A Tribute to a Mentor: Fred Bove

This post was authored by Paul J. Mather, MD, FACC, director of the Advanced Heart Failure and Cardiac Transplant Center at the Jefferson Heart Institute in Philadelphia, PA. As in all cases who we are, and what we become, and what we end up doing is strongly influenced and shaped by the people around us. As health care providers we share privileged intimacies with patients that are unique and raw in their emotional intensity. As physicians our white coats grant us entrance into the realms of our patient’s darkest fears and dreads – a privileged position we inherit from the countless physicians who have preceded us in our profession and whose care and dedication created this atmosphere of trust. The philosopher Joseph Campbell asked us to “follow our bliss,” an idea he derived from the Upanishads. This bliss is shaped by the influences we encounter in our lives. Professional growth and development is one aspect of our lives that is most strongly influenced by our teachers and surroundings. Mentorship in medicine is the most profound guide for self-growth and helps us all “follow our bliss.” I have had the privilege of having Alfred (Fred) A. Bove, MD, PhD, MACC, as one of my mentors. The greatest thing I can say about Dr. Bove is that he is one of the most decent human beings I have ever met, and I would even want my own children to emulate him. He is an incredible scientist (patented researcher, engineer and publisher of numerous man...
Source: ACC in Touch Blog - Category: Cardiology Authors: Tags: Special Topics Source Type: blogs