It’s interesting.

The more I talk to patients and caregivers… The more I realize they either love their heart surgeon or they don’t. There is very little gray area. I have yet to meet a patient who says, “Ehh… My surgeon was, well, umm, okay.”

Yes… I am taking this opportunity to remind everyone how critical your surgeon research and due diligence is. Remember, I want you to feel incredibly confident when you are rolled into the operating room. On that note, here is a glowing caregiver review of Dr. Jack Copeland ^[1] (pictured below) – the Chief of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, from the Sarver Heart Center in Arizona. Gwendolyn writes to me:

Dear Adam -

I just wanted to thank you for the information I received from your heart valve book ^[2]. My son Michael, 20, was operated on for an aortic valve replacement ^[3] on October 1, 2008. Michael chose the On-X mechanical valve ^[4]. The only down side is Coumadin use ^[5] – unless the studies show it’s not needed in the future.

The surgeon we used was Dr. Jack Copeland, from Sarver Heart Center in Arizona. What an angel!!! Dr. Copeland’s list of accomplishments in the world of cardiac surgery is mind-blowing. For example, Dr. Copeland won the Barney Clark Award ^[6].

If anyone from Arizona ever contacts you, please tell them the Sarver Heart Center is above and beyond for patient care. This was Michael’s second open heart surgery. Needless to say, the patient experience with Doctor Jack Copeland and Sarver was much better that the last operation in Boston.

Thanks again!

And… Keep on tickin!

Gwendolyn