Growing up in a medical family, I was constantly reminded that medicine is a pursuit of the heart more so than the mind. Dr. Romero has been the director and chief surgeon of Burn Center Viedma for over twenty years. Although he continues to explore and improve his craft, the dedication that has defined his tenure in such a traumatic and stressful position has undoubtedly been driven by his heart. At sixty-five years of age, he has obvious aches and pains. Currently he is unable to lift his left shoulder above forty-five degrees, suffers from gastric ulcers, and today was battling a bout of gastroenteritis. Even while vomiting between surgeries he refused to concede his position of responsibility. Following this morning’s procedures, one of which was a debridement of the third degree burns suffered by an eighteen month old baby, we found an exhausted and dehydrated Dr. Romero seated next to the child’s crib. Of all that Dr. Romero has taught Jason, Jim, and I over the past few weeks, perhaps the most significant lesson is further evidence that medicine truly is a pursuit of the heart.
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