Remembering Dr. Charles Guttas May 29, 2019 General smcma, artificial intelligence, AI, innovation, technology We were saddened to hear of the passing of Dr. Charles Guttas this past December. Dr. Guttas had been a member of the SMCMA for over 60 years and had been recognized for his years of service at the most recent SMCMA Annual Meeting. Dr. Guttas lived by a simple rule, “be yourself, be active, and help others.” From solving an issue of Air Force pilots dying at a young age (it was obvious to Dr. Guttas that cigarettes and red meat were the culprit), to lecturing around the world on topics related to heart disease and preventative medicine, Dr. Guttas’ career exemplified these words. Even though his career took him to the far corners of the earth, his roots were here in San Mateo County where, in 1958, he first took what would become a 27-year position as Chief of Cardiology at Mills Peninsula Hospital. As part of his tenure there, he was the first in the Bay Area to add a defibrillator, developed a skilled nursing facility, and helped prevent the hospital from closing. In addition to maintaining membership in the SMCMA for more than 60 years, Dr. Guttas also served twice as the President of the San Mateo County Heart Association. Family was also important to Dr. Guttas, who created what he described as a “tribe” of 18 family members between his wife, their 4 children, 7 grandchildren, and their spouses. As Dr. Guttas noted, “health is your greatest asset, and the wellspring of your joy is the family.” Dr. Guttas worked treating patients until the end. He will be missed by his family, friends, patients, and those of us who came in contact with him. He played an important role in the health of our community and for that we owe Dr. Guttas a debt of gratitude. << SoPE: Finding the Next Breakthrough
