At HRS 2025, I had the great pleasure and honor of meeting a true legend in our field — Dr. James Ong, a fellow cardiac rhythm management (CRM) device history enthusiast and collector.
James brought along highlights from his extensive collection, carefully curated to showcase true milestones in our industry’s evolution. His passion for preserving the history of CRM was on full display through these rare and important artifacts.
In addition to sharing his collection, James and Dr. Igor Efimov organized a remarkable four-hour session titled “Neverending Conversation: A History of HRS and the Field of Electrophysiology.” This session brought together 16 pioneering experts who were on the ground floor when the foundations for modern electrophysiology was being laid.
Preserving and teaching the history of our field is critically important. Many of today’s cutting-edge innovations — such as leadless pacemakers and physiologic pacing — were first proposed and investigated decades ago. Only now do we have the technology to turn those early visions into practical reality. Likewise, many “modern” ideas that are being re-explored today were previously discredited, and a deeper understanding of the past could save precious time, effort, and funding for today’s physicians, engineers, and investors.
