health
February 28, 2026
My cultural awakening: Leonardo da Vinci made me rethink surgery
For one heart surgeon, seeing the Renaissance artist’s anatomical drawings gave him a natural understanding of the body that was often overlooked in modern medical science
TL;DR
- The author, originally interested in art and music, became a cardiothoracic surgeon after his mother's financial concerns.
- Seeing Leonardo da Vinci's anatomical drawings in 1977 deeply influenced his surgical thinking, encouraging a focus on the heart's natural design.
- He developed a more physiological approach to mitral valve repair, moving away from imposing solutions towards working with the body's natural physiology.
- The author has integrated art into his practice by inviting artists in residence and encouraging students to think broadly.
- He wrote a book, 'The Heart of Leonardo', exploring da Vinci's drawings of the heart.
- He continues to create art and recently exhibited a drawing to raise funds for children's heart surgery through the charity Chain of Hope.
Continue reading the original article