Find Your Element

Robert C. Groom ’77

Robert Groom ’77 has found his element in his life’s work as a perfusionist. A perfusionist operates the heart-lung machine and other life support equipment during cardiac surgery. This amazing application of tubing, pumps, sensors and filters is used to support the human circulation during surgery, which allows the heart to be stopped while the body and vital organs are maintained.  And it can be used during open heart surgery on a wide range of patients, from a newborn baby to an octogenarian. 

When Bob attended Geneva, his advisor, Dr. Calvin C. Freeman, had a tremendous impact on his life. Dr. Freeman saw worth in Bob at a time when he felt worthless, reminding Bob that he was fearfully and wonderfully made by God for a specific purpose. This purpose, he learned, could generally be described as reflecting His love to others. Dr. Freeman advised Bob to enroll in the Life Support Technology Program at Fairfax Hospital, where he was introduced to healthcare, cardiology and cardiac surgery.

In 2005, Bob completed a master’s degree at Dartmouth Medical School in Hanover, NH. He describes that experience as an awakening in his career that accelerated his understanding of quality improvement and value in healthcare.  From 2008 to 2012, Bob was the Interim Vice President of the Hospital’s Cardiovascular Service Line while managing the Perfusion Department as Director. In 2012, a permanent administrator was hired, allowing Bob to return to full-time work in perfusion.

Bob enjoys working in the operating room, teaching State University of New York students who undergo clinical residency at his program in Maine. He has also been involved in clinical research, authoring over 90 peer reviewed scientific papers and written three text book chapters related to Extra Corporeal Technology 

He is the most recent recipient of the John H. Gibbon Jr. Award, which honors individuals who have made significant contributions to the cardiopulmonary discipline. In his acceptance lecture, Bob beautifully and humbly outlined the story of his family history and his testimony, describing what he refers to as “finding your element.” Look for more of Bob’s story in the Winter 2015 issue of Geneva Magazine.