Dr. Fritz Baumgartner, MD, cardiothoracic surgeon in Los Angeles, urges physicians, students, and families to refocus medicine on its moral foundation: caring for the patient.
LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESS Newswire / February 27, 2026 / Dr. Fritz Baumgartner, MD, a veteran cardiothoracic surgeon and former Acting Head of the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, is speaking out about what he sees as a growing need in modern healthcare: a return to the core purpose of medicine - caring for the patient.
With decades of experience treating advanced heart and lung disease, trauma cases, and complex surgical emergencies, Dr. Baumgartner believes that technical excellence alone is not enough.
"The goal is simple," he says. "Care for the patient. Everything else is secondary."
Why the Hippocratic Oath Still Matters
The Hippocratic Oath, written more than 2,000 years ago, remains one of the foundational ethical codes in medicine. Today, nearly all U.S. medical schools administer some form of the Oath at graduation. Yet studies show that many versions have been modified significantly over time, and fewer explicitly reference traditional commitments to patient welfare and ethical boundaries.
According to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), more than 20,000 students graduate from U.S. medical schools each year. At the same time, physician burnout affects nearly 50% of doctors, according to research published in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings. Many experts point to administrative pressure, productivity metrics, and system complexity as contributing factors.
Dr. Baumgartner believes the solution begins with clarity of purpose.
"The purpose of medicine is not profit," he says. "It is not prestige. It is not efficiency scores. It is caring for the patient."
He has published scholarly work examining medical students' perceptions of the Hippocratic Oath and ethical formation in training. He argues that early exposure to moral foundations strengthens both resilience and clinical judgment.
"When students understand why they are becoming doctors, they become stronger doctors," he says.
Lessons from Trauma Surgery
During the mid-1990s at Harbor-UCLA, Dr. Baumgartner treated some of the most severe trauma cases in Los Angeles County. These included aortic dissections, massive aneurysms, complex valve disease, and devastating thoracic injuries.
He was the first surgeon at Harbor-UCLA to successfully save a patient with a gunshot wound to the pulmonary hilus requiring a trauma pneumonectomy - an injury that is usually fatal.
"In those moments, nothing else matters," he says. "You are there to save a human life. That clarity strips everything down to what medicine truly is."
County hospital systems often care for patients with advanced disease due to delayed access or lack of follow-up. According to the CDC, heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States, responsible for more than 695,000 deaths per year. Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer death.
"These are not statistics," Dr. Baumgartner says. "These are fathers, mothers, sons, daughters."
Faith, Science, and the Moral Foundation of Care
Dr. Baumgartner also advocates for thoughtful dialogue about faith and medicine. He maintains that ethical reasoning and scientific rigor are not in conflict.
"Faith and science are not enemies," he says. "Truth does not contradict truth."
He credits his upbringing - shaped by immigrant parents who emphasized faith, service, and perseverance - with instilling his lifelong commitment to helping others.
"My parents taught us that the purpose of life is to serve," he says. "That applies to medicine more than anywhere else."
What Individuals Can Do
Dr. Baumgartner's message is not limited to physicians.
He encourages medical students to study the history and meaning of the Hippocratic Oath. He urges practicing physicians to revisit their original commitments. And he calls on patients and families to be active participants in their own care.
"Ask your doctor questions," he says. "Understand your condition. Take responsibility for your health. Medicine works best when patients and physicians work together."
He also encourages parents to foster curiosity in science and service in young people.
"If you want to strengthen medicine for the future, raise children who want to help others," he says.
A Call to Reflection
At a time when healthcare systems face rising costs, workforce shortages, and technological disruption, Dr. Baumgartner believes reflection is essential.
"Innovation is important," he says. "But innovation must serve the patient. Not the ego."
He hopes that renewed awareness of medicine's ethical roots will help restore trust and purpose across the profession.
"Medicine is a calling," he says. "And we must never forget why we answered it."
To read the full interview, visit the website here.
About Dr. Fritz Baumgartner, MD
Dr. Fritz Baumgartner, MD, is a Los Angeles-based cardiothoracic surgeon and former Acting Head of the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. A graduate of Loyola Marymount University and UCLA School of Medicine, he has led cardiac and thoracic surgery programs, taught residents and fellows, and published extensively on the Hippocratic Oath, medical ethics, and cardiothoracic surgery. He is also the creator of the Surgery 101 Technical Skills Boot Camp, designed to inspire future physicians through hands-on learning.
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SOURCE: Dr. Fritz Baumgartner, MD
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