Funds at Work

Stancel M. Riley, Jr., M.D.
Huntsville Cardiothoracic Surgeons

Although it seems cliché, Harvard was life-changing. The courses were transformative: Samantha Power’s Human Rights, Ron Heifetz’s Leadership, Ken Winston’s Ethics, Joe Newhouse’s Economics of Healthcare, Kathy Swartz’s Health Care Planning and Regulation, Lucian Leape’s Quality Improvement, not only gave important information, but altered my thought process about the most pressing problems facing US healthcare. Being in courses taught by the foremost experts in the country was daunting, but forming relationships with them gives invaluable resources for future problem-solving. This touches on one of the 3 major advantages of being at Harvard-relationships.

Communication is another. Learning to study and interact with groups of students, communicating clearly and concisely ideas with others were important lessons. Certainly, the importance of group success was different from the individual achievement focus of medical school and residency. These are lessons essential for teamwork as a central premise of patientcentered quality care.

Lastly, community is the benefit of Harvard. The fellowship of graduates of the Thoracic Surgery Foundation for Research and Education (TSFRE) Scholarship has proven to be an invaluable resource. Community is so different from functioning as an independent cardiac surgeon; connecting with Paul Uhlig, learning his team approach to cardiac surgery, has given me a focus not previously imagined for my future goals.

---

Peter P. McKeown, M.B., B.S., F.R.A.C.S., F.A.C.S., F.R.C.S.C., M.B.A., M.P.A., M.P.H.
Director of Surgery, Asheville VAMC Consulting Professor of Surgery, Duke University

From 1997 until 1999 I had the unique opportunity to attend both the Kennedy School of Government and the School of Public Health at Harvard University. This opportunity would not have been possible without the generous support and encouragement provided by the Thoracic Surgery Foundation for Research and Education (TSFRE). It would be superficial and superfluous to say that the TSFRE allowed me to obtain an MPA (Masters in Public Administration) and an MPH (Masters in Public Health) from one of the preeminent academic institutions in the world. The reality is that I obtained a perspective on life, medicine and leadership that has had both a defined and an immeasurable impact on, not only me, but also those around me, and especially the patients for whom I am directly and indirectly responsible.

The year at Harvard was like a time out part way through the second half, where one could reassess the game of life and modify the strategy based on the advice of some of the greatest coaches available, before the whistle blew again. The whistle has blown and the game is on.

I will be forever grateful to all those individuals who had the foresight and generosity to support the TSFRE and my sabbatical at Harvard. I thank you all sincerely for making it possible.