A Brash, Politically Incorrect, Opinionated and Brilliant Friend
I met Mark for the first time over 30 years ago. I had completed my training only 1–2 years earlier and was amazed to discover that Mark was only a few years older than me. At that point, I had published one or two clinical research studies dealing with electrophysiology issues, whereas Mark already had established himself as a prolific investigator and a leader in the field of clinical cardiac electrophysiology. Hardly a month would go by without another study from Mark and his group at the University of Pennsylvania appearing in Circulation. His status as a pioneer in the field is undisputed. It is incredible to think back to how his early work shook up the cardiology community. I have a distinct memory of a debate that Mark had with a prominent icon in the field of electrocardiography and arrhythmia management at a national American Heart Association meeting in the late 1970s. Mark was quite literally and shockingly accused of advocating torture when he defended the practice of programmed ventricular stimulation to induce ventricular tachycardia. Perhaps to the dismay of this ‘expert’, Mark’s pioneering efforts were quickly adopted into standard clinical practice, as have many of his other contributions to the field.
Although Mark tragically is no longer with us, my strong memories of this brash, politically incorrect, opinionated and brilliant friend remain embedded in my mind.