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W. Douglas Weaver, MD: Value of mentorship is 'sky high'
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An accomplished cardiologist, W. Douglas Weaver, MD, enjoys being a mentor, both in the medical field and, as a flight instructor, in the sky. He takes pleasure in the fact that mentoring has come full-circle for him because he has personally experienced the influence a mentor can have.
Weaver received his undergraduate degree from the University of Maine, his MD from Tufts University School of Medicine and his postgraduate training at the University of Washington. Today, he is Darin Chair of Cardiology and professor of medicine at Wayne State University and vice president and system medical director at the Heart and Vascular Institute at Henry Ford Health System.
His achievements are numerous, from national committee assignments to data and safety monitoring committees to trial investigations. One of his greatest achievements was having a hand in the development of automatic external defibrillators.
W. Douglas Weaver, MD
Darin Chair of Cardiology and Professor of Medicine, Wayne State University
Vice President and System Medical Director at the Heart and Vascular Institute, Henry Ford Health System
NCDR Management Board, American College of Cardiology
Payment Innovation Group, American Medical Association
Vice President, External Affairs, Henry Ford Health System
Member, Practice Management and Quality Care section of Cardiology Today's Editorial Board
What do you enjoy doing when you are not practicing medicine?
I am a flight instructor and enjoy teaching flying lessons. I love one-on-one teaching. It is rewarding and keeps me on my toes. I started flying 10 years ago, when a cardiologist friend suggested trying a flight demo. It was something I’d always wanted to do. During the last 7 years I’ve earned several certificates.
Flying is hard, but has taught me a lot about medicine. The Federal Aviation Administration has a great competency-based training program. To fly, you have to prove you are competent. The FAA also emphasizes the use of checklists during flight to reduce the impact of distractions. As surgeons, we get distracted all the time: as we’re prepping for surgery, writing research or just small talk. I am a big believer in check lists for medicine as well.
If you hadn’t gone into cardiology or medicine, what would you have done?
I really like to cook. I’ve always been interested in opening an upscale bistro.
What would you consider one of your biggest successes in your specialty?
My involvement and development of automatic external defibrillators while I was at the University of Washington in Seattle. I worked with manufacturers and engineers on a detection algorithm and helped with the design of the device.
I’ve also enjoyed participating in steering committees of global multicenter clinical trials for therapeutics for CVD.
What is the last book you read and why? What did you think of it?
The Catalyst, by Jeanne Liedtka. It is about creating and sustaining organic growth in a company, influencing others and building greatness in your organization. I enjoy self-improvement books; typically, they contain experiences of others. You can either make the same mistake or you can learn from what people have already done. I believe in the latter.
Whom do you most admire and what would you ask that person if you had 5 minutes with him/her?
One person is Alan R. Mulally, CEO of Ford Motor Company. He kept Ford Motor Company from going bankrupt and created a whole new product line. As an inspirational leader his style can change the atmosphere when he walks in a room. Angela Merkel, the Chancellor of Germany and party leader of the Christian Democratic Union, is another person I admire. She is holding Europe together through a financial crisis and managing her own country. She reaches beyond that border because she sees both the risk and the opportunities of having a united Europe. She would be an amazing person to spend time with. I wonder how she balances her own country’s needs vs. the others and I wonder what motivates her.
What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
As a freshman at the University of Maine, my advisor, William G. Valleau, a zoologist, asked me: “Doug, what do you plan to do with your life?” I told him I was unsure. He said, “You are going to be a doctor.” And, I became a doctor. He had an unbelievable influence on my life. Ten years ago, I wrote him and sent my CV and bibliography. He responded immediately: “Dear Doug, thanks so much for writing. I have trained so many doctors and so many PhDs.” The funny part was at the end: “By the way, there is a mistake on your bibliography.” As a student, I worked part-time with him in the lab; we published a paper and I didn’t cite it. It was my first citation. He sent me the publication and I put in my bibliography.
Whom do you consider your mentor?
Leonard A. Cobb, MD, a cardiologist at the University of Washington. He introduced me to the management of cardiac emergencies. He founded the 911 and paramedic system in this country. As a resident and fellow in training, I wrote several publications with Cobb. He said, “You don’t ever want to publish something that you have to retract as wrong, even if it means we have to do extra work.” I’ll never forget that and it still influences me today.
Weaver is also a flight instructor, a hobby that
has taught him a lot about medicine.
Photo courtesy of: W. Douglas Weaver, MD;
reprinted with permission
Another mentor is J. Ward Kennedy, MD, a cardiologist and a past president of the American College of Cardiology. He got me involved in the era of coronary reperfusion and treatments of MI when it was just beginning to change. He helped mentor my leadership style.
I see a lot of younger trainees and some of them never really had a powerful mentor. I can’t imagine what that would be like. Universities have become more research-oriented instead of teaching-oriented. The really bright teachers have less time to spend with residents and medical students. Just because there are fewer mentors, doesn’t mean there aren’t any — students just have to look a little harder to find one. That’s what one Wayne State University student did. He sought me out and I became a mentor to him, starting his involvement in research laboratories and he has since helped on projects written abstracts and papers. Now, he has been accepted by several great schools. I see that this has had a huge impact on his motivation. We’ve built a great relationship.
What kind of diet and exercise regimen do you follow?
My son, John, who is really into organic food, has influenced my diet over the past 2 years. I eat more vegetables and fewer animal fats now. I used to skip breakfast and drink 20 cups of coffee in the morning. Now I drink tea and eat breakfast every day. I find exercise really boring and need someone else around, so I go to the gym. I like being distracted by the 25 televisions and other people working out.
What do you think will have the biggest influence in cardiology in the next 10 years?
The further integration of cardiology practices with each other and with hospitals and health systems. These are going to be challenging years ahead for medicine. We are going to practice in a different way than we have in the past. I believe product development will also influence cardiology in the future. Almost all of the development of new medical devices, new cardiac devices and new pharmacological therapies is being done overseas. We have unbelievable intellectual horsepower in America, but our regulatory environment makes it too inefficient and too expensive to be done in our own country. We should be the innovators and I think right now we are losing that edge.
What is your favorite travel destination?
Italy. I love the people, the food, the wine.
What is your favorite restaurant?
Right now, Tallulah Wine Bar and Bistro in Birmingham, Mich., and Vinsetta Garage in Berkley, Mich., which is a filling station that was converted to a restaurant. It’s a happening place.