The path of an early career physician and scientist in cardiac electrophysiology

My curiosity in the art and science of healing was aroused during my early childhood in Kolkata, India. Because of a family dedicated to medicine, I was privileged to observe and engage in this family tradition of social responsibility. Unlike India, the United States is a country with a great technological apparatus. However, what good is technology if it cannot address the needs of individuals? I consider myself extremely lucky to have experienced life in both countries. Thus, I can appreciate our many opportunities while paying heed to my roots. Since an early age (Figure), I was fortunate to work alongside physician and scientists in cardiac electrophysiology who taught me to address problems linking the clinical and basic sciences. My first exposure to clinical electrophysiology research on sudden cardiac death was through a High School Scholars program (after school, holidays, and weekends) at NYU ([New York University] mentors: Larry A. Chinitz, MD; David Schwartzman, MD). I continued to work under Dr Schwartzman’s mentorship at the University of Pennsylvania (1995–1998) on weekends and holidays while completing my undergraduate education at SUNY Stony Brook. Our in vitro and in vivo (swine, canine, and human) work on the biophysical mechanisms of catheter ablation of cardiac arrhythmias led to one of the first demonstrations of the clinical utility of intracardiac echocardiography for guiding ablation. Subsequently, I pursued a PhD at SUNY Stony Brook (mentor: James P. Dilger, PhD). My dissertation on the kinetics and thermodynamics of synaptic ligand-receptor interaction addressed a question originally posed by Dr Archibald V. Hill in 1909 on the Langmuir binding equation. At the same time, I enjoyed the chance to come full circle from bench to the bedside. Leveraging my PhD findings and earlier clinical research training, I designed two IRB (Institutional Review Board)approved studies at Stony Brook Hospital. These types of early experiences fostered my curiosity and led to personal and academic growth. Martial arts is another conduit through which I channeled my curiosity since childhood. Initially, I had trained for selfdefense and competition (Shihan Georges Aschkar Jr). I won several national and international tournaments and qualified for the USA World Karate Team (while completing my undergraduate education at SUNY Stony Brook). However, I have learned that this means little compared to the spiritual aspects. The actual goal of Martial arts does not lie in enhancement of the physical abilities of its participants but in the perfection of their character. It teaches us to approach the world with an open mind, to learn from every experience, and to live a life of humility. Some of my life’s principles were solidified during my investigation of this discipline. Many of my other principles have been instilled in me by one of my greatest heroes—my mother. Being raised primarily by her father—a chemist, she had strong desires to become a physician-scientist. She was always at the top of her class, scored the highest grades on board examinations, excelled in research, mastered the performing arts, and volunteered with Mother Teresa to serve the needy in the slums of Kolkata. However, unscrupulous politics in India challenged her principles. Instead of supporting a corrupt political group to pursue higher studies, she stood by her principles over personal goals but eventually was able to pursue a PhD in Psychology. To ensure that I would not have to face a similar situation, she brought me to the United States. If I have learned one lesson from my mother, it is that anything can be accomplished with proper determination. This principle was first tested during my family’s transition to this country. Although the financial and cultural adaptations were not easy, the real challenge manifested during high school when we were involved in a serious car accident that left my parents with permanent disabilities. In 2001, we were tested again by the 9/11 terrorist attack when my father barely escaped death in the second tower of the World Trade Center. My whole world was disarrayed and fragmented—I felt like a piece of paper caught in the whirlwind of a tornado, being bounced around by some unknown force, trying to land but only to fly higher moments later. However, it was this entropy that gave me a sense of purpose. It motivated me to search for opportunities until I established my niche. I made the transition from New York to Virginia to start medical school (2002–2006) under the mentorship of Dr Clive M. Baumgarten—an accomplished senior scientist who had extensive experience in mentoring physician-scientists in cardiac electrophysiology. Dr Baumgarten approached science with a creative vigor, rigor, and enthusiasm that I found contagious, fostering my natural instincts to question existing paradigms. I noticed that I often spent many more hours than I had budgeted discussing science, data, or questions on fundamental scientific principles. At the same time, I continued to seek an environment that stressed personal interaction and taught respect for the human condition. My efforts led to the development of the City of Joy Medical Education and Relief Project The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those of the editors or of the American Heart Association. From the Department of Medicine (Cardiology), University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, OH. Correspondence to Deeptankar DeMazumder, MD, PhD, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, 231 Albert Sabin Way, CVC 3923, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0542. Email [email protected] Trainees and Young Investigators Corner