Charles E. Mullins, MD passed away peacefully on November 17, 2024, in Houston, Texas with his family by his side. He was 92.

Dr. Charles E. Mullins (“Chuck”) was born in 1932 in Washington, DC. He graduated from Princeton University in 1954 and received his medical degree from George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, DC in 1958. After completing his residency in pediatrics at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, he trained in cardiology and became the first pediatric cardiologist in the Unites States Army, rising to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. 1n 1969, he was recruited to Texas Children’s Hospital/Baylor College of Medicine, where he would join forces with Dan McNamara and Denton Cooley to establish one of the most formidable pediatric cardiology programs in the world. He went on to head the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratories at Texas Children’s Hospital, a position that he would hold until his retirement in 2006.

Chuck was the “father of modern day congenital interventional cardiology.” In the early days, along with others like William Rashkind, he was instrumental in developing and bringing cardiac devices into clinical practice. He modified the transeptal puncture procedure described by Brockenbrough, introducing a safer technique that involved the use of a long sheath, revolutionizing transeptal left heart catheterization not only for children, but for adults as well [1]. The “Mullins sheath” (still very much in use) would go on to be utilized not only for transeptal left heart catheterizations, but for the delivery of stents and other cardiac devices. In addition, the “Mullins sheath” became the basis for the development of newer generation long sheaths that are used today by pediatric and adult interventional cardiologists. As a result, there are few interventions performed in the cardiac catheterization laboratory that do not have a Mullins sheath or a derivative of it, as part of its core. Chuck was the eternal advocate for children. He was instrumental in convincing the United States Food and Drug Administration of the need for stents for our patients, culminating in an Investigational Device Exemption study demonstrating excellent outcomes data on the application of stents in congenital heart disease [2]. As we witness an explosion in the application of various types of innovative stents in our field, including the introduction of new stent mounted transcatheter heart valves, it is incumbent upon us to reflect on Chuck’s contributions that made this a reality for our patients today.

Chuck was the first pediatric cardiologist to join the Society of Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) in 1987. He was instrumental in establishing a congenital section for SCAI, developing a platform for the congenital interventional cardiologists to disseminate knowledge. It is only fitting that in his honor, a renowned speaker delivers an annual lecture that bears his name, “The Mullins Lecture” at the SCAI Annual Scientific Sessions. For the congenital community, this is the highlight of the meeting.

Further, Chuck was among the first to encourage the establishment of a Society dedicated to pediatric and congenital interventional cardiologists, the PICS Society. He has been involved with PICS from day number one delivering talks and performing live cases and was the first recipient of the PICS Achievement Award bestowed upon him in 7/1997. He has been a faculty of the PICS meeting ever since the first meeting and he attended every meeting until he fell sick in September 2019. In every meeting he attended, Arlene was always accompanying him.

Chuck authored more than 200 articles, numerous chapters in textbooks and was the Editor (and sole author) of a seminal book in our field, “Cardiac Catheterization in Congenital Heart Disease” [3]. The book provides valuable insight into Chuck’s thought process and the mastery of his trade. Chuck considered it essential to accurately describe cardiac lesions, and after many years of tireless work, along with David Mayer, he published “Congenital Heart Disease: A Diagrammatic Atlas.” [4] Undoubtedly, one of his greatest legacies will remain the diagrams (affectionately referred to as “Mullins Diagrams”), within the book, which are used worldwide on a daily basis, to assist cardiologists when they explain heart defects to patients and families, and to educate the future generation.

His patients that return today provide the ultimate visual textbook of the master in action. Review of the prior angiograms he performed demonstrate perfection in collimation, angulation, contrast amount, and delineation of anatomy. We often still gather around together and marvel on the placement of his stents that are seen in follow-up, impeccably spanning only the area of interest, perfectly matching the surrounding vessel. Even in retirement, Chuck would often come back to Texas Children’s Hospital (wearing his trademark cowboy boots) giving lectures to the fellows and meeting old friends. His tutorial on how to enter into the cardiovascular system was a masterpiece enjoyed by generations of Baylor Fellows and demonstrated the impeccable detail that Chuck paid to even what might be considered a mundane aspect of interventional cardiology. He loved to join us in the cardiac catheterization laboratory when follow-up procedures on his patients occurred, or whenever an innovative or new procedure was taking place. This was where he was the happiest, as he would say, and we would benefit from his wealth of knowledge and experience.

During his career, Chuck trained more than 150 cardiologists and performed procedures in more than 150 cardiac catheterization laboratories around the world. Yet, despite his celebrity status in the field, there was a genuine humility about Chuck. During interactions, he made everyone feel as if they were the sole focus of his attention—friends, colleagues, patients, and families alike. Chuck also never lost sight of his family. His wife and the love of his life, Arlene, would often travel the world with him and become a dear friend of the congenital interventional community. His family meant the world to him, and he is survived by his wife. Arlene, 3 children, 4 grandchildren, and 5 greatgrandchildren.

In his final days, one of Chuck’s caregivers revealed how he had saved her daughter’s life, a familiar story for thousands of families. Her daughter was now 28 years old, and her life had come full circle, as it was now time for her to take care of the man to whom she was forever indebted to. She commented on how when she first met him, those around her at Texas Children’s Hospital would tell her how lucky she was to have the most famous pediatric cardiologist in the world caring for her daughter. She recalled how she was honored, but at the same time, taken aback. To her, as she relayed with tears rolling down her face, he just came across as an exceptionally humble, “regular guy.” That was Chuck.

There will be a memorial service to be held December 2nd, 2024 at Grace Presbyterian Church on Ella Lee Lane in Houston at 11:00 AM CST.