Medical University of South Carolina
Congenital Heart Disease
Member Since: 1977
Biography:
Robert M Sade, MD, is Distinguished University Professor and Professor of Surgery at the Medical University of South Carolina. He trained in surgery at various Harvard teaching hospitals, finishing in pediatric cardiac surgery at the Boston Children's Hospital, where he served on the faculty for several years before moving to MUSC to create the Section of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery in 1975. At MUSC, he has served in several administrative capacities, including President of the Faculty Senate, President of the Professional Staff, Assistant and Associate Dean of the College of Medicine, Medical Director of the Extracorporeal Circulation Technology Program, and Medical Director of the Medical University Hospital. In 1994, he founded the MUSC Institute of Human Values in Health Care and served as Director of the Institute for 27 years.
Dr. Sade has published over 500 articles, book chapters, and books on research in cardiothoracic surgery, medical education, biomedical ethics, and health policy. He served as Medical Director of Sharing Hope, South Carolina's organ procurement organization, for 14 years and as Speaker of the House of Delegates of the South Carolina Medical Association for 6 years. He has held several leadership positions at the national level in the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, the American Association for Thoracic Surgery, and the Southern Thoracic Surgical Association. Dr. Sade has served on and chaired the AMA's Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs, the STS Standards and Ethics Committee, and the Ethics Committee of the AATS. He currently chairs the Cardiothoracic Ethics Forum of the STS-AATS, and serves as Associate Editor of the Annals of Thoracic Surgery and Associate Editor of the Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery.
What Does the AATS Mean to You:
The AATS is an important source of inspiration for me to aspire to the highest possible level of professional achievement and professionalism in cardiothoracic surgery.
My First Experience with AATS:
I attended my first meeting of the AATS 50 years ago, was impressed with the high quality of scholarship presented at the meeting, and was thrilled to be elected to membership in 1977.
Why I became an AATS member:
I viewed membership in the AATS as a symbol of excellence in cardiothoracic surgery and sought to produce scholarly work that brought me to a level worthy of membership.
The most impactful presentation I have seen at an AATS meeting:
Yolanda Colson's Presidential Address in 2023.
The first presentation I gave is:
My paper was "Diaphragmatic paralysis and eventration in infants" at the 65th Annual Meeting in New Orleans, in 1985.
The first paper I had published is:
3. Sade RM. Medical care as a right: A refutation. New England J Med 1971;285:1288-1292
I plan on becoming more involved in the organization through:
I'm already deeply involved in the CT Ethics Forum and JTCVS
Advice for Trainees:
You are entering one of the most rewarding fields of medicine, so work hard and plan to continue your education until the end of your career."
My career in CT Surgery was inspired by:
When I became chief resident for Aldo Castaneda at Boston Children's Hospital
The biggest impact my mentor had on my career is:
Dr. Castaneda persuaded me to specialize in pediatric cardiac surgery
The topic most important to advancing the field of CT Surgery is:
Continuing innovation
The most pressing issues impacting CT surgery are:
Interference by third parties with patient-surgeon relationship
Advice for Trainees:
You are entering one of the most rewarding fields of medicine, so work hard and plan to continue your education until the end of your career.