Little Hearts, Lifelong Impact

More than a personal memoir, Little Hearts, Lifelong Impact traces Richard A. Jonas MD’s extraordinary journey from Adelaide, South Australia to the forefront of global pediatric heart surgery.

In this sweeping narrative, Jonas reveals the political, educational, and human forces that shaped a field once marked by tragic mortality and now defined by lifesaving possibility.

From the contrasting healthcare systems of Australia, England, and New Zealand to the high-stakes US academic arenas of Boston and Washington, he offers rare insight into the hidden dynamics of surgical training, institutional politics, and the evolution of a complex specialty.

Alongside gripping stories of triumph and loss in the operating room, Jonas reflects on his rise from immigrant trainee to Harvard professor and leader on the world stage—all while building sustainable cardiac surgery programs in underserved regions.

At once a history of pediatric heart surgery and a candid portrait of a life devoted to healing, teaching, and global impact, this book reveals what it truly means to mend tiny hearts and shape the future of a field.