Cath Lab DigestMy Last Day in the Cath Lab: A Personal Reflection

Veteran interventional cardiologist Dr. Morton Kern retires after 40+ years, chronicling cath lab evolution from basic right heart caths in 1979 to today’s transcatheter valve replacements, mechanical support devices, and routine coronary physiology. His Cardiac Catheterization Handbook, first published 1991, reached 8th edition in 2025, a testament to the field’s continuous transformation.

📚 PROFESSIONAL SIGNIFICANCE

• Field transformation documented firsthand: 1979 fellows observed cases 6 weeks before touching patients; today’s trainees perform complex structural interventions immediately
• Teaching handbook evolved with technology: Original 1991 manual predated stents, STEMI protocols, FFR, and structural heart interventions—all now routine practice
• Team-based culture emphasized throughout: Cardiac catheterization evolved from physician-centered procedure to collaborative team sport requiring nurses, techs, fellows coordination
• “Fall in love with concepts, not techniques” principle remains relevant as specific technologies (coronary sinus thermodilution, Doppler catheters) continuously replaced by newer methods

💡 CAREER DEVELOPMENT APPLICATIONS

• Recognize that today’s cutting-edge techniques will be obsolete within your career span
• Cultivate teaching skills—best learning method is explaining concepts to trainees and team
• Document institutional knowledge through handbooks, protocols, or digital resources for continuity
• Prioritize team culture and psychological safety over technical virtuosity in lab leadership

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