Author: [AUTHOR] Published on 6/1/2022 12:00:00 AM

Wilbert S. Aronow, MD, Professor of Medicine, New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York, and Director of Cardiology Research, Department of Cardiology, Westchester Medical Center, Valhalla, New York

Who Has Inspired You in Your Career?
I graduated from Harvard Medical School in 1957 and was inspired by the outstanding teachers and researchers there to have a career dedicated to teaching and research in addition to providing excellent clinical care. I spent a one-month elective with Dr. Paul Dudley White at the Massachusetts General Hospital, who greatly impressed me. Dr. Louis N. Katz was the chief of my cardiology training program, and he inspired me to do research.

What Was Your Childhood Dream Job?
When I was in high school, I watched my father die at home from metastatic colon cancer for 2 years. I was determined then to become a physician and do research on preventing illness.

Do You Have a Favorite Tip or Trick for Clinical Practice or Research That You Want to Share With Fellow Members?
I try to encourage all of my trainees to be the best they can be in clinical practice, teaching, and research. I am available for them seven days a week and 24 hours a day. They can work with me at my home on weekends or nights. I teach them how to do research and how to critically review a paper. I teach them that negative results are just as important as positive results. Data count more than the hypothesis. I am always available for present and previous trainees to help them.

How Do You Keep Focused and Motivated?
I keep focused and motivated to work full time at the age of 90 years because I enjoy training physicians to be excellent physicians, teachers, and researchers. Nothing is more enjoyable than seeing my trainees flourish in whatever they do. The professional accomplishment I am most proud of is that I have mentored more than 1,000 cardiology fellows (n = 266), other trainees (n = 633), and numerous junior faculty for papers that are listed in PubMed.

Dr. Aronow has been a member of ASCPT since 1971.