David L. Hayes, MD, FHRS, CCDS, 2010 Distinguished Teacher recipient

Biography

The era of modern pacing and electrophysiology and David L. Hayes, MD, FHRS, CCDS came of age together. Dr. Hayes is recognized as one of the field’s most important teachers, authors and clinicians. The Heart Rhythm Society is proud to recognize Dr. Hayes’ talents by awarding him its Distinguished Teacher Award.

Dr. Hayes was born in Missouri and attended the University of Missouri Medical School. He completed his internship and residency in Medicine at the Mayo Graduate School in Rochester. He was also a Resident in Cardiovascular Diseases at Mayo and finished his training in 1981. He spent the next year taking post graduate training in cardiac pacing at the Montefiore Hospital and the Surgical Clinic Val d’Or in Saint Cloud, France. He then returned to the Mayo Clinic in 1982. In 2002 he was appointed Chair of the Division of Cardiovascular Diseases and Director of Pacemaker Services at the Mayo Clinic.

He has lectured extensively at formal national and international meetings. He has given over 500 invited lectures in 27 countries to a range of audiences — from technicians, to RNs, to trainees, and to fellow physicians. His lectures vary in topic from the very specific (e.g., how to position a LV lead) to classic overviews (e.g., the future of chronic resynchronization therapy). Rarely is the same lecture given on more than one occasion. His speaking career is a remarkable intellectual achievement.

Dr. Hayes has the unique skill to simplify difficult concepts without the clutter of graph after graph. His approach represents a commonsense one borne out of knowing what the clinician needs to learn. He is quick to realize what he does not know and is direct and self-effacing. His presentations are helped by a clarity of thought and a great sense of humor. His “Jeopardy” session at the technician/RN meetings are classic Hayes. His colleagues consider him a master teacher with a great sense of style.

Dr. Hayes has made further contributions to our field. He has co-authored 421 peer-reviewed manuscripts, has written 93 book chapters, and co-authored seven textbooks on pacing and electrophysiology. He was President of our Society in 1998-99 and helped oversee its transition to the Heart Rhythm Society. In 2010 He was named the recipient of the Society's Distinguished Teacher Award.

His’ wife, Sharonne, is a cardiologist at the Mayo Clinic whom he met when she was an Internal Medicine Resident. They have two children.

Dr. Hayes’ academic accomplishments do not begin to define him. Despite his gargantuan appetite for intellectual accomplishment and teaching, he remains a consistent figure of humility, good humor, and frank opinions. Our field owes him a great debt for the intellectual order and openness he has brought to a complex subject matter.