1950s Champ Lyons, MD, and Tinsley R. Harrison, MD, begin the Cardiovascular Research and Training Program with a grant from the National Heart Lung Institute. |
1958 Leland C. Clark, PhD, is instrumental in establishing the first open-heart program made possible by his successful creation of a pump oxygenator system. |
1967 John W. Kirklin, MD, moves to UAB from the Mayo Clinic to develop a world-class cardiac surgery program that garners national and international recognition. He serves as the chairman of the department of surgery from 1966-1982. |
1981 The first heart transplant in Alabama is performed by Robert Karp, MD. |
1988 The first heartlung transplant in the Southeast is performed by James K. Kirklin, MD, now the director of cardiothoracic surgery. |