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Clinicians within the Cardiology Division at Massachusetts General Hospital are making revolutionary contributions to the field, and fellows are at the center of these advances.
In 1913 Paul Dudley White, fresh from an internship in pediatrics and a year of residency in internal medicine, was sent to England to work with Thomas Lewis. Lewis was widely recognized as a leading investigator in the field of cardiac physiology. His pioneer experiments with the electrocardiograph, invented 10 years earlier by William Einthoven, explored its potential as a diagnostic tool. During his tenure as chief of the Cardiac Unit at Massachusetts General Hospital, the first unit of its kind in the United States, Dr. White published over 400 papers that covered the entire range of cardiology. He helped establish the American Heart Association in 1924 and served as executive director of the National Advisory Heart Council to oversee creation of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Dr. White was succeeded as chief of cardiology by Dr. Edward F. Bland. Dr. Bland, a senior member of the unit, led a group of staff members who were known for their clinical expertise. They introduced the new diagnostic modality, cardiac catheterization, in 1949, and together with cardiac surgeon J. Gordon Scannell, placed the institution at the forefront of treating valvular and congenital heart disease.
In 1964 Dr. Bland was succeeded as chief by Dr. Edgar Haber, who established Massachusetts General Hospital as the leader in fundamental investigation. His research in protein chemistry at the NIH was an essential component of the work for which Christian Anfinsen, Bland’s mentor, was awarded the Nobel Prize. Dr. Haber studied immunoglobulins and recognized the early the power of monoclonal reagents, which he also applied to the clinical arena. He pioneered the use of anti-Digoxin antibodies as diagnostic and therapeutic tools, and antibodies to myofibrillar components for nuclear scans.
In 1991 Dr. Valentin D. Fuster was appointed the fourth chief of cardiology. He was accomplished in both clinical and research cardiology and introduced an academic practice plan to Mass General. Dr. Fuster opened the cardiac access unit, which strengthened patient care by emphasizing bedside teaching for fellows.
Dr. Arthur E. Weyman became the fifth chief of cardiology in 1994, and previously served for fourteen years as the director of the echocardiography laboratory at Mass General. Dr. Weyman’s work has helped create the current acceptance of echocardiography as the preferred technique for noninvasive diagnosis of heart disease, and his textbook, Principles and Practice of Echocardiography, is a standard in the field.
Dr. Mark C. Fishman became the sixth chief of cardiology in 1998. Dr. Fishman had trained in medicine and cardiology at Mass General, and in genetics and developmental biology at the NIH and Harvard Genetics Department. In 1990 Dr. Fishman founded and became the first director of the Mass General Cardiovascular Research Center, which brought laboratory scientists from around the world to Mass General. He also introduced the genetic organism, the zebrafish, to study the heart and vessel development. The Cardiovascular Research Center is now a prominent fundamental science institute and an integral part of research within Mass General’s Cardiology Division.
Dr. G. William Dec assumed the role of chief of cardiology in 2003. He is a nationally recognized expert in cardiomyopathies and previously directed the Heart Failure and Transplantation Program at the Mass General Corrigan Minehan Heart Center. He has helped focus clinical and research efforts on mechanical circulatory support, gene therapy and cellular transplantation for the failing heart. Under his leadership, clinical and investigative programs continue to grow.
Clinicians within the Cardiology Division at Mass General are making revolutionary contributions to the field, and fellows are at the center of these advances. Our physicians strive to help fellows enjoy the program and participate in the distinguished learning that that characterizes cardiology at Mass General.
Mass General is the #1 Research Hospital in America and the only hospital to be recognized in all 16 specialties assessed by U.S. News & World Report.
As part of the largest teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School, we train residents, fellows and current providers in innovative therapies.
Emily Lau, MD, is a member of the class of 2021 in the Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship Program at Massachusetts General Hospital. Dr. Lau shares what drew her to Mass General, the culture of the program and her experience as a trainee during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) is announcing two first-of-their-kind procedures in New England today, to treat one of the most common forms of heart valve disease.
Data from the first COVID-19 patients treated at three large Massachusetts hospitals reveal important trends, including disproportionate representation of vulnerable populations, high rates of disease-related complications, and the need for post-discharge, post-acute care and monitoring.
As the initial surge of the COVID-19 pandemic subsides, Massachusetts General Hospital leaders are discussing the transition to strategies for recovery and wellness.
A team led by investigators at Mass General and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard recently found that applying “polygenic risk scores” can identify at-risk patients who are not presently identified through standard clinical evaluations.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Mass General Corrigan Minehan Heart Center is providing general and surgical care for our patients. We have taken unprecedented steps to ensure all office visits, procedures and surgeries are welcoming and safe. We have also expanded our virtual visit offerings.
Call us to learn more, or request an appointment online.
