Business
A Conversation with Dr. Fritz Baumgartner on Surgery and Values
Dr. Fritz Baumgartner is a cardiothoracic surgeon, educator, and medical ethics scholar based in Los Angeles. His career reflects a clear focus on patient care, technical excellence, and the deeper purpose of medicine.
Raised by immigrant parents who valued faith, discipline, and service, Dr. Baumgartner developed an early interest in medicine after a serious illness in his family. He went on to graduate Summa Cum Laude in Biology from Loyola Marymount University, earning the Karl Kadner Biology Award. He later completed his MD at UCLA School of Medicine, followed by surgical training at Harbor-UCLA and a cardiothoracic fellowship at the University of British Columbia.
In the mid-1990s, he served as Acting Head of the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. There, he led complex surgical cases, including advanced cardiac procedures and high-risk trauma operations. His work in a county hospital setting exposed him to some of the most severe and advanced disease presentations.
Alongside his clinical work, Dr. Baumgartner has built a strong reputation in education. He has trained residents, fellows, and physician assistants, and received Preceptor of the Year honours in 2022. He also founded the Surgery 101 Technical Skills Boot Camp, offering a practical introduction to surgery for students.
His academic work focuses on the Hippocratic Oath and medical ethics. He continues to advocate for a patient-first approach, grounded in both science and moral responsibility.
Inside the Career of Dr. Fritz Baumgartner: Surgery, Ethics, and Purpose
Q: What first drew you to medicine?
I was about nine years old. My mother became very ill during pregnancy. I remember thinking that I wanted to help people like her. I made a promise to myself that I would spend my life helping the sick. That decision stayed with me.
Q: How did your upbringing shape your approach to your career?
My parents were immigrants. My mother grew up during the war in Germany. She told us stories about fear and survival. Faith was very important in our home. We were not wealthy, but we had strong values. That shaped how I see medicine. It is about service, not status.
Q: You trained at UCLA and Harbor-UCLA. What stood out during those years?
The intensity. At Harbor-UCLA, you see advanced disease and serious trauma. Patients often come in late. You have to act quickly and make difficult decisions. It forces you to focus on what matters most.
Q: You later became Acting Head of Cardiothoracic Surgery. What was that experience like?
It was demanding. We handled complex cardiac and thoracic cases daily. Aortic dissections, bypass surgeries, lung cancer resections. You are responsible for outcomes and for leading the team. It teaches discipline and clarity.
Q: Can you share a case that stayed with you?
One was a patient with a gunshot wound to the pulmonary hilus. That injury is often fatal. We were able to save the patient with a trauma pneumonectomy. It required quick thinking and teamwork. Those moments stay with you.
Q: You have also worked within the VA system. What did that involve?
I led the cardiac surgery programme at the Wadsworth VA for a period. I also directed a thoracoscopic surgery training programme. It was a chance to help develop surgical techniques and teach others.
Q: Education seems to be a major part of your work. Why is that important to you?
Medicine is passed down. You learn from those before you, and you teach those after you. I have worked with residents, fellows, and physician assistant students for many years. Teaching keeps you sharp and grounded.
Q: What led you to create the Surgery 101 Technical Skills Boot Camp?
I wanted to make surgery more accessible to students. Many programmes start with theory. I reversed it. Students learn hands-on skills first. That builds excitement. Then they are more engaged with the science behind it.
Q: You have written about the Hippocratic Oath. Why does it matter today?
It defines the purpose of medicine. It reminds us that the patient comes first. Modern systems can become complex. The Oath brings clarity. It is a moral anchor.
Q: How do you view the relationship between faith and science?
They are not in conflict. Truth is consistent. Science explains how things work. Faith helps guide why we do what we do. In medicine, both are important.
Q: What advice would you give to future surgeons?
Stay focused on the patient. Learn your craft well. Work hard. But do not lose sight of why you chose medicine. That purpose will guide you through difficult moments.
This is the forum for daily political discussion on Seeking Alpha. A new version is published every market day.
Please don’t leave political comments on other articles or posts on the site.
The comments below are not regulated with the same rigor as the rest of the site, and this is an ‘enter at your own risk’ area as discussion can get very heated. If you can’t stand the heat… you know what they say…
More on Today’s Markets:
Moderation Guidelines:
We remove comments under the following categories:
- Personal attacks on another user account
- Anti-Vaxxer or covid related misinformation
- Stereotyping, prejudiced or racist language about individuals or the topic under discussion.
- Inciting violence messages, encouraging hate groups and political violence.
Regardless of which side of the political divide you find yourself, please be courteous and don’t direct abuse at other users.
For any issue with regards to comments please email us at : moderation@seekingalpha.com.
Seeking Alpha’s Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.
Earnings call transcript: CuriosityStream Q4 2025 sees revenue growth, stock up
The tumble in precious-metals prices from their all-time highs has accelerated, with gold and silver futures suffering some of their worst daily declines on record Thursday.
Gold sank for the sixth time in the past seven trading days, losing 5.9%, or $289.20 an ounce, on Thursday. Silver futures shed 8.2% a troy ounce, bringing the total decline from a seven-session fall to around 20%.
Copyright ©2026 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8
We write about companies trading at attractive valuations with strong durable competitive advantages. Investment Principles- Invest in companies with consistent earning power and durable competitive advantages.- Invest in companies where we can get a sufficient margin of safety.- We prefer companies that generate substantial cash-flow and consistently earn above-average return on capital.- We prefer companies with conservative leverage. – Always hold an appropriate level of cash in order to be able to capitalize on market volatility.
Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of ICE either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.
Seeking Alpha’s Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.
Planet Labs Crushes Earnings, But Risk Is Rising
Dollar’s dominance in oil markets faces structural test as Gulf trade shifts
I am a freelance business writer. I formerly wrote articles for the Motley Fool Blogging Network, where I won several editor’s choice awards. After that, I wrote articles for the main Motley Fool site. I typically focus on restaurants, retailers, and food manufacturers, considering both growth opportunities and valuation metrics. I usually look for long term investment opportunities and plan to hold stocks for several years.
Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.
Seeking Alpha’s Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.
How could a company that charged as much as £65 for a day’s parking fail to turn a profit?
Joseph Shaefer is a geopolitical, economic, and resource analyst. He is a retired senior military officer with deep experience in Special Operations and Intelligence. He is also a former university professor and a retired Senior V.P. at Charles Schwab & Co. He is today the leader of the investing group The Investor’s Edge®. His approach to investing is both specific and universal. On one end of the “barbell,” he makes especially deep dives into Energy, Resources, Aerospace and Defense, and Infrastructure. On the other end, a thorough research into the safest and best-paying income ETFs and companies and their preferred shares. Unique features exclusively for subscribers at The Investors Edge® include the Growth & Value sample portfolio, early notification of articles likely to be discussed with the general Seeking Alpha audience, notification of purchases and sales prior to execution, and short notes and articles for subscribers on an as-it-happens basis. Five decades of experience, 2 to 4 articles monthly exclusively for subscribers, and access to Joseph and his community in a chat corner that is reviewed daily.
Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of SARO either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.
I write about SARO exclusively for your due diligence.
Seeking Alpha’s Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.
Indonesia seeks $5 billion budget savings to face Iran war impact
Politics And The Markets 03/21/26
JaNa Craig on Dating and Credit in ‘You’re the Credit One for Me’
Order up. #economy #finance
-
Crypto World7 days agoHYPE Token Enters Net Deflation as HyperCore Buybacks Outpace Staking Rewards
-
Tech5 days agoYour Legally Registered ‘Motorcycle’ Might Not Count Under Proposed US Law
-
Tech3 days agoAre Split Spacebars the Next Big Gaming Keyboard Trend?
-
Politics9 hours agoJenni Murray, Long-Serving Woman’s Hour Presenter, Dies Aged 75
-
Sports7 days ago
Why Duke and Michigan Are Dead Even Entering Selection Sunday
-
Business5 days agoSearch for Savannah Guthrie’s Mother Enters Seventh Week with No Arrests
-
Business7 days agoUS Airports Launch Donation Drives for Unpaid TSA Workers as Partial Government Shutdown Enters Fifth Week
-
Crypto World6 days ago
Coinbase and Bybit in Investment Talks: Could Bybit Finally Enter the US Crypto Market?
-
Crypto World4 hours agoNIO (NIO) Stock Plunges 6.5% as Shelf Registration Sparks Dilution Worries
-
Fashion10 hours agoWeekend Open Thread: Adidas – Corporette.com
-
Business5 days agoAustralian shares drop as Iran war enters third week
-
Business7 days agoCountry star Brantley Gilbert enters growing non-alcoholic beer market
-
Politics3 days agoThe House | The new register to protect children from their abusers shows Parliament at its best
-
Crypto World5 days agoCrypto Lender BlockFills Enters Chapter 11 with Up to $500M in Liabilities
-
News Videos2 days agoRBA board divided on rate cut, unusually buoyant share market | Finance Report | ABC NEWS
-
Fashion5 days ago25 Celebrities with Curly Hair That Are Naturally Beautiful
-
Tech23 hours agoinKONBINI Lets You Spend Summer Days Behind the Register
-
Crypto World2 days agoCanada’s FINTRAC revokes registrations of 23 crypto MSBs in AML crackdown
-
Politics4 days agoReal-time pollution monitoring calls after boy nearly dies
-
Crypto World6 days agoCrypto Losses Drop 87% in February, But Hackers Are Now Targeting People, Not Code
You must be logged in to post a comment Login