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René Gerónimo Favaloro prided himself on being a "simple country doctor." Born in La Plata, Argentina, Dr. Favaloro had an interest in Argentina's sociopolitical and healthcare systems beginning at a young age. He began his medical education at La Universidad Nacional de La Plata, graduating in 1949 with plans to continue his medical education in the field of surgery; however, in 1950, Dr. Favaloro temporarily resigned from his position as a surgeon to work as a country doctor in a small province of La Pampa, Argentina. It was during this time that Dr. Favaloro became acutely aware of the overwhelmingly poor state of the healthcare system in Argentina. In 1962, Dr. Favaloro redirected his focus back to his surgical interests and moved to the United States to work at the Cleveland Clinic, where he discovered the use of the saphenous vein graftfor revascularization of the coronary arteries. Despite a productive medical career in the United States, Dr. Favaloro eventually brought his work back to Argentina, where his heart had always remained. Throughout the incredible milestones of his life, Dr. René Gerónimo Favaloro consistently remained a humble, gracious, and simple country doctor.
RENÉ GERÓNIMO FAVALORO always proudly referred to himself as a simple country doctor (Fig. 1).1 Even after he dramatically altered the future of cardiothoracic and vascular surgery, he found it hard to see himself any other way. René Favaloro was born on July 14, 1923, in an impoverished neighborhood in La Plata, Argentina. His father, Juan B. Favaloro, was a carpenter, and his mother, Ida Y. Raffaelli, was a dressmaker. Growing up in La Plata with his proud Argentinian family, René was raised to maintain a love for his country.2 He took interest in the sociopolitical and healthcare systems in Argentina from a young age, carrying this interest with him throughout his career.3 It was his awareness of and struggles with the healthcare system in Argentina that ultimately led to his death.
Dr. Favaloro's interest in medicine stemmed from his close relationship with his uncle, a general practitioner in La Plata.2 As a young boy, Favaloro would go on rounds with his uncle in their neighborhood.3 As he matured, his interest in medicine never wavered. After graduating from Colegio Nacional de La Plata...