A Tribute to Professor David Taggart
It is with a sense of shock and great sadness that we share the news of the death of Professor David Taggart, distinguished cardiac surgeon, academic and President of SCTS from 2010 to 2012.
David made an enormous contribution to cardiac surgery in the UK and internationally, particularly through his work on coronary artery bypass surgery and arterial grafting. He combined clinical excellence with academic rigour and rightly spoke up to robustly question practices when he believed the evidence demanded it.
David was a major figure within our profession and many of our members will have known him as a colleague, teacher, mentor and friend. His influence on our specialty has been considerable and often inspirational.
On behalf of SCTS, we extend our deepest condolences to David’s family, friends and colleagues.
Aman S Coonar
President, SCTS
Enoch Akowuah
President-elect, SCTS
Saddest news. Aris Protopapas
David was a dedicated surgeon and a visionary leader who powerfully defended the merits of arterial grafts in the long term. He will be sadly missed by many of his surgical colleagues and patients. Sincere condolences to his bereaving family and prayers for his eternal peace. Unni Nair
It is with profound sadness and immense shock that I write this message. Professor David Taggart (fondly known to us prior to his Chair in Oxford by his then cardiac surgical research team as 'DT' in early 2000's) is a brilliant mind who could see ahead of his time. His commitment to academic excellence ensuring rigour and renewed scrutiny based on evidence in the treatment of coronary disease has had a long lasting effect on enhancing patient care and this will be his Legacy.
It is my privilege to have known him and worked with him clinically at The John Radcliffe and obtain my Doctorate in Medicine under his supervision from research at the University of Oxford. He was a gentle and warm human being. It saddens me even more that his last communication recently with me was " I will be receiving a special international award later this year and one of the things I would love to incorporate is a picture or two of me with you. Do you have any good photos of us" Rest in Peace my dear friend. L Balacumaraswami
I am very sorry to hear of David Taggart's death. I will always remember his pithy presentations (in a broad Scottish accent). He was a rigorous and honest scientist, particularly with regard to the interface between coronary bypass grafting and coronary angioplasty and stenting, and also to the role of arterial coronary grafts. RIP David. Nicholas Odom.
Professor David Taggart was a surgeon who guided and inspired me throughout my 30-year career in cardiac surgery. I feel deeply privileged to have had the honour of knowing him. His passing is a tremendous loss to the cardiac surgery community. Rest in peace, Professor Taggart. Prof.Dr.Murat Ozeren
A great surgeon and trainer. His attention to detail and meticulous operative steps made him not only a quick and slick surgeon but also a benchmark in mitral repair. A great human being, we will miss you Ramesh. Sridhar Rathinam
Mr Patel was the lovely man who saved my life in 2001. Very straight talking, he told me as it was. Told me I had to have a short term and a long term goal in life before he would operate. I told him what they were and achieved both, one only recently. A truly great man RIP Sir. Christopher Dale