Paul S. Teirstein, MD, Receives 2015 Master Operator Award

In recognition of his tireless efforts on behalf of patients and physicians, CRF has awarded Paul S. Teirstein, MD, the TCT 2015 Geoffrey O. Hartzler Master Clinical Operator Award. 

“It fills me with great pride to know my colleagues think so highly of me,” Teirstein told TCT Daily. “This award is also enormously special to me because it is named for Geoffrey Hartzler, MD, who was my most powerful and personal mentor.”

As Harztler’s first fellow, Teirstein says he learned both the craft of balloon angioplasty and a sense of professionalism. “Dr. Hartzler taught me how to be an expert in the cath lab and how to interact with patients and colleagues,” Teirstein said.

Today, Teirstein serves as chief of cardiology and director of interventional cardiology at Scripps Clinic in San Diego and medical director of the Scripps Prebys Cardiovascular Institute in La Jolla, Calif.

Numerous accomplishments noted 

According to Gregg W. Stone, MD, director of TCT, Teirstein embodies the qualities of the Hartzler award.

“Paul Teirstein is one of the most creative geniuses in the cath lab our field has ever known, and in that regard has followed brilliantly in the footsteps of Geoff Hartzler,” he said. “Paul is also a magnificent teacher, leading the Scripps live case demonstration courses for more than 2 decades and passing on his knowledge and insights to the world, again much as Geoff did.

“Finally, with Paul’s recent leadership in establishing new pathways for lifelong learning and accreditation, he is selflessly helping to redesign the institution of medicine itself, which will leave our profession in a better place,” Dr. Stone continued. “For these reasons, we all owe Paul a debt of gratitude, and bestowing upon him the Geoffrey O. Hartzler Master Operator Award is our modest way of acknowledging his contributions and saying ‘thank you.’”

Gary S. Mintz, MD, chief medical officer of CRF and managing co-director of TCT, described Hartzler as a giant in the field of interventional cardiology who was heavily responsible for expanding its reach beyond the initial work of Andreas Gruentzig, MD.

“Paul Teirstein embodies many of the principles behind the Hartzler award in terms of his technical skill, treatment of patients and teaching abilities,” Mintz said. “He is also a very upbeat and positive person.”

Ajay J. Kirtane, MD, SM, of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center, New York, N.Y., and co-director of TCT, said Teirstein is “like a folk hero” in the field.

“Scores of fellows can recall his talks on how to manage complications, with key tips and tricks on how to manage difficult situations always conveyed in humorous anecdotes,” Kirtane noted. “We at Columbia had the privilege of having him come to the cath lab several times a year, and it was always a highlight for us, given his warmth and enthusiasm.”

Roxana Mehran, MD, of Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, N.Y., and co-director of TCT, described the award as a “well-deserved honor for an incredibly thoughtful operator.

“I have known Paul for over 2 decades and have personally had the privilege of operating with him,” she continued. “His knowledge, care and true passion for our subspecialty are palpable with every move he makes in the cath lab. I have learned a tremendous amount from Paul and can honestly say that his technical skills, along with his acumen, make him the perfect candidate for this award.”

Mehran offered her congratulations, saying “Please know that your wonderful dad, Dr. Alvin Teirstein, is watching from above, so very proud of you as you follow in his footsteps in healing patients each and every day.”

Focused on the patient 

Among his many career accomplishments, Teirstein identifies patient care as the most significant to him.

“I strongly believe my primary purpose is to help individual patients,” Teirstein said. “To me, this means providing expertise and skill through my brain and hands, but it also means caring for patients with my heart. In every encounter, I try to communicate to patients that I will treat them as I would a family member.”

Teirstein credits his father, who was a busy pulmonologist, with instilling in him the importance of delivering quality care. “As a child, I would hear the way he spoke to patients and families on the phone,” he said. “It had quite an impact.”

Now, Teirstein is the one influencing the next generation of interventional cardiologists. In 1989, for example, he along with his first fellow, Patricia Aubanel, MD, founded the interventional cardiology training program at Scripps Clinic, which has allowed him to help shape the careers of trainees for years.

“These physicians are now all over the country passing the skillset, mindset and work ethic on to thousands of their own patients and students,” Teirstein said.

On the horizon 

Teirstein has earned wide recognition over the past 2 years for rallying physicians against the American Board of Internal Medicine’s new requirements for maintenance of certification (MOC). In addition to starting an anti-MOC petition, which has now garnered more than 22,000 signatures, he spearheaded the creation of a new credentialing body, the National Board of Physicians and Surgeons (NBPAS).

Going forward, Teirstein plans to maintain an active career treating patients and training fellows, while also accepting the additional administrative responsibilities that come with being president of the NBPAS.

“I am working hard to learn how to be as helpful as I can to patients, colleagues and hospital administrators,” he said. “I am also quite passionate about physician-led change. For me, this currently means redesigning and offering alternative avenues for lifelong learning. Like many physicians, I am gratified to find that our voices are being heard. I believe physicians can and should take back the leadership of medicine.”

More information about NBPAS can be found online at NBPAS.org.