorado, into a family of educators. World War II brought the family to Henderson, Nevada, near Boulder Dam where George's father worked at a newly established plant, which was critical to the war effort. It was while in his high school years that George met Connie who was attracted to this three-sport athlete and valedictorian. The soon-to-be Mr and Mrs Lindesmith went on to attend the University of Nevada where George played football and continued to excel academically.
In medical school at Northwestern University, George developed an interest in Surgery, and he subsequently stayed in Chicago for training in General Surgery at Wesley Memorial Hospital and then Thoracic Surgery in the program based at Hines Hospital under the directorship of Hiram Langston. His training was interrupted by military service from 1955 to 1957 where he served as a general medical officer and subsequently as a flight surgeon at Sampson Air Force Base.
Returning to the West, George came to Los Angeles to complete his thoracic training and then join the respected practice established by John C. Jones (President AATS, '64–'65) at the Good Samaritan Hospital and Childrens Hospital Los Angeles. Cardiac surgery was in its infancy and George developed a special interest in surgery for congenital heart defects where he made major contributions particularly in treating children with transposition of the great arteries. He was an exceptional surgical technician, with a rare gift for understanding the complexity of intracardiac defects in three dimensions. His results with infants undergoing the Mustard procedure for transposition are still benchmark. He authored more than 50 peer reviewed articles, and was invited to write numerous chapters in surgical texts. He was appointed to the Editorial Board of the Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery from 1976 to 1983, an honor of particular importance to this unassuming individual. Perhaps his favorite organization, however, was the Congenital Heart Surgeons Society (CHSS) where he was a founding member. In the early years, the small group of individuals who made up the CHSS met annually in Chicago and spawned most of the surgical innovations for the care of children with complex congenital heart defects. Later, the multi-institutional studies launched by the CHSS set a standard for the statistically sound analysis of outcomes we have now come to expect.
In recognition of his accomplishments, George was rapidly advanced to a clinical professorship at the University of Southern California, and he served as the Chairman of the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles for the 25-year period spanning from 1967 to 1992.
While his professional accomplishments were extensive, most will remember George Lindesmith for his exceptional intellect, quick wit, and generosity. He was a reader and was given a gift for retaining most of what he read. He would have ruled Jeopardy. Whether it was world geography, the history of any period but particularly Civil War, and WW II naval history, or any number of other topics, George was a source of near encyclopedic knowledge. The Lindesmiths were also well traveled, with a special interest in island destinations. Chartered sailboats were often the platform for enjoying time away from the hospital in keeping with George's earlier interest and participation in competitive sailing. He was also comfortable with a golf club, rifle, shotgun, or fly rod in his hands, all sports which he enjoyed with his numerous friends.
George Lindesmith will be dearly missed by his family, many friends, and professional colleagues, including those who learned the science and art of thoracic surgery under his direction.
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
| ANN THORAC SURG | ASIAN CARDIOVASC THORAC ANN | EUR J CARDIOTHORAC SURG |
| J THORAC CARDIOVASC SURG | ICVTS | ALL CTSNet JOURNALS |
