This book tells the behind-the-scenes story of the development of cardiovascular surgery at the Toronto General Hospital – now rated as one of the best hospitals in the world.

Edward Shorter is the Jason A. Hannah Professor of the History of Medicine and a professor of psychiatry in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto.
Scully Hugh E. :

Hugh E. Scully is a professor emeritus of surgery and of health policy management and evaluation at the University of Toronto.
Goldman Bernard S. :

Bernard S. Goldman is a professor emeritus of cardiac surgery in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto and a heart surgeon at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. .

"This institutional history chronicles the creation and expansion of the specialty of cardiac surgery as it unfolded at the Toronto General Hospital. As told here, Toronto General Hospital achieved constant innovation from its beginnings and maintained its pursuit of the goals for cardiac surgery its founders had established."

G. Alexander Patterson, M.D, Joseph C. Bancroft Professor of Surgery, Washington University, and Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery:

"It was my great fortune to train with these outstanding University of Toronto cardiac surgeons more than forty years ago. I was inspired by their commitment to scholarship, innovation, and technical excellence in pursuit of the highest standard in patient care. Like many academic cardiothoracic surgeons around the world, I was grateful to receive valuable mentorship and sponsorship from this pre-eminent group of cardiac surgeons."

Shelley McKellar, Hannah Chair in the History of Medicine, Western University:

"A fun read! This book offers insider perspectives of Toronto General Hospital’s heart surgery giants – how they literally ‘walked’ and ‘talked’ – from individuals who worked alongside many of them. Exposed are the surgical personalities and tensions – rarely shared beyond inner circles – revealing the ‘sharp elbows’ and ‘bitterness’ that pervaded the environment at times."

Marc Ruel, Professor and Chair of Cardiac Surgery, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, and President, Canadian Cardiovascular Society:

"The contributions of the Toronto General Hospital program toward the global development of the field of cardiac surgery are historic and in several ways unsurpassed. This is a riveting book, masterfully crafted by doctors Shorter, Scully, and Goldman. Canada had and continues to have a huge international impact in cardiac surgery, and the innovative work at the Toronto General Hospital has been central to this positive role."