Harold J.C. (Jeremy) Swan, MD, PhD (1923–2005)

Abstract

Our editorial space in this issue is devoted to remembering a giant in the field of cardiovascular medicine who died earlier this year. Dr. Swan made monumental contributions that radically altered the management of patients with heart and vascular disease and continue to beneficially influence the practice of cardiology today. Dr. Swan's name is repeated daily in critical care settings in relation, of course, to the catheter that he and his colleague, Dr. William Ganz, developed to provide continuous, bedside hemodynamic monitoring. The availability of quantitative hemodynamic assessment afforded new understanding of circulatory function in critically ill patients and ushered in the era of rational, physiologically based cardioactive drug therapy. Although best remembered for the Swan-Ganz catheter, his scientific contributions are extensive and have been recognized by numerous major citations, including the Distinguished Scientific Achievement Award of the American College of Cardiology and awards by the American Heart Association, the British Medical Association, the American College of Chest Physicians, and the State of Israel. A past president of the American College of Cardiology, Dr. Swan is credited with developing the outstanding Division of Cardiology at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, which he led for 22 years. His leadership is reflected by the many outstanding cardiologists he mentored during his fruitful period at the Mayo Clinic (14 years), to which he came from his native Ireland, and his highly productive scientific and personal leadership at Cedars Sinai. During the latter part of his career, Dr. Swan was a thought leader on the importance of preventive cardiology and was a past Chair of the Preventive Cardiology Committee of the American College of Cardiology. Through his association with this Journal, with which he was a member of the founding editorial board, I had the privilege of personally experiencing his wisdom, insight, and generous support. We are, indeed, very fortunate to have his unique perspectives in his contribution to the Journal.1, 2 Although he is no longer with us, Dr. Swan left his positive, indelible mark on cardiovascular medicine and on all of us who strive to reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease.