From ECG to Odyssey: A Life in Academic Clinical Medicine

從心電圖到一個學術臨床醫學的旅程

From ECG to Odyssey: A Life in Academic Clinical Medicine

By Ruey Jen Sung

Preface

A physician’s journey begins with a spark. Mine ignited in 1968, ignited by the recognition of “cryptococcal meningitis” in a young patient, earning me the “Intern of the Year” award even before graduation. It was the electrocardiogram (ECG), however, that truly captivated me, its elegant tracings unveiling the intricacies of the heart and its ailments. This fascination propelled me down the path of internal medicine, cardiology, and, ultimately, the fascinating realm of clinical cardiac electrophysiology.

Willem Einthoven’s invention, the ECG, revolutionized cardiac diagnosis. Building upon this foundation, W. Proctor Harvey’s “five-finger approach” – history, physical examination, ECG, chest X-ray, and lab tests – became my guiding principle. While history remains paramount, the readily obtainable ECG proved essential for my initial assessments.

ECG Cases

It illustrates my thinking process when I look at the ECG during my initial workup of the patient. I hope you find it helpful in taking care of your patients.

Inspirational images

It displays photographic images of art and the beauty of nature that resonate with positive thinking about life, encouraging medical students and young physicians never to give up pursuing their dreams. 

Unchartered Journey

It describes my unchartered academic career from becoming an internist, cardiologist, and clinical electrophysiologist to a medical educator in different stages before retirement.

ECG Cases

It illustrates my thinking process when I look at the ECG during my initial workup of the patient. I hope you find it helpful in taking care of your patients.

Inspirational images

It displays photographic images of art and the beauty of nature that resonate with positive thinking about life, encouraging medical students and young physicians never to give up pursuing their dreams. 

Unchartered Journey

It describes my unchartered academic career from becoming an internist, cardiologist, and clinical electrophysiologist to a medical educator in different stages before retirement.

Contact

If you have further questions or have interesting ECGs that you would like to share with us, please email me.