First post

I really don't know where this project will go...

Those of you who know me know that I think too much about a lot of things.  In the privacy of my own narrow circle, the fair warning is that everyone is entitled to my opinion.  In my defense, I don't require that you subscribe to it or believe it.  

My analyses are far from perfect.  My opinions have sometimes changed with new data.  I have had my biases challenged and I have been wrong.   So, to those whose opinions I value who said, "well, why don't you write it down somewhere!"  Here is my attempt...

A little about me and my specialty:

I am a pediatric cardiologist in Northern California.  My practice is located in multiple offices in the greater San Francisco Bay Area as well as the Central Valley.

Pediatric Cardiology is a sub-specialty of Pediatrics which has within it sub-sub-specialties such as Interventional Catheterization, Electrophysiology, Advanced Imaging, Critical Care and Heart Failure/Transplant to name the major ones.  Cardiologists are intimately tied to their cardiothoracic surgeons.  There are relatively few Pediatric Cardiologists in practice compared to other specialists, but we are numerous when compared to pediatric cardiothoracic surgeons.  On top of that, there are only a handful of these surgeons renowned among the narrow circles of these two specialities as truly gifted who have made significant contributions to both our specialties.  These surgeons perform the intricate and delicate work that is required to treat children with complex heart defects.  The techniques and technology that allows these children to survive and thrive have been pioneered over the past 70 years, but have accelerated their pace in the past 25 years to allow children with lesions previously thought irreparable or universally lethal to live.

My interests are mostly in imaging including fetal and transesophageal echocardiography as well as cardiac magnetic resonance.  I also do work in cardiac critical care in my practice.

Outside of cardiology, I have a deep interest in applications of technology to medicine and everyday life in general.  I don't really have a favorite platform or OS.  I think there are particular strengths in each.  I am always eager to test new hardware or their applications.  I get a lot of flak for trying new things that add minutes (or hours) to workflow in search of future time/effort savings.

This is merely intended as a forum for my views.  I don't intend any offense and there is no malice behind them.  I hope they stimulate some more thinking and discussion.   Thank you for your time and attention.