Page 46 - midJersey Business - May 2015

Life Style

{ Ask a BUSY PERSON }

Describe your

morning routine.
At work by 6 a.m., then irst review

the electronic records of the inpatients
and pre-op patients scheduled for sur-

gery. Afterward, round on the patients
before being at the OR by 7:30 a.m.

What’s your favorite part of your job

and why?
Performing a complicated surgical

procedure with a well-trained team
that makes it look easy. This is where

all the less glamorous training, team
development, and preparation pays of.

How do you wind down Most people don’t know that I .
attheendofabusy
Wanted to be a pro baseball player

day or week?
(and was pretty close). Heart surgeon
I love to watch was my backup career.

movies that inspire
me to work harder If you could learn any skill,

and think bigger.
what would it be?
Become better at emotional
ROBERT POSTON, MD
What’s a perfect day?
intelligence.
Being with a group of

people accomplishing tasks far
If you could start over, what Department of Cardiovascular Surgery
more challenging than they ever would profession would you pursue?
St. Francis Medical Center

be able to as individuals simply be- I would still be a heart surgeon but
cause they’re all rowing the boat in the Robert Poston, MD, nationally known
would start my career utilizing the
for his work in the use of robotics for
same direction.
minimally invasive cardiac surgery, joined (technical, medical, interpersonal,

the department of cardiovascular surgery political, leadership) lessons learned
What’s your biggest pet peeve?
at St. Francis Medical Center. He received that I know now.
his medical degree at Johns Hopkins
People that jump to conclusions
without concern for obtaining other University Medical School and completed
his research fellowship in cardiothoracic
important parts of the story.
surgery at Stanford University School of
Medicine and his clinical cardiothoracic
What leisure activities occupy your residency at the University of Pittsburgh.
time away from the oice?
Prior to joining St. Francis, Dr. Poston was
I have no leisure activities after chief of the department of cardiothoracic
becoming a parent. Instead, I attend
surgery and a professor at the University of
the leisure activities of my kids (bas- Arizona College of Medicine.
What is the most valuable lesson
ketball, track, band concerts).
Dr. Poston is one of only a handful of you have learned?

cardiac surgeons in the nation to offer If you measure it, you can improve it.
robot-assisted minimally invasive coronary

bypass surgery. This procedure doesn’t Describe the characteristics of suc-
require the more conventional splitting of cessful professionals in your industry.
the sternum and results in less pain and
They are intensely passionate about
blood loss, a shorter hospital stay, fewer
complications, and faster return to normal their craft yet humble enough to have
activities. Dr. Poston plans to use the da deep personal connections with patients

Vinci Surgical Robot to perform proce- and gain the trust of hospital staf.
dures at St. Francis.

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