Eugene Braunwald and the Rise of Modern Medicine.

Much of the improved survival rate from heart attack can be traced to Eugene Braunwald's work. He proved that myocardial infarction was an hours-long dynamic process which could be altered by treatment. Thomas H. Lee tells the life story of a physician whose activist approach transformed not just cardiology but the culture of American medicine. Main Description:Since the 1950s, the death rate from heart attacks has plunged from 35 percent to about 5 percent?and fatalistic attitudes toward this disease and many others have faded into history. Much of the improved survival and change in attitudes can be traced to the work of Eugene Braunwald, M.D. In the 1960s, he proved that myocardial infarction was not a "bolt from the blue" but a dynamic process that plays out over hours and thus could be altered by treatment. By redirecting cardiology from passive, risk-averse observation to active intervention, he helped transform not just his own field but the culture of American medicine. Braunwald?s personal story demonstrates how the forces of history affected the generation of researchers responsible for so many medical advances in the second half of the twentieth century. In 1938 Nazi occupiers forced his family to flee Vienna for Brooklyn. Because of Jewish quotas in medical schools, he was the last person admitted to his class, but went on to graduate number one. When the Doctor Draft threatened to interrupt his medical training during the Korean War, he joined the National Institutes of Health instead of the Navy, and there he began the research that made him the most influential cardiologist of his time. In Eugene Braunwald and the Rise of Modern Medicine, Thomas H. Lee offers insights that only authoritative firsthand interviews can provide, to bring us closer to this iconic figure in modern medicine Contents Preface Introduction: The Window 1. Flight from Europe, 1929–1939 2. An American Education, 1939–1948 3. Medical Education and Training, 1948–1952 4. Internship and Research at Mount Sinai and Bellevue, 1952–1955 5. Clinical Associate at the NIH, 1955–1957 6. Johns Hopkins Hospital, 1957–1958 7. The “Golden Years” at the NIH, 1958–1968 8. Building a Medical School in San Diego, 1968–1972 9. Rebuilding the Brigham, 1972–1980 10. Growth and Integration, 1980–1996 11. Research in Evolution 12. Textbooks and Education in Evolution 13. The Still Years Appendix: Impact on the Field Notes Index Flight From Europe, 1929-1939 -- An American Education, 1939-1948 -- Medical Education And Training, 1948-1952 -- Internship And Research, 1952-1955 -- Clinical Associate At The Nih , 1955-1957 -- Johns Hopkins Hospital, 1957-1958 -- The Golden Years, At The Nih, 1958-1968 -- Building A Medical School In San Diego, 1968-1972 -- Rebuilding The Brigham, 1972-1980 -- Growth And Integration, 1980-1996 -- Research In Evolution -- Textbooks And Education In Evolution -- The Still Years. Thomas H. Lee. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Flight from Europe, 1929-1939 An American education, 1939-1948 Medical education and training, 1948-1952 Internship and research, 1952-1955 National Institutes of Health : clinical associate, 1955-1957 Johns Hopkins Hospital, 1957-1958 NIH II : "the golden years," 1958-1968 San Diego : building a medical school, 1968-1972 Rebuilding the Brigham, 1972-1980 Growth and evolution, 1980-1996 Research in evolution Textbooks and the evolution of learning The still years. Much of the improved survival rate from heart attack can be traced to Eugene Braunwald's work. He proved that myocardial infarction was an hours-long dynamic process which could be altered by treatment. The author tells the life story of a physician whose activist approach transformed not just cardiology but the culture of American medicine