UAB Cardiothoracic Surgery Annual Report 2015-16 UAB Medicine Cardiothoracic Surgery 2015/16 Annual | Page 4

A TRADITION OF INNOVATION
UAB’ s national and international prominence in cardiac surgery is attributed to the men and women whose thoughts, work, research, and dedication to medicine began in 1950. Our rich history of innovation led to the significant advances in cardiac medicine that continue to benefit today’ s patients.

A TRADITION OF INNOVATION

1950 – 58 1962 1967 1970 1981 1986 1988
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.
1962 W. Sterling Edwards, MD, performs Alabama’ s first cardiac surgery utilizing cardiopulmonary bypass.
1970 Louis Sheppard, PhD, FACMI, and John W. Kirklin, MD, oversee the world’ s first computerized ICU when they utilize automated care of cardiac surgical patients.
1986 The first arterial switch operation in Alabama is performed by Albert Pacifico, MD, who serves as the division director from 1984-2006.
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.

UAB’ s national and international prominence in cardiac surgery is attributed to the men and women whose thoughts, work, research, and dedication to medicine began in 1950. Our rich history of innovation led to the significant advances in cardiac medicine that continue to benefit today’ s patients.

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