A TRADITION OF INNOVATION
1950-58 Champ Lyons , M . D ., and Tinsley R . Harrison , M . D ., begin the Cardiovascular Research and Training Program with a grant from the National Heart Lung Institute
1966 Tinsley R . Harrison , M . D ., one of the most influential physicians of the 20th century , appointed the first director of the Division of Cardiovascular Disease
1967 John W . Kirklin , M . D ., moves to UAB from Mayo Clinic to develop a world-class cardiac surgery program that garners national and international recognition
1981 First heart transplant in Alabama is performed at UAB by Robert Karp , M . D .
1989 First intracoronary stenting was performed at UAB as part of clinical trial for acute or threatened vessel closure during PTCA
1989 The first mechanical circulatory support device implant in Alabama is performed by William Holman , M . D .
1984 UAB develops currently used color Doppler techniques for semi-quantitation of mitral , aortic , and tricuspid valve regurgitation severity
1993 First double-lung transplant in Alabama is performed by David McGiffin , M . D ., and George Zorn , M . D .
1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s
1962 W . Sterling Edwards , M . D ., performs Alabama ’ s first cardiac surgery utilizing cardiopulmonary bypass
1970 Louis Sheppard , PhD , FACMI , and John W . Kirklin , M . D ., oversee the world ’ s first computerized ICU that makes use of automated care for cardiac surgery patients
1988 First heart-lung transplant in Southeast is performed by James K . Kirklin , M . D ., who directed the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery 2006-2016
1996 First pulmonary vein isolation in Alabama is performed by Neal Kay , M . D ., and Vance Plumb , M . D .
1997 First endovascular aneurysm repair ( EVAR ) in Alabama is performed at UAB by William D . Jordan , M . D .
1986 First arterial switch operation in Alabama is performed by Albert Pacifico , M . D ., who directed the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery 1984-2006
1986 UAB Electrophysiology ’ s Neal Kay , M . D ., and Vance Plumb , M . D ., began performing DC ablation of AV node for atrial fibrillation
1990 First radio frequency catheter ablation in Alabama is performed for Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome by Vance Plumb , M . D .
4 UAB Cardiovascular Institute 2023 Annual Report