The Science of Peace
The Movement of Chest Pain Centers and the Shift to Early Symptom Recognition of Ischemic Heart Disease
The Science of Peace Movement - Paul Dudley White , MD was considered the "Father of Cardiology" in the United States. Dr. White was known not only in cardiology, but was respected and revered throughout the world. He was the ambassador not only for cardiology but also for good will and peace and his name became a household word. Although he was a cardiologist and forever maintained a crusade against heart disease, he felt strongly that this was not enough. In 1971 he wrote, "For many years, I have treasured the idea.......that physicians of all Nations.......might bring together not only their colleagues in a united crusade against disease, but multitudes of patients, to promote international friendship and thereby world peace.......the real science of peace is long overdue. It is my profound hope that I have contributed in some small measure to its coming."
Dr. White was trying to use the power of medicine to promote international fellowship and friendship and from its very goodness bring about world peace. It was as a result of his efforts that the 10th World Congress of Cardiology held in Washington, DC in 1986 was dedicated to world peace. This was the 100th anniversary of Paul Dudley White's birth. Unfortunately, he died in 1973 at the age of 87.
(B) In 1984 the Heartbeat International Foundation was established to supply needed pacemakers throughout the world for those who otherwise would not have received this medical breakthrough. The Heartbeat International Foundation was a brainstorm of Dr. Henry McIntosh and was established to supply needed pacemakers. It was though Dr. McIntosh's personal commitment and tireless energy that this became a success through the support supplied by the Industry of American Pacemakers and the Rotary International Foundation. The mission of the Rotary organization has been dedicated to health, hungry, and humanity...... Programs that would ultimately bring us world peace.
In an article reprinted from "The Transactions in the American Clinical and Climatological Association, 1986" Dr. McIntosh challenged all of us when he stated that similar opportunities lie out there for other physicians to grasp and thereby use medicine to foster peace and international understanding.......opportunities that would allow us to pursue leading to Dr. Paul Dudley White's "science of peace"....... or as Dr. McIntosh so eloquently phrased, "to pay the rent for the right to live".
(C) The first Chest Pain Center in the world was put together at St. Agnes Hospital, Baltimore, MD in 1981. Serendipitously this happens to be the first and only Paul Dudley White Coronary Care System in the world. Since its inception it has progressed to the point that it now promotes worldwide awareness of early symptom recognition that allows intervention to bring about prevention (EHAC). 1200 Chest Pain Centers have now developed within the United States. Not only are these centers developing within the United States but are developing throughout the world. As a result of this, The Paul Dudley White (Early Heart Attack Awareness) Prevention Foundation is now a member of the Inter American Heart Foundation. It was through this group that EHAC awareness strategy was presented recently to the XII World Congress in Brazil 1998. It was during this meeting that we introduced to Dr. Mario Maranhao the President-elect of the World Heart Federation the Strategy of EHAC. He is now committed to this Early Heart Attack Prevention Program and plans to put together an EHAC task force for the world. Serendipitously it connects acute prevention with primary (risk factor) prevention espoused by Dr. Paul Dudley White. If this linkage can be accomplished, it would mean that the profound last sentence in Dr. White's treasured thoughts might be about to take place. "It is my profound hope that I have contributed in some small measure to its coming."
In this movement toward the Science of Peace, there is no finer way to guide us then to recite the story of James P. Grant the former executive director of UNICEF who succumbed to cancer in January of 1995 at age of 72. James Grant approached his mission with the resolve of a General.......every waking moment was spent fighting for his cause. Colleagues remembered how Grant always traveled with just one carry on bag, even if he were going away for a month because he didn't want to waste time waiting for his luggage. He had a war to win against poverty, disease, and malnutrition. Shortly before Grant died and undoubtedly knowing what was to come, he asked to be read the concluding paragraph of the 1995 "State of the World's Children". It contained his favorite quote from George Bernard Shaw:
| "This is the true joy in life....... the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as the mighty one. I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community...... and as long as I live it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can...... Life is not a brief candle to me....... It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got hold of for the moment and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it to future generations." |
It is with this spirit that Dr. White passed the torch to us and we have the obligation to carry it forth using the power of medicine and heart attack prevention to promote international friendship and fellowship in bringing about world peace. It is also the same torch that William Parmley, MD, editor of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology talks about in his recent editorial.
Raymond D. Bahr, MD
President Emeritus
