was one of my first interventional cases with my mentor, Dr. Kenneth Kent, and I was not only excited to be finally learning the angioplasty techniques but also apprehensive to be working with my mentor. This was about 35 years ago and at that time we had limited equipment in the cath lab, especially for the particular patient, who was referred from another hospital due to a heavily calcified right coronary artery lesion. We did not have a good device to treat the calcification and were limited to an atherectomy device that was supposed to debulk and remove the calcified plaque. Despite his extensive experience with the device, unfortunately, the device got trapped

in the calcified plaque and Dr. Kent could not move or remove the device. Patient was experiencing severe chest pain and his EKG was showing signs of severe ischemia. I was becoming diaphoretic myself from seeing first-hand the first major complication of the specialty I was going to pursue. However, Dr. Kent remained calm and explained
to the patient exactly what was happening and the need for emergency bypass surgery. Surprisingly patient was accepting the surgical option as he had been told that there were not many options for his complex coronary artery disease. Then, Dr. Kent did something that left a lasting impression on me. He removed his gloves, looked at the team, and said simply, “Thank you, everyone.” I would hear him say those same words at the end of every case, regardless of the outcome. In that moment, I realized I was not just learning from a masterful technician, but from a true gentleman. His calm demeanor did encourage me to continue with the intense but gratifying training.