Heart to Heart: Reaching out through Heartcare and the Written Word
INTERVIEW-----------
By Remy Dias
rodrigr...@yahoo.com
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Dr. J. Anthony (Tony) Gomes, also known as Antonio
Gomes, is Professor of Medicine and Director of the
Electrophysiology and Cardiovasular Consultative
Services at the Zena and Michael A. Wiener
Cardiovascular Institute, The Mount Sinai Medical
Center. He has been consistently listed for the
last ten years in the Best Doctors in New York (New
York Magazine 2000-2009) and The Best Doctors in
America. He has also been featured in Indians in
New York and India Abroad. He hails originally
from Goa, India. He studied in both English (in
Bombay) and Portuguese (in Goa). Besides, fluently
speaks Spanish, Konkani and understand French and
Hindi. He immigrated to the US in 1970 after
medical school.
After specializing in Cardiology, and Cardiac
Electrophysiology, he joined the Mount Sinai Medical Center
in New York, as Head of its Cardiac Electrophysiology
Department in 1984. A pioneer in the field of Cardiac
Electrophysiology, he is credited for establishing the first
modern Cardiac Electrophysiology section and laboratory in
NYC. Dr Tony has authored more than 170 original scientific
publications, more than 10 chapters in national and
international textbooks of Cardiology, and a textbook in
Cardiology entitled "Signal Averaged Electrocardiography"
(Kluwer Academic Press, 1993).
He was one of the founding trustees of the Goa America Heart
Foundation, served on the Board, and remains in an advisory
category.
Antonio Gomes is also a published poet and a novelist. HIS
collection of poems written in 1991-1993 IS entitled "The
Twilight Landscape" and an epic poem "The Poets Den" is in a
book entitled "Visions from Grymes Hill" (Turn of River
Press, CT, 1994). He has also published individual poems in
anthologies and magazines. His first novel *The Sting of
Peppercorns* came out in 2012 (Goa,1556 and Broadway). His
immediate writing plans include completion of his second
novel entitled *Have a Heart*, a medical novel entirely based
in New York.
In a tete-a-tete with Remediana Dias:
Tell us something about you yourself
-----------------------------------------------------------
I am a Professor of Cardiology, and my subspecialty is
Cardiac Electrophysiology, of which I am one of the pioneers.
I was recruited in 1984 by Dr. Valentin Fuster, Chairman of
Cardiology and a renowned cardiologist of national and
international fame, to open the first cardiac
electrophysiology laboratory in New York City, and the
section of electrophysiology which was combined with the then
existing department of electrocardiography at The Mount Sinai
Medical Center and School of Medicine of New York University.
I have lectured extensively at national and international
conferences all over the world, and have been a Visiting
Professor at the Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, and Johns
Hopkins University as well as in universities in Brazil and
Japan among others.
What sets you apart from others?
-----------------------------------------------------------
I believe I am an original thinker, a prolific writer, a
published poet and novelist. My interests cover the
humanities, politics, and even finance. I have a keen
interest in ballet and opera.
What are your hobbies?
-----------------------------------------------------------
Gardening and music.
Your vision for a unified world?
-----------------------------------------------------------
I have been a great fan of, and adherent of Gandhian
philosophy. I am however somewhat disheartened by the world
we live in: the politicians of today, not only in India, but
in the US and the world at large. We seem to be mired in
wars, self-interests, agendas, profits, corruption, and
propaganda to serve personal agendas. Sadly the vision of a
unified world remains a bare figment of the past, a concept
that has lost much of its breath.
What are your values, principles, values in life?
-----------------------------------------------------------
I have always held liberal views. I strongly
believe in honesty, truthfulness, sincerity, and
dignity. I believe that a great society is defined
by how it takes care of its disabled and poor. I
believe in conflict resolution by peaceful means.
Here, perhaps my Goan upbringing has played a
significant role.
What is the secret of your success?
-----------------------------------------------------------
I'm not entirely sure. Perhaps a certain degree of ambition,
and purposefulness; committed work, and honesty in my
dealings. My mother was a great influence in my forming
years, and subsequently my wife, Marina Flores.
Any striking incident that left a deep impact in your life or
changed the course of your life?
-----------------------------------------------------------
An illness in my childhood prompted me to be a
doctor. The decision to answer the Educational
Council of Foreign Medical Graduates Examination
(not given in India at the time) enabled me to
migrate to America for post-graduate
specialization.
Tell us about your publications?
-----------------------------------------------------------
I have published extensively in Medicine: over 200 original
scientific publications, abstracts, as well as review
articles and book chapters. I have written a text book in
Cardiology/Electrophysiology entitled *Signal Averaged
Electrocardiography. Basic concepts methods and application*
(Kluwer, London/Amsterdam, 1993).
I wrote my first collection of poems after the death of my
wife, Marina Flores. The collection *Visions from Grymes
Hill* (Turn of River Press, Ct, 1992) mostly dealt with poems
of sorrow. My first novel, entitled, *The Sting of
Peppercorns* was based in Goa during a turbulent time in
Goa's history from 1961-1967. It is a fictional story of
love, death, the conflicts of assimilation after Goa's
Liberation, and the social and cultural mores of the people
of Goa. The book has done very well among the Goan community
in NY, and has been picked up by an agent who is trying to
get it published in the US.
Another collection of poems entitled *Mirrored Reflections*
is due to be published this year. This collection has
universal appeal with poems of Goa, some countries of Europe
and North and South America, poems of life, love and
relationships, as well as medical poems. I am really excited
about this collection. Vamona Navelcar, the Goan artist and
painter, has done the cover illustration and abstract
sketches for some of poems in the collection, which I'm
certain, will give it an added artistic flare.
Currently, I am also writing a non-fiction book
about my decision to become a doctor, my life as a
doctor in America, and the stories of some of my
patients, their trials and tribulations.
Tell us more about the Goan in you.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Rather peaceful and introspective nature, sometimes sosegad.
Love of music and nature. The Indo-Portuguese traditions of
honesty, truthfulness, integrity and honor are deeply rooted
in me. I always have nostalgia for Goa, the Goa of bygone
years, the Goa of pristine beaches, the Goa of a calm, clean
landscape. This vision of Goa is reflected in my novel and
the soon to be published collection of poems.
I should add however that the Goa of today saddens
me immensely. I strongly believe in progress,
industrialization, and even riveting change, but
change and development at the cost of the loss of
beauty and integrity of the land is hard to swallow.
Tell us anything that you would like to share with our readers?
-----------------------------------------------------------
To dream, to hope, to have determination, is to live.
Perspective is very important for fulfillment and a sense of
balance. Happiness is a state of mind. And health is
wealth.
Any message for Goans who migrate?
-----------------------------------------------------------
Be you, but do make fine adjustments. Goans usually have no
difficulty in adjusting, particularly in the West.
About your family...
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I remarried about three years back. My wife, Margarita Mikhno
is of Russian and Armenian descent. She is a software
engineer and works in IT at Morgan Stanley. My daughter,
Tanya, is a nurse, works in New Jersey, is married and has
three boys. Both my wife and I have a total of four grandchildren.
Tell us something about your social work.
-----------------------------------------------------------
My major contribution was to the Goa-America Heart
Foundation. After I retire, perhaps within the
next two years, I plan to immerse myself in social
work. I may consider joining an organization in
the US that does social work in developing
countries in Asia and Africa.
Send your feedback and comments to rodrigr...@yahoo.com and
also to goa...@goanet.org
Online links:
On GoodReads.com
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8552774-the-sting-of-peppercorns
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