Personal Life

Myers was married towards the end of his University of Pennsylvania medical school education in 1969. They had two sons: Jamiel Eugene, who graduated from Stetson University, and Cary Michael, who graduated from Florida State University. Some years later, after a divorce, he and his two sons lived in a small but cozy "Florida Cracker" house on Roberts Point Circle, surrounded by "Little Sarasota Bay." The house was located on a deep-water cove, and many visitors suggested that this property and abode reminded them of Fred Sanford’s residence as seen on the Sanford and Son sitcom! Most spare time was spent with radio-controlled planes, hunting, fishing, dirt biking, ping-pong, and pool. This sweet little abode was also a refuge for other youngsters who had parental "challenges." The front yard frequently featured "YARD ART," such as old appliances, junk, and discarded fishing gear. The driveway displayed an old green car up on blocks, labeled "TEN TON TOAD." The single garage displayed the car’s engine, lifted with a chain pulley system, so all the neighborhood kids could learn about combustion engines from Pat, a knowledgeable neighbor. Eventually, this prize automobile was reassembled, and one of the sons attempted to drive it off to college—but he was stopped, and the vehicle was confiscated by the Myers because it apparently did not have a legal driver's seat—it was a FLIMSY BEACH CHAIR!
The front door of the house would not be described as elegant and had no locking mechanism, but it was carefully guarded by Beau and Gus, a yellow and chocolate Labrador retriever. Roberts Point Circle, at that time, was a dirt road, ideal for power-sliding in their gas-powered go-cart. The two Labs were “escape artists” and were well-known in the community.
Myers was divorced in 1988.
In 1997, he married Susanne Hawco, a graduate of Saint Francis Xavier in Nova Scotia, Canada. There, she was a standout college basketball player and earned a BScRN degree. After dating for 4–5 months, they suddenly discovered they had a 27-year age differential. It was claimed that it was “love at first bite”—two and a half years later, they were married.

Now, more than 30 years later, all those who “bet against them” have had to "pay up." Together, they have a 25-year-old elite athlete daughter, Lillian, who has just graduated from Cornell University and is a member of the USA Olympic Development Team, training in the 49er FX towards competing in the 2028 sailing Olympics. Susanne became a naturalized U.S. citizen and has taken over managing all of the Myers–Hawco enterprises. Lillian regards her mom as her personal ATC (air traffic controller) and manager (for things she does not want to do herself) for her national and international travel.

In the late 1980s, Myers met Dr. Harold David Friedberg, MD (1927–2005), a researcher and cardiologist from Johannesburg, South Africa. He immigrated to the USA in 1966 and was quickly appointed Chief of Cardiology at the VA Hospital in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In 1976, he helped Dr. Manny Villafana, PhD, develop the Saint Jude Heart Valve, which became the most used mechanical valve in the world. David was the assistant editor of the Journal of Electrophysiology while living in Milwaukee. Ironically, he had bypass surgery himself. He also helped Villafana design and develop a laser-enhanced cardiac angioplasty system with GV Medical of Minneapolis, Minnesota. In 1980, he moved to Florida, where he met Myers. In the late 1980s, while practicing with Myers’ group, he again worked with Dr. Villafana (7 medical device IPOs) to design and develop the ATS (Advancing the Standard) open pivot bileaflet mechanical valve. The Saint Jude valve, ATS valve, along with Villafana’s first medical device, the CPI pacemaker, have been IMPLANTED IN 15 MILLION PEOPLE WORLDWIDE. On one occasion, Friedberg and Villafana invited Myers to an informal meeting for one of their frequent development and design sessions on the ATS valve. Through Dr. David Friedberg, Myers was introduced to Manny and his family, and they have become lifelong friends. Soon after joining Gene E. Myers Cardiac and Vascular Consultants, Friedberg became close personal and professional friends with Myers, and they practiced together without a signed contract—all verbal—until he passed in 2005.

Medical 21: Medical Technical Advisor

Medical21, INC was founded by Dr. Manny Villafana, PhD, in 2016 with the main objective of eliminating the necessity of "harvesting" patients' arteries and veins for use as bypass conduits during coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. This may sound like a relatively simple task, after developing pacemakers and valves, but for 52 years, all those who tried miserably failed! In a casual moment, Myers recalls asking Manny if he would consider having him be "David Friedberg." Manny answered, "You mean you want to work with me on Medical21?" — "Yes," answered Myers, and the rest was history!

Both men had to learn how to "wear different hats" to maximize the value of technical, medical, and business scenarios. Before Medical21, Manny had already accomplished seven medical device IPOs and had 15 million patients walking around with one of his devices.

By most standards, he is considered the most experienced and successful medical device entrepreneur in the world. His diverse experiences in developing, building, and selling medical devices made him the ideal mentor for Myers, and both accepted those roles.

On the other hand, Manny permitted Myers to use his past 45 years of interventional cardiology practice, technical expertise, and business experience within clearly agreed-upon parameters. Myers very quickly learned that sometimes a great idea is surrounded by five or ten other circumstances that make a great idea simply not so great from an overall perspective. It did not take long before their mutual, concerted effort was added to the already powerful “brainiac” Medical21 team. Myers was overheard telling his wife, Susanne, that except for their marriage, this Medical21 adventure was the most exciting adventure of his life!