I was always interested in medicine, and exposed to it at a young age. I used to accompany my father into the operating room when I was still in grade school to watch him perform surgeries (yes, they used to let surgeons do that). Growing up around hospitals, doctor’s offices and the old-fashioned smell of antiseptic, I found that it was a natural fit for me to assume the role of a health care provider.
Patient care is important to me. Many of the life lessons that I apply to my practice as a physician I learned from my family and community when I was a little kid. Listen carefully and respectfully. Offer to help. Take responsibility. Be kind to other people, and be sensitive to their needs. Communicate clearly. I have learned a lot about health and illness in my years of practicing pediatric cardiology, but I still remind myself of these basic principles every day on my way to work.
John K. Triedman | Publications
I first learned about the field of pediatric cardiology when I heard a lecture about congenital heart disease early in medical school given by the famous pediatric cardiac surgeon, Dr. Aldo Castaneda. Seven years later, I was a fellow in the Department of Cardiology at Boston Children’s Hospital working with him, and other amazing mentors such as Drs. Barry Keane, James Lock, David Wessel and many others. Since then, I have been fortunate to have opportunities to contribute in many aspects of pediatric cardiology, including patient care, academic research, the development of new procedures in treatment of arrhythmia, and the organization and teaching of cardiac care around the United States and globally. I have also had the honor of assuming leadership roles over my years in practice in the Pediatric and Congenital Electrophysiology Society, the Heart Rhythm Society, and the NIH Pediatric Heart Network. Together with my colleagues, I believe we have built here at Boston Children’s one of the finest and most advanced programs in the world in our particular subspecialty of “EP” – the diagnosis and treatment of heart rhythm problems in children and in congenital heart patients.
