The bright future of cardiothoracic surgery in the era of changing health care delivery: an update. 1996. Updated in 2007.

n W would like to first acknowledge and thank those individuals who have been so important in my life nd career, making it possible for me to be selected as our president, the highest honor that I have had betowed on me and one that I will always cherish and ope that I have fulfilled in a credible way. I would first ike to acknowledge my parents, Wilma and Fred, who aught me the importance of hard work, perseverance, onesty, integrity, common sense, and a sense of humor, ll coupled with a strong dose of humility. I particularly ant to thank my wife, Carol, for her tremendous suport, which actually began when we were both 15 and ad begun dating each other as sophomores in high chool. She has been with me through high school, ollege, medical school, and residency, and for my entire areer as a cardiothoracic surgeon. As everyone knows, eing married to a cardiothoracic surgeon isn’t the easist thing because of the obligations of our profession. I also want to acknowledge the support of our two sons, red Jr and Richard, who have been tremendously suportive of me and my career, understanding the time that t takes to be a conscientious cardiothoracic surgeon. I lso want to thank our daughters-in-law, Theresa and hristin, for all of their support, and our grandchildren, rooke, Keaton, and Lange, for the enjoyment they bring s. Part of what I will emphasize today is the importance f mentorship. In the book, Advisor, Teacher, Role Model, riend [1], it is noted that