Page 9 - Indulge May 2017
P. 9
Photo courtesy of Easton Hospital Voice
ofthe
People
Broadcaster
Talks Up his
Cardiac Care
It’s the 1960s, the dawning of the persona. Soon he was off to other Smith soon met cardiologist
Age of Aquarius. The United States adventures in community relations, and electrophysiologist Koroush
is in flux as the Civil Rights Movement economic development, building and Khalighi, M.D.
and Vietnam War shift the cultural public office.
perspective. The City of Easton is also The a-fib was so severe that it
feeling that change. His career has had lasting impact, weakened his heart function and
earning him national recognitions. caused heart failure. Dr. Khalighi
If you tuned in to WEST on the AM treated his a-fib medically and then
dial, you heard a program called “The “I believe in hard work, showing scheduled him for an ablation — a
Voice of the People,” hosted by Gary courtesy and being a bit hard-headed,” procedure that maps the heart to
Smith. Callers could dial in and talk about he says. determine where the electric signals
any topic, but the inaccuracies in their are irregular so that the abnormal
statements didn’t sit well with Smith. At 81-years old, Smith now uses that tissue can be normalized.
straight-nosed, passionate approach to
“I didn’t want to be associated with manage his heart condition. The procedure went well, helping to
their beliefs,” says Smith. “So I changed return his heart function to normal.
the format and began to challenge people After a routine visit to his primary
by questioning their statements and care physician Frank DeFrank, M.D., “I was so impressed by my Easton
separating fact from fiction.” Smith was referred to a cardiologist for physicians that I can say that I love
an irregular EKG. them,” Smith says. “I don’t mean
The show took off. Soon Smith had hugs and kisses. Instead I want to
offers from other stations in bigger He was soon diagnosed with stand up when they enter the room,
markets, but his family was from the atrial fibrillation (a-fib), or irregular shake their hands and show them the
area and he and his spouse were heartbeat. Smith underwent a utmost respect.”
raising their children here. cardioversion, where an abnormally
fast heart rate is converted to a He liked his stay at the hospital
Local politicians would attempt to normal rhythm using electricity. as well.
borrow his influence and ask him to
discuss topics, but Smith remained A follow-up visit to Dr. DeFrank “I kept telling friends that I was
loyal to his sense of right and wrong. soon led Smith to see pulmonologist there to have breakfast in bed,” he
Gerald Lowman, M.D. says. “There is a special quality to the
“I’ve been governed by common care at Easton Hospital. It’s obvious
sense,” he says. “From it, I was What Dr. Lowman observed how much the nurses care. Everything
unwilling to yield but always willing to prompted a staff member to accompany was done so well.”
be convinced.” Smith to the telemetry unit at Easton
Hospital for immediate admission. If he were broadcasting to people
While the show was a hit, Smith today, you could quote him: “We are
lived with the accolades and scorn “I never noticed the irregular lucky to have what you offer in our
that can come from a strong public heartbeats,” he says. “So I never community.”
imagined the fatigue I felt was a
result of my heart.”
may 2017 • indulge | 9
