Carl Michael Valentine, MD, is a coronary heart illness (cardiovascular) specialist with UVA Health. A graduate of UVA’s School of Medicine, Valentine has additionally served as president of the American College of Cardiology.
We requested Carl “Mike” Valentine our 7 fast questions.
1. What has most impressed and formed your method to affected person care?
I’ve been extremely lucky as I used to be studying drugs to have fantastic mentors. One of my first mentors right here was Dr. Lewis Barnett, who was the top of household drugs. He was a compassionate, sort, loving particular person who taught me affected person care on the bedside and find out how to actually hearken to sufferers. I additionally had unbelievable mentors in cardiology like Dr. Jim Dove, Rick Gazel, Pam Douglas at Duke, and lots of others who guided me and walked with me alongside the way in which. They’ve helped me be taught what it was prefer to undergo the robust occasions and turn out to be a greater chief, a greater physician, and a greater doctor all the way in which round.
And final, after all, could be my dad. He was a really sort and compassionate doctor. He was quiet, a “quiet large” as we mentioned, and he taught me lots of my early classes about drugs, like what it meant to maintain the entire affected person and find out how to be there for the affected person once they want you essentially the most.
2. What’s your favourite a part of your job?
Taking care of sufferers every day. Being capable of hear their tales, discovering out the place they arrive from and what they’re doing, and what worries them essentially the most. Being capable of give them consolation and, hopefully, kindness and sensible recommendation in order that they’ll higher maintain themselves.
3. What’s your greatest worry if you’re a affected person?
That I will not get to ask the questions that make me fear essentially the most. So usually I ask sufferers, “If you had three questions that you just needed answered earlier than you left this room, what would they be?” Because I wish to ensure that’s what if you stroll out the door.
4. What do you do for stress aid?
I train daily, at the least 5 occasions per week. I play golf, fly fish, hike – I do something I can to get exterior.
5. Dogs or Cats?
Dogs. I’m an actual canine particular person. I’ve had canine my complete life. Unfortunately, we needed to bury our canine, Sam, at age 16 a few years in the past, and it was an enormous loss for us.
Worried About Your Heart?
The cardiovascular specialists at UVA Health can reply questions and take a look at your coronary heart.
6. What’s the final film you noticed? Thumbs up or down?
Wow. I have never seen any motion pictures not too long ago. But the one factor that I’ve needed to look at is the most recent season of Succession.
7. What’s the most effective recommendation that you just’ve ever heard?
The greatest recommendation that I’ve ever heard is to stay every day so that you just make a distinction in another person’s life – that you’re sort, compassionate, and listening, with the intention to be the most effective good friend that anyone ever had.