A grateful physician patient gives back

by Carol M. Karimi, February 2010

Grateful patient Dr. Wayne Bellows supports innovator, Dr. Andrea Natale

“My life was coming to a standstill and I felt like the control I had over it was disappearing. I had reached the point where I was unable to participate in any activities or even travel.”

So begins the story of Dr. Wayne Bellows, a Bay Area cardiac anesthesiologist who was suffering from atrial fibrillation – a condition that produces irregular heart rhythms for more than 2 million Americans every year. Patients who are diagnosed with atrial fibrillation usually discover that there is little in the way of treatment that their doctor can provide.

Andrea Natale, M.D., FACC, FHRS is one of the world’s leading cardiac electrophysiologists and serves as senior medical director of California Pacific Medical Center’s Atrial Fibrillation and Arrhythmia Program, which has an outstanding national reputation and is considered the leading atrial fibrillation program on the West Coast.

Bellows deeply appreciated Dr. Natale’s soft-spoken compassion and willingness to listen. “I didn’t feel like I was being treated differently because I was a doctor. He in no way made me feel rushed or that his time was more valuable than mine. Everyone says that about him.”

A generous gift to advance cardiology research and advanced technology

Dr. Bellows demonstrated his own good will when he approached CPMC Foundation as a grateful patient. The George and Ann Bellows Foundation, which was created in honor of Dr. Bellow’s mother, supports medical research and awarded a $75,000 grant to Dr. Natale in 2009.

“We support Dr. Natale’s research because he is one of the preeminent people in his field and an incredible resource for CPMC,” shares Dr. Bellows. “I’ve been practicing medicine for nearly 30 years and Dr. Natale is one of the most empathetic and down to earth people I’ve ever met. His mission is to spread his knowledge and ability to everyone all over the world. As a doctor, a patient and a philanthropist, I support that all the way.”

California Pacific Medical Center provides the infrastructure for innovation

For all his success, Dr. Natale remains humble and grateful to all the people who made his research and his procedure possible. “I came to CPMC because it is an institution that is willing to support the infrastructure of our research and practice,” said Dr. Natale. “Many procedures we have today came from research and funding from generous donors.”

Click here to learn more about Dr. Andrea Natale and CPMC's Atrial Fibrillation and Arrhythmia Program, or visit Dr. Natale’s web site at www.andreanatale.com

Because life is precious, we encourage giving to life and a lifetime of giving.