Belgium-born Daniel M. Thys, MD relates stories including his high school studies and what drew him to medicine and away from engineering, his time in the Belgium Navy, how he was introduced to anesthesiologists, and why he came to the U.S. and restated his training at Mount Sinai in 1976, how he went to Columbia Presbyterian for a cardiac fellowship then moved to St. Luke’s-Roosevelt, eventually becoming Director of the Cardiac Anesthesia program at Mount Sinai. He makes some observations about the merger of St. Luke’s and Roosevelt Hospitals, the disposition of the School of Nurse Anesthesia, what he does in his downtime and professional associations he belongs to, and his experiences writing a text book.

This interview starts with personal details of Manheim’s family and personal interests and ends with hobbies. The body of the interview discusses his early surgical interests, and how he came to his career in proctology. He spends a good deal of time discussing the issue of fee splitting and doctor’s fees and salaries. He reviews a list of surgeons and gives his impression of them as people and as surgeons, which is often negative. Manheim also elaborates on his opinion of building the medical school, of which he is not in favor, and on his dislike of the anesthesia department, and criticisms of the nursing staff.

Names mentioned: Mark Ravitch; A.A. Berg; A.V Moschcowitz; Howard Lilienthal; Edwin Beer; Eddie Blier; Walter Brickner; John Gerster; Abraham O. Wilensky; Isadore Friesner; Robert Turell; Abraham Hyman; Ralph Colp.