Pioneer in modern cardiovascular surgery to speak to medical students Jan. 26

Jan. 19, 2005
                                         
Pioneer in modern cardiovascular surgery to speak to medical students Jan. 26

By LESLIE H. LANG
UNC School of Medicine

CHAPEL HILL -- Dr. Michael E. DeBakey, internationally recognized as the father of modern cardiovascular surgery, will deliver the Ralph R. Landes Lecture at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine on Jan. 26.

His lecture, “Cardiovascular Research: its Clinical Implications in the 20th Century,” is part of the 37th annual John B. Graham Student Research Society’s Student Research Day. The event is co-sponsored by the School of Medicine’s department of surgery.

DeBakey, 96, is chancellor emeritus of Baylor College of Medicine, and Distinguished Service professor and Olga Keith Wiess professor in the Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery at Baylor. He also directs the DeBakey Heart Center, at Baylor and the Methodist Hospital; the center was established in 1985 for research and public education in preventing and treating heart disease.

DeBakey is credited with inventing and perfecting scores of medical devices, techniques and procedures commonly used in today’s cardiovascular medicine.

“Dr. DeBakey has performed more than 60,000 cardiovascular procedures and has trained thousands of surgeons who practice throughout the world, many now as heads of their own departments of surgery,” said Dr. Anthony A. Meyer, professor and chairman of surgery at UNC. “It is a great honor to have this distinguished physician as our guest here at UNC.”

Among his inventions are the roller pump (1932), the essential component of the heart-lung machine that ushered in the era of open-heart surgery; and Dacron and Dacron-velour artificial grafts (1950-1953) now used worldwide for replacing diseased arteries.

In 1953, DeBakey performed the first successful carotid endarterectomy, thereby establishing the field of surgery for strokes. In this procedure, an artery in the front of the neck is slit open and plaque deposits that constrict blood flow or may release a clot to the brain are carefully peeled away.

In 1964, DeBakey and associates performed the first successful aortocoronary-artery bypass in which the large vein in the leg was used to bypass the blocked or damaged arterial area.

A pioneer in the development of an artificial heart, he was the first to successfully use a partial artificial heart, a left ventricular bypass pump, in 1966. Two years later, he led a team of surgeons in a historic multiple-transplantation procedure in which the heart, kidneys and one lung of a donor were transplanted to four recipients.

DeBakey developed the Mobile Army Surgical Hospitals (M.A.S.H.) concepts for the military, which helped save thousands of lives during the Korean and Vietnam wars. He also pioneered development of specialized medical and surgical center systems to treat returning military personnel, which subsequently became the Veterans Administration Medical Center System.

DeBakey has been an adviser to almost every president in the past 50 years, as well as to heads of state worldwide. He led the movement to establish the National Library of Medicine, which is now the world's largest and most prestigious repository of medical archives. He also has served on advisory committees to nations in Europe, the Far East and Middle East, helping to establish health-care systems.

Among his numerous honors, national and international, is the Albert Lasker Award for Clinical Medical Research (1963), often called “America’s Nobels” and the nation’s most distinguished honor for outstanding contributions to clinical medical research.

“Dr. DeBakey’s long and distinguished career has led development in the treatment of cardiovascular disease, medical education and research, and national [health] policy in the United States and worldwide. An outstanding surgeon whose expertise has been sought by heads of state, his unbridled energy and enthusiasm have touched the lives of people worldwide,” said Dr. George F. Sheldon, Zack D. Owens distinguished professor of surgery and former chairman of the department at UNC and the Association of American Medical Colleges.

Founded 36 years ago, the John B. Graham Student Research Society recognizes outstanding student achievement in medical research, creates and promotes student interest in clinical and basic science and in other medicine-related research areas, and coordinates opportunities for students to present their research to their peers, faculty and staff.

Dr. Ralph R. Landes was a clinical professor of surgery and former historian of the American Urological Society. The fund named in his honor enables the School of Medicine to invite a renowned investigator to teach and to interact with students and inspire them to continue their interest and participation in research.

Note: Media representatives who wish to interview DeBakey should contact Stephanie Crayton at (919) 966-2860 or scrayton@unch.unc.edu

Photo note: To download a photo of DeBakey, click on http://www.unc.edu/news/pics/event/lecture/deBakey.jpg

School of Medicine contact: Les Lang, (919) 843-9687 or llang@med.unc.edu