Leadership and Quality in the Departments of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery

Abstract

Throughout history, different leadership models and definitions have been elaborated, depending on the different socio-cultural and geopolitical situations. Aristotle (367 - 322 BC) said: “From the hour of their birth, some are marked out for subjection, others for rule”; Nicholas Machiavelli (1469 - 1527) said: “A prince is not born a leader but has innate abilities to achieve and maintain power”. Are leaders born or made? Some authors have devoted time to analyze whether leaders are born or made. We believe minimum qualifications are required to become an effective leader. Yet, leadership is the result of a personal maturity process. A manager says: “I have managed to launch a Unit”; a leader says: “We have contributed to transform the hospital Departments of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery, and to include these Services in the European map.