March 26th, 2012

An Inspiring Run

Several Cardiology Fellows who are attending ACC.12 this week are blogging together on CardioExchange.  The Fellows include Tariq AhmadBill CornwellMegan CoylewrightJeremiah Depta, and John Ryan (moderator). Read the previous post here. Read the next one here.

Hats off to everyone who made it out for the CardioSmart 5K run this morning!  I wish I could say it was a morning typical of my hometown of Dallas TX — sun shining, probably 70 degrees, maybe a few clouds.  If only….

In reality, it was about 35 degrees, strong winds made worse by the lakefront course.  If that weren’t enough, crashing waves along the waterfront spilled over onto the path, showering some poor souls who were already at their wits’ end with the weather. Fortunately the sleet waited until the race was nearly over. Despite all that, the 5K run was a great time. Several hundred of our colleagues and friends made it out, and thanks to the ACC for organizing the run.

The run was dedicated to the memory of a past ACC president, Dr. Henry McIntosh. What an inspiration this man was, and continues to be, to fellows in training and cardiologists across the country.  He voluntarily left medical school during World War II to join the US Parachute Infantry Office and was decorated for his service.  His contributions to medicine and society in general are too many to count, but one notable accomplishment was the creation of Heartbeat International, whose purpose is to provide pacemakers to indigent people throughout the world. As of 2009, over 9,000 people benefited from this organization. After formally retiring from medicine, he began volunteering for uninsured patients near his home in Florida.  Dr. McIntosh truly was a great man — a good man, an inspiration for us all, and fitting that the race was named in his honor.

Thanks again to the ACC for putting on the 5K.

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