Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Vice President of Guatemala

As I pulled in to my parking space at work on Monday morning, listening to to the local PBS radio station as usual, and just as I reached to turn off the engine and pull out my keys I heard something being said about a former cardiothoracic surgeon from Houston's Methodist Hospital. So of course I stopped to listen, was this something being said about any of the surgeons that I used to work with? The news went on about how this former surgeon was being inaugurated as the vice president of Guatemala. I missed the name... So of course I went into my office and immediately googled the news. It was good news!
The man that I have respected and admired for twenty two years is now the VP of his home country. This gentleman that I spent many a night in the operating room in the late eighties doing heart transplants with is now VP of Guatemala. This gentleman with a charismatic personality and a very quick engaging smile has given up surgery to try to heal his country.
I have not seen Dr. Rafael Espada for a few years, well actually about 15 years, but I can still hear his voice and see his smile and I remember his great "bedside" manner and his commitment to his patients and his respect for all of us that worked with him.
Dr. Espada, I congratulate you and wish you well in this new and exciting, and I imagine grueling role that you have taken on. Your country is fortunate to have you.