Houston, TX - Renowned heart surgeon Dr Rafael Espada (Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX) is giving up his clinical practice and going home to Guatemala City. The cardiovascular surgeon at the Methodist DeBakey Heart Center does not plan to ease into retirement, though; he is turning his full attention to pursuing the office of the vice president in his native country.

"I have many friends in politics, and like most people in Guatemala, have always had an opinion as to what we should be doing," Espada told heartwire. "It's very easy to criticize—this is right, or this is wrong—but instead of criticizing, I feel I should be doing something for our country."

As running mate of candidate Alvaro Colom in the September presidential election, the 63-year-old Espada plans to move back to Guatemala in April to begin campaigning. A surgeon at Methodist Hospital for more than 30 years, Espada said healthcare, education, and the continued development of Guatemala's economic interests within the global market are key issues to his election platform.

Espada earned his medical degree at the Universidad San Carlos in Guatemala City and trained as a thoracic surgeon at Baylor College of Medicine. Despite his American practice, Espada is one of the most famous heart specialists in Latin America; he returns monthly to Guatemala to perform surgery for underprivileged people.

Espada pointed out that it was not until 1994 that a cardiac hospital was established in Guatemala City. In the early 1990s, Espada and others worked with the government of Guatemala and private donors to establish the heart center, known as Unidad Cardiovascular (UNICAR). The hospital now sees more than 600 adult patients annually and will soon expand to include three more operating suites, 25 intensive-care-unit beds, and 75 regular beds. There are also additional plans for the installation of a telecommunications unit to enable providers in Guatemala to consult with and learn from doctors at Methodist Hospital.

Asked how he got involved in politics, Espada said that 18 months ago he was part of a group that developed and presented long-term plans for healthcare, education, the economy, and security to the Guatemalan government and various political parties. Although he had operated on previous government officials, including past presidents, with this project he made numerous connections with politicians, one of whom later tapped him to run as vice president.

"I became convinced that this was the right time to do this," said Espada. "I'm old enough and have been in practice for 38 years. It is time for me to do something different, to step up and do something for my whole country. It's a great honor for me and a great experience. I'm very, very excited."

Espada is confident that he and Colom will be successful in September. "I feel very confident that we're going to win," Espada told heartwire. "You never know in politics, but I'm optimistic."

In 2006, Espada was awarded the inaugural Methodist Hospital Humanitarian Award and donated his $10 000 cash grant to a private foundation he created in Guatemala to purchase medical equipment and supplies for UNICAR.