Denton A. Cooley, M.D. - Academy of Achievement

<!doctype html> <html lang="en-US" prefix="og: http://ogp.me/ns#"> <head><script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/bundle-playback.js?v=HxkREWBo" charset="utf-8"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/wombat.js?v=txqj7nKC" charset="utf-8"></script> <script>window.RufflePlayer=window.RufflePlayer||{};window.RufflePlayer.config={"autoplay":"on","unmuteOverlay":"hidden"};</script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/ruffle/ruffle.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> __wm.init("https://web.archive.org/web"); __wm.wombat("http://www.achievement.org:80/achiever/denton-a-cooley/","20170622211006","https://web.archive.org/","web","/_static/", "1498165806"); </script> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/_static/css/banner-styles.css?v=S1zqJCYt" /> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/_static/css/iconochive.css?v=3PDvdIFv" />  <meta charset="utf-8"> <meta http-equiv="x-ua-compatible" content="ie=edge"> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon-precomposed" sizes="57x57" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170622211006im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/themes/aoa/assets/images/favicon/apple-touch-icon-57x57.png"/> <link rel="apple-touch-icon-precomposed" sizes="114x114" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170622211006im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/themes/aoa/assets/images/favicon/apple-touch-icon-114x114.png"/> <link rel="apple-touch-icon-precomposed" sizes="72x72" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170622211006im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/themes/aoa/assets/images/favicon/apple-touch-icon-72x72.png"/> <link rel="apple-touch-icon-precomposed" sizes="144x144" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170622211006im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/themes/aoa/assets/images/favicon/apple-touch-icon-144x144.png"/> <link rel="apple-touch-icon-precomposed" sizes="60x60" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170622211006im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/themes/aoa/assets/images/favicon/apple-touch-icon-60x60.png"/> <link rel="apple-touch-icon-precomposed" sizes="120x120" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170622211006im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/themes/aoa/assets/images/favicon/apple-touch-icon-120x120.png"/> <link rel="apple-touch-icon-precomposed" sizes="76x76" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170622211006im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/themes/aoa/assets/images/favicon/apple-touch-icon-76x76.png"/> <link rel="apple-touch-icon-precomposed" sizes="152x152" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170622211006im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/themes/aoa/assets/images/favicon/apple-touch-icon-152x152.png"/> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170622211006im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/themes/aoa/assets/images/favicon/favicon-196x196.png" sizes="196x196"/> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170622211006im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/themes/aoa/assets/images/favicon/favicon-96x96.png" sizes="96x96"/> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170622211006im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/themes/aoa/assets/images/favicon/favicon-32x32.png" sizes="32x32"/> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170622211006im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/themes/aoa/assets/images/favicon/favicon-16x16.png" sizes="16x16"/> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170622211006im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/themes/aoa/assets/images/favicon/favicon-128.png" sizes="128x128"/> <meta name="application-name" content="Academy of Achievement"/> <meta name="msapplication-TileColor" content="#000000"/> <meta name="msapplication-TileImage" content="http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/themes/aoa/assets/images/favicon/mstile-144x144.png"/> <meta name="msapplication-square70x70logo" content="http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/themes/aoa/assets/images/favicon/mstile-70x70.png"/> <meta name="msapplication-square150x150logo" content="http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/themes/aoa/assets/images/favicon/mstile-150x150.png"/> <meta name="msapplication-wide310x150logo" content="http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/themes/aoa/assets/images/favicon/mstile-310x150.png"/> <meta name="msapplication-square310x310logo" content="http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/themes/aoa/assets/images/favicon/mstile-310x310.png"/> <link href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170622211006cs_/https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Source+Sans+Pro:400,600,400italic,600italic,700,700italic" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css"> <title>Denton A. Cooley, M.D. - Academy of Achievement</title>  <meta name="description" content="As late as the 1940s, it was considered impossible to operate on the heart of a living patient. The tremendous advances made in cardiovascular surgery since that time are the work of many great physicians, but in this history, a few great names stick out, including those of Dr. Denton Cooley and Dr. Michael DeBakey. While still an intern, Dr. Cooley participated in the first "blue baby" operation, to correct the congenital heart defect common in newborns. Early in his career, he pioneered the removal of aortic aneurysms, the replacement of damaged heart valves, and the development of the heart-lung machine. Dr. Cooley went on to perform the first successful human heart transplants in the United States, and was the first surgeon anywhere to implant an artificial heart in a human being. He performed more open-heart operations than any surgeon in the world, including over 20 human heart transplants. In the middle of his career he became embroiled in controversy with his former colleague, Dr. DeBakey, but no one can dispute that he personally saved tens of thousands of lives, and through the techniques he developed and the surgeons he trained, perhaps a million more."/> <meta name="robots" content="noodp"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/denton-a-cooley/"/> <meta property="og:locale" content="en_US"/> <meta property="og:type" content="article"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Denton A. Cooley, M.D. - Academy of Achievement"/> <meta property="og:description" content="<p class="p1"><span class="s1">As late as the 1940s, it was considered impossible to operate on the heart of a living patient. The tremendous advances made in cardiovascular surgery since that time are the work of many great physicians, but in this history, a few great names stick out, including those of Dr. Denton Cooley and Dr. Michael DeBakey.</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">While still an intern, Dr. Cooley participated in the first "blue baby" operation, to correct the congenital heart defect common in newborns. Early in his career, he pioneered the removal of aortic aneurysms, the replacement of damaged heart valves, and the development of the heart-lung machine. Dr. Cooley went on to perform the first successful human heart transplants in the United States, and was the first surgeon anywhere to implant an artificial heart in a human being.</span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="s2">He performed more open-heart operations than any surgeon in the world, including over 20 human heart transplants. In the middle of his career he became embroiled in controversy with his former colleague, Dr. DeBakey, but no one can dispute that he personally saved tens of thousands of lives, and through the techniques he developed and the surgeons he trained, perhaps a million more.</span></p>"/> <meta property="og:url" content="https://web.archive.org/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/denton-a-cooley/"/> <meta property="og:site_name" content="Academy of Achievement"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://web.archive.org/web/20170622211006im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/cooley-new-2-Feature-Image-2800x1120-3.jpg"/> <meta property="og:image:width" content="2800"/> <meta property="og:image:height" content="1120"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="<p class="p1"><span class="s1">As late as the 1940s, it was considered impossible to operate on the heart of a living patient. The tremendous advances made in cardiovascular surgery since that time are the work of many great physicians, but in this history, a few great names stick out, including those of Dr. Denton Cooley and Dr. Michael DeBakey.</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">While still an intern, Dr. Cooley participated in the first "blue baby" operation, to correct the congenital heart defect common in newborns. Early in his career, he pioneered the removal of aortic aneurysms, the replacement of damaged heart valves, and the development of the heart-lung machine. Dr. Cooley went on to perform the first successful human heart transplants in the United States, and was the first surgeon anywhere to implant an artificial heart in a human being.</span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="s2">He performed more open-heart operations than any surgeon in the world, including over 20 human heart transplants. In the middle of his career he became embroiled in controversy with his former colleague, Dr. DeBakey, but no one can dispute that he personally saved tens of thousands of lives, and through the techniques he developed and the surgeons he trained, perhaps a million more.</span></p>"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Denton A. 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data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/cooley-new-2-Feature-Image-2800x1120-3-380x152.jpg [(max-width:544px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/11/cooley-new-2-Feature-Image-2800x1120-3.jpg [(max-width:992px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/11/cooley-new-2-Feature-Image-2800x1120-3-1400x560.jpg"></div> <div class="display--table"> <div class="display--table-cell"> <figcaption class="feature-area__text ratio-container__text container"> <div class="feature-area__text-inner text-white"> <h2 class="serif-8 feature-area__text-subhead back"><a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever">All achievers</a></h2> <h1 class="serif-1 entry-title feature-area__text-headline">Denton A. Cooley, M.D.</h1> <h5 class="sans-6 feature-area__blurb">Pioneer of Heart Transplants</h5> </div> </figcaption> </div> </div> </figure> </header> </div>  <nav class="in-page-nav row fixedsticky"> <ul class="nav text-xs-center clearfix" role="tablist"> <li class="nav-item col-xs-3"> <a class="nav-link active" data-toggle="tab" href="#biography" role="tab" data-gtm-category="tab" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever Biography">Biography</a> </li> <li class="nav-item col-xs-3"> <a class="nav-link" data-toggle="tab" href="#profile" role="tab" data-gtm-category="tab" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever Profile">Profile</a> </li> <li class="nav-item col-xs-3"> <a class="nav-link" data-toggle="tab" href="#interview" role="tab" data-gtm-category="tab" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever Interview">Interview</a> </li> <li class="nav-item col-xs-3"> <a class="nav-link" data-toggle="tab" href="#gallery" role="tab" data-gtm-category="tab" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever Gallery">Gallery</a> </li> </ul> </nav> <article class="post-2233 achiever type-achiever status-publish has-post-thumbnail hentry careers-surgeon-medical-doctor"> <div class="entry-content container clearfix">  <div class="tab-content"> <div class="tab-pane fade in active" id="biography" role="tabpanel"> <section class="achiever--biography"> <div class="row"> <header class="editorial-article__header col-md-8 col-md-offset-2 text-xs-center"> <i class="icon-icon_bio text-brand-primary"></i> <h3 class="serif-3 quote-marks">I think confidence is something you build gradually, with experience. I've always felt that maybe one of the reasons that I did well as a student and made such good grades was because I lacked confidence. I never felt that I was prepared to take an examination, and I had to study a little bit extra.</h3> </header> </div> <div class="row"> <aside class="col-md-4 sidebar clearfix"> <h2 class="serif-3 p-b-1">Presidential Medal of Freedom</h2> <div class="col-xs-12 sidebar--chunk p-b-2"> <dt class="serif-7">Date of Birth</dt> <dd class="sans-2"> August 22, 1920 </dd> </div> <div class="col-xs-12 sidebar--chunk p-b-2"> <dt class="serif-7">Date of Death</dt> <dd class="sans-2"> November 15, 2016 </dd> </div> </aside> <article class="editorial-article col-md-8"> <!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"> <html><body><p>Denton Cooley was born and raised in Houston, Texas. His father, a dentist, had a thriving practice and was able to invest profitably in real estate. When young Denton first entered school he was shy and insecure, but gained confidence by applying himself to his studies, and by high school had distinguished himself academically and athletically, playing tennis and basketball. At the University of Texas, he majored in zoology, and was a star of the varsity basketball squad. At first he intended to join his father’s dental practice, but after taking a few pre-med courses, he became fascinated by surgery.</p> <figure id="attachment_33611" style="width: 1553px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><noscript><img class="wp-image-33611 size-full " src="https://web.archive.org/web/20170622211006im_/http://162.243.3.155/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/image1.jpg"></noscript><img class="wp-image-33611 size-full lazyload" alt="The UT Longhorn basketball team, 1939 Southwest Conference Champions. Dr. Cooley located on the top row, far right." width="1553" height="989" data-sizes="(max-width: 1553px) 100vw, 1553px" data-srcset="/web/20170622211006im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/image1.jpg 1553w, /web/20170622211006im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/image1-380x242.jpg 380w, /web/20170622211006im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/image1-760x484.jpg 760w" data-src="https://web.archive.org/web/20170622211006/http://162.243.3.155/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/image1.jpg"><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">The University of Texas Longhorn basketball team, 1939 Southwest Conference Champions. Dr. Denton Cooley.</figcaption></figure><p>In 1941, he entered the Texas College of Medicine at Galveston, but soon transferred to Johns Hopkins in Baltimore. His medical education was provided in part by the Army Specialty Training Program. He obtained his M.D. degree in 1944 and remained at Hopkins as an intern, assisting Dr. Alfred Blalock in the first “blue baby” operation, to correct an infant’s congenital heart defect.</p> <p>Cooley maintained that the modern era in cardiovascular surgery began with Dr. Blalock’s work, and it inspired him to specialize in heart surgery. Even as an intern, Cooley impressed his colleagues with his extraordinary speed and dexterity in the operating room.</p> <figure id="attachment_33581" style="width: 2280px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><noscript><img class="wp-image-33581 size-full " src="https://web.archive.org/web/20170622211006im_/http://162.243.3.155/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/alfred_blalock_and_helen_taussig.jpg"></noscript><img class="wp-image-33581 size-full lazyload" alt="In 1944, pediatric cardiologists Dr. Alfred Blalock and Dr. Helen Taussig figured out a surgical method that dealt with methaemoglobinaemia, or “blue baby syndrome.” At Johns Hopkins, Cooley had been taken under the wing of Blalock. Blalock permitted him to assist in the first surgery to correct the congenital heart defect of a "blue baby," whose malfunctioning heart prevented him from getting adequate oxygen. That experience inspired Cooley to make heart surgery his specialty." width="2280" height="1783" data-sizes="(max-width: 2280px) 100vw, 2280px" data-srcset="/web/20170622211006im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/alfred_blalock_and_helen_taussig.jpg 2280w, /web/20170622211006im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/alfred_blalock_and_helen_taussig-380x297.jpg 380w, /web/20170622211006im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/alfred_blalock_and_helen_taussig-760x594.jpg 760w" data-src="https://web.archive.org/web/20170622211006/http://162.243.3.155/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/alfred_blalock_and_helen_taussig.jpg"><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">In 1944, Dr. Alfred Blalock and Dr. Helen Taussig figured out a surgical method dealing with “blue baby syndrome.” At Johns Hopkins, Denton Cooley had been taken under the wing of Blalock. Blalock permitted him to assist in the first surgery to correct the congenital heart defect of a “blue baby,” whose malfunctioning heart prevented him from getting adequate oxygen. That experience inspired Dr. Denton Cooley to make heart surgery his specialty.</figcaption></figure><p>In 1946, Dr. Cooley was called on to fulfill his obligation to the Army and went on active duty with the Army Medical Corps. He served as chief of surgical services at the station hospital in Linz, Austria and was discharged in 1948 with the rank of captain. He returned to Hopkins to complete his residency and remained as an instructor in surgery. In 1950 he traveled to London to work and study with Lord Russell Brock, the eminent British surgeon.</p> <figure id="attachment_33599" style="width: 1500px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><noscript><img class="wp-image-33599 size-full " src="https://web.archive.org/web/20170622211006im_/http://162.243.3.155/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/DACweddingcuttingcake.jpg"></noscript><img class="wp-image-33599 size-full lazyload" alt="January 15, 1949: Louise Goldsborough Thomas, R.N., head nurse at Halsted Surgical Clinic at Johns Hopkins Hospital, married Denton A. Cooley, chief surgical resident." width="1500" height="1200" data-sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" data-srcset="/web/20170622211006im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/DACweddingcuttingcake.jpg 1500w, /web/20170622211006im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/DACweddingcuttingcake-380x304.jpg 380w, /web/20170622211006im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/DACweddingcuttingcake-760x608.jpg 760w" data-src="https://web.archive.org/web/20170622211006/http://162.243.3.155/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/DACweddingcuttingcake.jpg"><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">1949: Louise Thomas, R.N., head nurse at Johns Hopkins Hospital, married Denton Cooley, chief surgical resident. Dr. Cooley’s wife of 67 years died in October of 2016. A daughter, Florence Cooley, committed suicide in 1985. Dr. Cooley’s surviving family included four daughters, sixteen grandchildren, and seventeen great-grandchildren.</figcaption></figure><p>Dr. Cooley finally came home to Houston in 1951, to become associate professor of surgery at Baylor University College of Medicine and to work at Methodist Hospital, its affiliated institution. At Baylor and Methodist, Cooley began his collaboration with Dr. Michael DeBakey, the great pioneer of vascular surgery. This relationship would lead to great triumphs and to great bitterness for both men.</p> <figure id="attachment_33602" style="width: 1500px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><noscript><img class="wp-image-33602 size-full " src="https://web.archive.org/web/20170622211006im_/http://162.243.3.155/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/drcooley1957.jpg"></noscript><img class="wp-image-33602 size-full lazyload" alt="1957: Dr. Cooley in his office at Baylor. He served on the full-time faculty of Baylor College of Medicine for 18 years as a professor of surgery. (Texas Heart Institute)" width="1500" height="1225" data-sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" data-srcset="/web/20170622211006im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/drcooley1957.jpg 1500w, /web/20170622211006im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/drcooley1957-380x310.jpg 380w, /web/20170622211006im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/drcooley1957-760x621.jpg 760w" data-src="https://web.archive.org/web/20170622211006/http://162.243.3.155/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/drcooley1957.jpg"><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">1957: Dr. Cooley served on the full-time faculty of Baylor College of Medicine for 18 years as a professor of surgery.</figcaption></figure><p>Throughout the ’50s, their collaboration produced great innovations in surgery. While working with DeBakey, Cooley developed a new method of removing aortic aneurysms, the bulging weak spots that may develop in the wall of the artery. Some 20 years earlier, Dr. DeBakey had begun work on a heart-lung bypass machine, to immobilize the heart during surgery, but it was Cooley’s design that was finally used successfully at Methodist Hospital in 1955.</p> <p>The two great surgeons were temperamentally incompatible, and in 1960, Dr. Cooley moved his practice from Methodist Hospital to St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital, only 300 feet away. He also worked at Texas Children’s Hospital, and continued to teach at Baylor, where he was now a full professor. Through his work at Baylor, he still came into contact with Dr. DeBakey, and the friction between the two doctors continued. Meanwhile, Dr. Cooley founded the privately funded Texas Heart Institute.</p> <figure id="attachment_33600" style="width: 2280px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><noscript><img class="wp-image-33600 size-full " src="https://web.archive.org/web/20170622211006im_/http://162.243.3.155/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/DAC-Singleton-McNamara-1954-11x14cooley3250.jpg"></noscript><img class="wp-image-33600 size-full lazyload" alt="1954-62: Denton A. Cooley M.D., Edward Singleton, M.D. and Dan McNamara, M.D. at Texas Heart Institute." width="2280" height="1555" data-sizes="(max-width: 2280px) 100vw, 2280px" data-srcset="/web/20170622211006im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/DAC-Singleton-McNamara-1954-11x14cooley3250.jpg 2280w, /web/20170622211006im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/DAC-Singleton-McNamara-1954-11x14cooley3250-380x259.jpg 380w, /web/20170622211006im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/DAC-Singleton-McNamara-1954-11x14cooley3250-760x518.jpg 760w" data-src="https://web.archive.org/web/20170622211006/http://162.243.3.155/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/DAC-Singleton-McNamara-1954-11x14cooley3250.jpg"><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">1954-62: Denton A. Cooley M.D., Edward Singleton, M.D. and Dan McNamara, M.D. at the Texas Heart Institute.</figcaption></figure><p>Cooley’s fame spread throughout the 1960s as he applied his extraordinary dexterity to delicate surgery on the hearts of infants with congenital heart disease. He was the first surgeon to successfully remove pulmonary embolisms, squeezing the lungs flat to remove the inaccessible blood clots.</p> <p>Dr. Cooley and his colleagues also pursued the development of artificial heart valves. From 1962 to 1967, the mortality rate for valve transplant patients fell from 70 percent to eight percent. In 1967, the International Surgical Society awarded Dr. Cooley its highest honor, the Renée Lebiche Prize. In its citation, the Society called him “the most valuable surgeon of the heart and blood vessels anywhere in the world.”</p> <figure id="attachment_33585" style="width: 830px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><noscript><img class="wp-image-33585 size-full " src="https://web.archive.org/web/20170622211006im_/http://162.243.3.155/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Christiaan-Barnard.jpg"></noscript><img class="wp-image-33585 size-full lazyload" alt="Dr. Christiaan N. Barnard, the South African surgeon who performed the world's first human heart transplant in 1967. In his autobiography, One Life, Barnard wrote about observing Cooley in surgery: “It was the most beautiful surgery I had ever seen... Every movement had a purpose and achieved its aim. Where most surgeons would take three hours, he could do the same operation in one hour. It went forward like a broad river — never obvious in haste, yet never going back... No one in the world, I knew, could equal it.”" width="830" height="1020" data-sizes="(max-width: 830px) 100vw, 830px" data-srcset="/web/20170622211006im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Christiaan-Barnard.jpg 830w, /web/20170622211006im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Christiaan-Barnard-309x380.jpg 309w, /web/20170622211006im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Christiaan-Barnard-618x760.jpg 618w" data-src="https://web.archive.org/web/20170622211006/http://162.243.3.155/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Christiaan-Barnard.jpg"><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">Dr. Christiaan N. Barnard, the South African surgeon who performed the world’s first human heart transplant in 1967. In his autobiography, <i>One Life</i>, Barnard wrote about observing Denton Cooley in surgery: “It was the most beautiful surgery I had ever seen… Every movement had a purpose and achieved its aim. Where most surgeons would take three hours, he could do the same operation in one hour… No one in the world, I knew, could equal it.”</figcaption></figure><p>At the end of that year, the South African surgeon, Christiaan Barnard, stunned the world by successfully transplanting a human heart. Within days, American surgeons tried and failed to duplicate the operation. Cooley and his team of surgeons at St. Luke’s studied Barnard’s methods with great care, streamlining and perfecting the procedure before trying it on a human patient.</p> <figure id="attachment_33598" style="width: 681px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><noscript><img class="wp-image-33598 size-full " src="https://web.archive.org/web/20170622211006im_/http://162.243.3.155/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/DACLiottaTAHimplant4-4-691stTAH.jpg"></noscript><img class="wp-image-33598 size-full lazyload" alt="April 4, 1969: Denton A. Cooley, world's first total artificial heart implant at Texas Heart Institute on Good Friday. Dr. Cooley holds in his right hand the Liotta TAH, and in his left, the native heart which has just been removed from the patient's chest (Haskell Karp). The patient was maintained on the TAH for 64 hours until a donor heart was located and transplant was performed." width="681" height="1003" data-sizes="(max-width: 681px) 100vw, 681px" data-srcset="/web/20170622211006im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/DACLiottaTAHimplant4-4-691stTAH.jpg 681w, /web/20170622211006im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/DACLiottaTAHimplant4-4-691stTAH-258x380.jpg 258w, /web/20170622211006im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/DACLiottaTAHimplant4-4-691stTAH-516x760.jpg 516w" data-src="https://web.archive.org/web/20170622211006/http://162.243.3.155/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/DACLiottaTAHimplant4-4-691stTAH.jpg"><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">April 4, 1969: Denton A. Cooley performing the world’s first total artificial heart implant at Texas Heart Institute. Dr. Cooley holds Liotta TAH and the native heart which has just been removed from the patient’s chest. The patient, Haskell Karp, was kept on the TAH for 64 hours until a donor heart was located and the transplant was performed.</figcaption></figure><p>On May 3, 1968, Cooley performed his first human heart transplant. The donor was a 15-year-old girl who had committed suicide. Although her brain had ceased to function, her heart was still beating. Cooley successfully transplanted the heart into a 47-year-old man, who survived for 204 days with the transplanted heart. Over the next year, Cooley performed 22 heart transplants, completing three within a single five-day period.</p> <figure id="attachment_33609" style="width: 2280px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><noscript><img class="wp-image-33609 size-full " src="https://web.archive.org/web/20170622211006im_/http://162.243.3.155/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/GettyImages-53380313_master.jpg"></noscript><img class="wp-image-33609 size-full lazyload" alt="April 10, 1970 cover of LIFE magazine, with photos of Dr. Denton Cooley (top) and Dr. Michael Debakey. (Photo by Ralph Morse/Life Magazine/Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images)" width="2280" height="2897" data-sizes="(max-width: 2280px) 100vw, 2280px" data-srcset="/web/20170622211006im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/GettyImages-53380313_master.jpg 2280w, /web/20170622211006im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/GettyImages-53380313_master-299x380.jpg 299w, /web/20170622211006im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/GettyImages-53380313_master-598x760.jpg 598w" data-src="https://web.archive.org/web/20170622211006/http://162.243.3.155/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/GettyImages-53380313_master.jpg"><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">April 10, 1970 cover of <em>LIFE</em> magazine, with photos of Dr. Denton Cooley (top) and Dr. Michael DeBakey. The DeBakey-Cooley imbroglio was in part rooted in this ethical dilemma. In 1969, Dr. Cooley sought to use an artificial heart as a temporary measure while the patient awaited a human heart from a donor. It was never clear how Dr. Cooley obtained the artificial heart developed by Dr. DeBakey, but a member of Dr. Cooley’s surgical team had once worked for Dr. DeBakey. DeBakey, who was out of town when the surgery was performed by Dr. Cooley, felt betrayed and was furious. The episode put federal grants at risk and resulted in Dr. Cooley’s censure by the American College of Physicians. DeBakey said that his onetime colleague “disappointed me with his ethics” and that his actions were “a little childish.” They didn’t speak for almost 40 years before they reconciled in 2007, one year before Dr. DeBakey’s death, at age 99. (Ralph Morse/Life Magazine/Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure><p>Cooley’s extraordinary record in these years attracted both praise and criticism. Many Americans did not accept the end of brain activity as the moment of death, and condemned the practice of removing a beating heart for transplant. In 1969, with no donor heart available for his dying patient, Dr. Cooley took a great risk by implanting an experimental artificial heart. After 65 hours, a human heart became available, and Cooley replaced the artificial heart, but the patient died a day later. Dr. Barnard, the pioneer of heart transplantation, praised Cooley’s decision, but Cooley’s former colleague, Dr. DeBakey, was harshly critical.</p> <figure id="attachment_33580" style="width: 2280px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><noscript><img class="wp-image-33580 size-full " src="https://web.archive.org/web/20170622211006im_/http://162.243.3.155/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/1994Dr.DentonCooleyandDr.TimBrickervisitwithSaraRemingtononthetenyearanniversaryofhearttransplant.jpg"></noscript><img class="wp-image-33580 size-full lazyload" alt="1994: Dr. Denton Cooley and Dr. Tim Bricker visit with Sara Remington on the ten-year anniversary of her heart transplant. Remington had a heart transplant that cardiologist Dr. Denton Cooley described as "a pilot study" for infant transplants. Baby Sara, as she was called for a time, is the youngest surviving recipient of a new heart. She was only 8 months old when she had the transplant on November 1, 1984, a week after Baby Fae was given a baboon heart in California. A few months earlier, a 10-day-old girl in London became the youngest patient to receive a new heart, but she died 18 days later." width="2280" height="1472" data-sizes="(max-width: 2280px) 100vw, 2280px" data-srcset="/web/20170622211006im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/1994Dr.DentonCooleyandDr.TimBrickervisitwithSaraRemingtononthetenyearanniversaryofhearttransplant.jpg 2280w, /web/20170622211006im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/1994Dr.DentonCooleyandDr.TimBrickervisitwithSaraRemingtononthetenyearanniversaryofhearttransplant-380x245.jpg 380w, /web/20170622211006im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/1994Dr.DentonCooleyandDr.TimBrickervisitwithSaraRemingtononthetenyearanniversaryofhearttransplant-760x491.jpg 760w" data-src="https://web.archive.org/web/20170622211006/http://162.243.3.155/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/1994Dr.DentonCooleyandDr.TimBrickervisitwithSaraRemingtononthetenyearanniversaryofhearttransplant.jpg"><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">1994: Dr. Denton Cooley and Dr. Tim Bricker visit with Sara Remington on the ten-year anniversary of her heart transplant. Remington had a heart transplant that Cooley described as “a pilot study” for infant transplants. Baby Sara, as she was called for a time, is the youngest surviving recipient of a new heart. She was only 8 months old when she had the transplant on November 1, 1984, a week after Baby Fae was given a baboon heart in California. A few months earlier, a 10-day-old girl became the youngest patient to receive a new heart, but died 18 days later.</figcaption></figure><p>Dr. DeBakey believed that Cooley had improperly appropriated DeBakey’s research, and had performed the operation without receiving federal approval for the procedure. Cooley emphatically denied the first charge, and asserted that the patient’s permission was adequate justification to attempt the operation. The governors of the American College of Surgeons voted to censure Dr. Cooley and, after a further dispute with the trustees of Baylor, he ended his 19-year association with the university. A multimillion-dollar malpractice suit brought by the patient’s widow was dismissed by the federal courts.</p> <figure id="attachment_33622" style="width: 1188px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><noscript><img class="wp-image-33622 size-full " src="https://web.archive.org/web/20170622211006im_/http://162.243.3.155/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/surgeongroup2001100000pumpcases.jpg"></noscript><img class="wp-image-33622 size-full lazyload" alt="Reaching a major milestone with Cooley's associates at the Texas Heart Institute: 100,000 open heart operations, January 10, 2001. Standing left to right: Charles Hallman, Grady Hallman, George Reul, O.H. (Bud) Frazier, Jim Livesay, Mike Duncan and David Ott." width="1188" height="851" data-sizes="(max-width: 1188px) 100vw, 1188px" data-srcset="/web/20170622211006im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/surgeongroup2001100000pumpcases.jpg 1188w, /web/20170622211006im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/surgeongroup2001100000pumpcases-380x272.jpg 380w, /web/20170622211006im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/surgeongroup2001100000pumpcases-760x544.jpg 760w" data-src="https://web.archive.org/web/20170622211006/http://162.243.3.155/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/surgeongroup2001100000pumpcases.jpg"><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">2001: Reaching a major milestone with Denton Cooley’s associates at the Texas Heart Institute: 100,000 open heart operations. Charles Hallman, Grady Hallman, George Reul, Bud Frazier, Jim Livesay, Mike Duncan and David Ott.</figcaption></figure><p>While Drs. Willem Kolff and William DeVries in Utah continued the development of the artificial heart, Cooley turned his attention to the coronary bypass operation. By 1972, he had performed over 1,200 bypasses; 10,000 open-heart operations, more than any other surgeon in the world.</p> <p>The establishment of the Denton A. Cooley Cardiovascular Surgical Foundation was seen in 1972 — an organization of surgeons trained by Dr. Cooley — and the dedication of the 29-story Texas Heart Institute building in Houston, where Dr. Cooley performed as many as 25 heart operations in a single day.</p> <figure id="attachment_33601" style="width: 1500px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><noscript><img class="size-full wp-image-33601 " src="https://web.archive.org/web/20170622211006im_/http://162.243.3.155/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/DeBakey-DAC-8x10-DSC_0281.jpg"></noscript><img class="size-full wp-image-33601 lazyload" alt="Michael E. DeBakey and Denton A. Cooley as DeBakey accepts a lifetime achievement award and honorary membership from the Denton A. Cooley Cardiovascular Surgical Society, October 27, 2007." width="1500" height="1200" data-sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" data-srcset="/web/20170622211006im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/DeBakey-DAC-8x10-DSC_0281.jpg 1500w, /web/20170622211006im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/DeBakey-DAC-8x10-DSC_0281-380x304.jpg 380w, /web/20170622211006im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/DeBakey-DAC-8x10-DSC_0281-760x608.jpg 760w" data-src="https://web.archive.org/web/20170622211006/http://162.243.3.155/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/DeBakey-DAC-8x10-DSC_0281.jpg"><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">October 27, 2007: Dr. Michael E. DeBakey and Dr. Denton A. Cooley at the event where the two reconciled.  Dr. DeBakey accepted a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Denton A. Cooley Cardiovascular Surgical Society.</figcaption></figure><p>Dr. Cooley married Louise Goldborough Thomas of Baltimore, and the couple raised five daughters. During his career, Dr. Cooley spent his limited spare time with his family, playing golf and playing upright bass with an all-physician band, The Heartbeats.</p></body></html> <div class="clearfix"> </div> </article> </div> </section> </div> <div class="tab-pane fade" id="profile" role="tabpanel"> <section class="clearfix"> <header class="editorial-article__header"> <figure class="text-xs-center"> <img class="inductee-badge" src="/web/20170622211006im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/themes/aoa/assets/images/inducted-badge@2x.png" alt="Inducted Badge" width="120" height="120"/> <figcaption class="serif-3 text-brand-primary"> Inducted in 1968 </figcaption> </figure> </header> <div class="row"> <aside class="col-md-4 sidebar"> <dl class="clearfix m-b-0"> <div class="col-xs-12 sidebar--chunk p-b-2"> <dt class="serif-7">Career</dt> <dd class="sans-2"> <div><a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/#filter=.surgeon-medical-doctor">Surgeon/Medical Doctor</a></div> </dd> </div> <div class="col-xs-12 sidebar--chunk p-b-2"> <dt class="serif-7">Date of Birth</dt> <dd class="sans-2"> August 22, 1920 </dd> </div> <div class="col-xs-12 sidebar--chunk p-b-2"> <dt class="serif-7">Date of Death</dt> <dd class="sans-2"> November 15, 2016 </dd> </div> </dl> </aside> <article class="col-md-8 editorial-article clearfix"> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">As late as the 1940s, it was considered impossible to operate on the heart of a living patient. The tremendous advances made in cardiovascular surgery since that time are the work of many great physicians, but in this history, a few great names stick out, including those of Dr. Denton Cooley and Dr. Michael DeBakey.</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">While still an intern, Dr. Cooley participated in the first “blue baby” operation, to correct the congenital heart defect common in newborns. Early in his career, he pioneered the removal of aortic aneurysms, the replacement of damaged heart valves, and the development of the heart-lung machine. Dr. Cooley went on to perform the first successful human heart transplants in the United States, and was the first surgeon anywhere to implant an artificial heart in a human being.</span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="s2">He performed more open-heart operations than any surgeon in the world, including over 20 human heart transplants. In the middle of his career he became embroiled in controversy with his former colleague, Dr. DeBakey, but no one can dispute that he personally saved tens of thousands of lives, and through the techniques he developed and the surgeons he trained, perhaps a million more.</span></p> </article> </div> </section> </div> <div class="tab-pane fade" id="interview" role="tabpanel"> <section class="clearfix"> <div class="col-md-12 interview-feature-video"> <figure> <div class="embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9"> <iframe class="embed-responsive-item embed-responsive--has-thumbnail" width="200" height="150" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20170622211006if_/https://www.youtube.com/embed/O_6X4BVlQGg?feature=oembed&autohide=1&hd=1&color=white&modestbranding=1&rel=0&showinfo=0&theme=light" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="embed-responsive__thumbnail ratio-container__image lazyload" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Cooley-Denton-1991-Upscale-1of1.00_08_04_19.Still002-380x214.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Cooley-Denton-1991-Upscale-1of1.00_08_04_19.Still002-760x428.jpg"></div> <div class="video-tag sans-4"> <i class="embed-responsive__play icon-icon_play-full text-brand-primary"></i> <div class="video-tag__text">Watch full interview</div> </div> </div> </figure> </div> <header class="col-md-12 text-xs-center m-b-2"> <i class="icon-icon_bio text-brand-primary"></i> </header> <aside class="col-md-4 sidebar"> <h2 class="serif-3 achiever--biography-subtitle">Presidential Medal of Freedom</h2> <div class="sans-2">Houston, Texas</div> <div class="sans-2">April 11, 1991</div> </aside> <article class="editorial-article col-md-8">   <div class="achiever__interview-copy"> <p><strong>Dr. Cooley, what is it about the heart that fascinates you?</strong></p> </div>     <div class="achiever__video-block"> <figure class="achiever__interview-video"> <div class="embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9"> <iframe class="embed-responsive-item embed-responsive--has-thumbnail" width="200" height="150" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20170622211006if_/https://www.youtube.com/embed/tKi5RqAl3-g?feature=oembed&autohide=1&hd=1&color=white&modestbranding=1&rel=0&showinfo=0&theme=light" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="embed-responsive__thumbnail ratio-container__image lazyload" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Cooley-Denton-1991-Upscale-1of1.00_39_22_29.Still007-380x214.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Cooley-Denton-1991-Upscale-1of1.00_39_22_29.Still007-760x428.jpg"></div> <i class="embed-responsive__play icon-icon_play-full text-brand-primary"></i> </div> <figcaption class="achiever__interview-video-terms"> <span>Keys to success —</span> <a class="comma-item" href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/keys-to-success/passion/">Passion</a> </figcaption> </figure>  <div class="achiever__interview-video__copy"> <p>Denton Cooley: It’s really a fascinating organ. It’s about the only organ in the body that you can really witness its function. It’s active and doing things, and so on. Some of the other organs you can witness, like the intestines, will have this sort of peristaltic motion. But nothing can compare with the activity of the human heart. And besides that, it’s always had a special connotation in our society, or in our life. It’s been the seat of the soul, and the seat of emotions. The seat of many things. And so, it has always been considered to be an organ that was not amenable, did not lend itself to manipulation. But now we find that it really is a tough little organ. It can tolerate a great deal, and it certainly has been revealed that it can be corrected in many ways, and even replaced by organ transplantation.</p> </div> </div>      <div class="achiever__interview-copy"> <!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"> <html><body><p><strong>In 1944, you took part in a historic operation with Dr. Alfred Blalock. Describe the circumstances, and what you did.</strong></p> <p>Denton Cooley: Dr. Blalock and his cardiology colleague, Dr. Helen Taussig, had been trying to find a way to correct “blue baby” syndrome. Dr. Blalock had done experiments in the animal laboratory at Johns Hopkins. I had little to do with those experiments, but I did participate up to a point. When the big day came, there was quite a bit of tension and concern around the surgical suite. I was just an intern, so I felt grateful that I was part of the team. I didn’t fully realize, of course, what an impact this operation would have on the new field of heart surgery. I didn’t appreciate what was happening, but it became evident in the weeks and months that followed, as heart surgery became a thing of interest all over the world. Patients and doctors flocked to Hopkins to see these new techniques. I was 24 years old, but I was right in the middle of history, and I enjoyed the thrill.</p> <figure id="attachment_33581" style="width: 2280px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><noscript><img class="wp-image-33581 size-full " src="https://web.archive.org/web/20170622211006im_/http://162.243.3.155/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/alfred_blalock_and_helen_taussig.jpg"></noscript><img class="wp-image-33581 size-full lazyload" alt="In 1944, pediatric cardiologists Dr. Alfred Blalock and Dr. Helen Taussig figured out a surgical method that dealt with methaemoglobinaemia, or “blue baby syndrome.” At Johns Hopkins, Cooley had been taken under the wing of Blalock. Blalock permitted him to assist in the first surgery to correct the congenital heart defect of a "blue baby," whose malfunctioning heart prevented him from getting adequate oxygen. That experience inspired Cooley to make heart surgery his specialty." width="2280" height="1783" data-sizes="(max-width: 2280px) 100vw, 2280px" data-srcset="/web/20170622211006im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/alfred_blalock_and_helen_taussig.jpg 2280w, /web/20170622211006im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/alfred_blalock_and_helen_taussig-380x297.jpg 380w, /web/20170622211006im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/alfred_blalock_and_helen_taussig-760x594.jpg 760w" data-src="https://web.archive.org/web/20170622211006/http://162.243.3.155/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/alfred_blalock_and_helen_taussig.jpg"><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">In 1944, Dr. Alfred Blalock and Dr. Helen Taussig figured out a surgical method dealing with “blue baby syndrome.” At Johns Hopkins, Denton Cooley had been taken under the wing of Blalock. Blalock permitted him to assist in the first surgery to correct the congenital heart defect of a “blue baby,” whose malfunctioning heart prevented him from getting adequate oxygen. That experience inspired Dr. Denton Cooley to make heart surgery his specialty.</figcaption></figure><p><strong>The mortality rate for “blue babies” was fairly high before this, wasn’t it?</strong></p> <p>Denton Cooley: By today’s standards, it was quite high, but we didn’t have all of the facilities available to us then that we have today. Some of those experiences were very discouraging to me.</p></body></html> </div>     <div class="achiever__video-block"> <figure class="achiever__interview-video"> <div class="embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9"> <iframe class="embed-responsive-item embed-responsive--has-thumbnail" width="200" height="150" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20170622211006if_/https://www.youtube.com/embed/9TwtR2ebkdU?feature=oembed&autohide=1&hd=1&color=white&modestbranding=1&rel=0&showinfo=0&theme=light" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="embed-responsive__thumbnail ratio-container__image lazyload" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Cooley-Denton-1991-Upscale-1of1.00_28_07_20.Still005-380x214.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Cooley-Denton-1991-Upscale-1of1.00_28_07_20.Still005-760x428.jpg"></div> <i class="embed-responsive__play icon-icon_play-full text-brand-primary"></i> </div> <figcaption class="achiever__interview-video-terms"> <span>Keys to success —</span> <a class="comma-item" href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/keys-to-success/perseverance/">Perseverance</a> </figcaption> </figure>  <div class="achiever__interview-video__copy"> <p>I can remember so well, one day when we lost a patient in the operating room. Lost one of the patients back on the cardiac ward, and so forth, and I was very depressed. I went and talked to Dr. Blalock, and I said we ought to cancel the schedule for the rest of the week, and sort of get ourselves back together. And he said, “No. We didn’t do anything wrong. We did our best.” He said, “You just go ahead and schedule tomorrow’s cases as if nothing had gone wrong.” He said, “I think I’m going to go out and play nine holes of golf myself.” And that was a good lesson to me, you know. The only way you can get over this discouragement, or sadness, is to keep on working. The human mind has a way of putting some of those things in a distant corner, and you just go ahead with your life, and try to overcome those disappointments.</p> </div> </div>      <div class="achiever__interview-copy"> <!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"> <html><body><p><strong>I imagine that could drag you down, if you let it.</strong></p> <p>Denton Cooley: That’s right. But it’s part of the game. I still take failure very seriously, but I’ve found that the only way I could overcome the feeling is to keep on working, and trying to benefit from failures or disappointments. There are always some lessons to be learned. So I keep on working.</p> <figure id="attachment_33612" style="width: 1444px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><noscript><img class="wp-image-33612 size-full " src="https://web.archive.org/web/20170622211006im_/http://162.243.3.155/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/image6.jpg"></noscript><img class="wp-image-33612 size-full lazyload" alt="The Jefferson Davis Hospital house staff (residents and interns) and medical staff. Cooley is standing next to Mike DeBakey (end of second row, right)." width="1444" height="1074" data-sizes="(max-width: 1444px) 100vw, 1444px" data-srcset="/web/20170622211006im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/image6.jpg 1444w, /web/20170622211006im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/image6-380x283.jpg 380w, /web/20170622211006im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/image6-760x565.jpg 760w" data-src="https://web.archive.org/web/20170622211006/http://162.243.3.155/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/image6.jpg"><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">The Jefferson Davis Hospital house residents, interns and medical staff. Cooley is standing next to Mike DeBakey.</figcaption></figure><p><strong>I read about another dramatic event from that early period. When you were an intern, you had to act very quickly to repair an aorta that had ruptured during an operation. Can you describe that experience?</strong></p></body></html> </div>     <div class="achiever__video-block"> <figure class="achiever__interview-video"> <div class="embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9"> <iframe class="embed-responsive-item embed-responsive--has-thumbnail" width="200" height="150" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20170622211006if_/https://www.youtube.com/embed/agLA-6pzNJ0?feature=oembed&autohide=1&hd=1&color=white&modestbranding=1&rel=0&showinfo=0&theme=light" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="embed-responsive__thumbnail ratio-container__image lazyload" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Cooley-Denton-1991-Upscale-1of1.00_26_46_26.Still004-380x214.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Cooley-Denton-1991-Upscale-1of1.00_26_46_26.Still004-760x428.jpg"></div> <i class="embed-responsive__play icon-icon_play-full text-brand-primary"></i> </div> <figcaption class="achiever__interview-video-terms"> <span>Keys to success —</span> <a class="comma-item" href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/keys-to-success/courage/">Courage</a> </figcaption> </figure>  <div class="achiever__interview-video__copy"> <p>Denton Cooley: I was operating with a surgeon who himself was handicapped. He had had a spinal cord tumor. He had one good hand, which was I think his left hand, which he used to operate. And he had one other arm, that was in sort of a brace. We had a patient with an aneurysm here, just under his breast bone. And I remember so well, we got the man anesthetized — he was actually bleeding when he got in the operating room — had the man anesthetized, and this surgeon reached down and pulled up the breast bone, and the blood hit the ceiling, and he put his finger in the hole in the aorta, and so he was completely immobilized. Because he had this other arm that he couldn’t do much with, and so he said, “Cooley, it’s your operation now. See what you can do to get my finger out of the hole.” And that was the way that came about. I figured out a way to patch up the hole in the aorta, and the patient survived. But I remember it was a task that was way beyond my experience at the time. And I wasn’t prepared for anything that difficult.</p> </div> </div>      <div class="achiever__interview-copy"> <!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"> <html><body><p><strong>You were just an intern when this happened?</strong></p> <p>Denton Cooley: Yes.</p> <p><strong>Now that’s acting fast. That must have been partly instinct.</strong></p> <p>Denton Cooley: I think so. It’s a thing I could handle very well today, but at the time, I was not equipped by training or experience to do what I did.</p> <figure id="attachment_33624" style="width: 2013px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><noscript><img class="wp-image-33624 size-full " src="https://web.archive.org/web/20170622211006im_/http://162.243.3.155/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/wp-cooleyheadshotimg103.jpg"></noscript><img class="wp-image-33624 size-full lazyload" alt="After studying Dr. Christiaan Barnard’s surgical technique, Dr. Cooley completed the first successful U.S. heart transplant on May 3, 1968, giving a 47-year-old man a heart from a 15-year-old girl who had committed suicide. The patient survived for 204 days. Over the next year, Dr. Cooley performed 22 heart transplants." width="2013" height="2733" data-sizes="(max-width: 2013px) 100vw, 2013px" data-srcset="/web/20170622211006im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/wp-cooleyheadshotimg103.jpg 2013w, /web/20170622211006im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/wp-cooleyheadshotimg103-280x380.jpg 280w, /web/20170622211006im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/wp-cooleyheadshotimg103-560x760.jpg 560w" data-src="https://web.archive.org/web/20170622211006/http://162.243.3.155/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/wp-cooleyheadshotimg103.jpg"><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">After studying Dr. Christiaan Barnard’s surgical technique, Dr. Cooley completed the first successful U.S. heart transplant on May 3, 1968, giving a 47-year-old man a heart from a 15-year-old girl who had committed suicide. The patient survived for 204 days. Over the next year, Dr. Denton Cooley performed 22 heart transplants. His team went on to perform more than 118,000 open heart operations — more than any other surgical group in the world.</figcaption></figure><p><strong>Can you describe the day that you did the first American heart transplant?</strong></p> <p>Denton Cooley: I was aware that Christiaan Barnard in South Africa had done two transplants, one of which was successful, and Norm Shaumway at Stanford had done one which was not successful. We were poised to do one.</p></body></html> </div>     <div class="achiever__video-block"> <figure class="achiever__interview-video"> <div class="embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9"> <iframe class="embed-responsive-item embed-responsive--has-thumbnail" width="200" height="150" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20170622211006if_/https://www.youtube.com/embed/Jneq5ixCE5o?feature=oembed&autohide=1&hd=1&color=white&modestbranding=1&rel=0&showinfo=0&theme=light" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="embed-responsive__thumbnail ratio-container__image lazyload" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Cooley-Denton-1991-Upscale-1of1.00_19_58_09.Still003-380x214.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Cooley-Denton-1991-Upscale-1of1.00_19_58_09.Still003-760x428.jpg"></div> <i class="embed-responsive__play icon-icon_play-full text-brand-primary"></i> </div> </figure>  <div class="achiever__interview-video__copy"> <p>We were having a difficult time finding a donor. As a matter of fact, I was over in Shreveport, Louisiana, giving a lecture to the medical society, and was telling them that we were not yet in the transplant business, and had no foreseeable opportunity to do a transplant. I got a telephone call from Houston, saying they had a donor. So I got on an airplane and came back to Houston and did the transplant that night at two o’clock in the morning, after I’d told the reporters over there that we weren’t involved in transplantation. Some of them were very upset when the news came out that we had done the first transplant.</p> </div> </div>      <div class="achiever__interview-copy"> <!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"> <html><body><p>It was an exciting thing to do. My team of doctors was here in Houston making arrangements for the donor and the operation, while I was flying back from Shreveport. After the operation, I was catapulted to a level of notoriety I had never enjoyed before.</p> <p><strong style="font-size: 1rem;">Who was the donor?</strong></p> <p>Denton Cooley: The donor was a teenage girl with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. It was a suicide attempt.</p> <figure id="attachment_33586" style="width: 2280px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><noscript><img class="wp-image-33586 size-full " src="https://web.archive.org/web/20170622211006im_/http://162.243.3.155/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Cooley-Denton-Life-Cover004.jpg"></noscript><img class="wp-image-33586 size-full lazyload" alt="August 1968: LIFE magazine cover of Dr. Denton Cooley performing a heart transplant. In May, Cooley had transplanted a heart into Everett Thomas." width="2280" height="2772" data-sizes="(max-width: 2280px) 100vw, 2280px" data-srcset="/web/20170622211006im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Cooley-Denton-Life-Cover004.jpg 2280w, /web/20170622211006im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Cooley-Denton-Life-Cover004-313x380.jpg 313w, /web/20170622211006im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Cooley-Denton-Life-Cover004-625x760.jpg 625w" data-src="https://web.archive.org/web/20170622211006/http://162.243.3.155/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Cooley-Denton-Life-Cover004.jpg"><figcaption class="wp-caption-text"><em>LIFE</em> cover of Dr. Cooley performing a heart transplant. In May, he had transplanted a heart into Everett Thomas.</figcaption></figure><p><strong>Could you describe the transplant procedure? How do you open somebody up and remove a heart?</strong></p> <p>Denton Cooley: First, we have to bypass the patient’s heart and get the recipient on the heart-lung machine, very much like we do for any open heart operation.</p></body></html> </div>     <div class="achiever__video-block"> <figure class="achiever__interview-video"> <div class="embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9"> <iframe class="embed-responsive-item embed-responsive--has-thumbnail" width="200" height="150" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20170622211006if_/https://www.youtube.com/embed/92yHko_Wvog?feature=oembed&autohide=1&hd=1&color=white&modestbranding=1&rel=0&showinfo=0&theme=light" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="embed-responsive__thumbnail ratio-container__image lazyload" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Cooley-Denton-1991-MasterEdit.01_00_07_12.Still014-380x214.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Cooley-Denton-1991-MasterEdit.01_00_07_12.Still014-760x428.jpg"></div> <i class="embed-responsive__play icon-icon_play-full text-brand-primary"></i> </div> </figure>  <div class="achiever__interview-video__copy"> <p>We take out the heart. Remove the heart mostly, the ventricles, and the heart valves. And then you have an open chest there, with just these various chambers exposed. We, in another operating room, will take out the heart and bring it over, and with sutures, just suture the two atria together. Those are the upper chambers of the heart. And we suture the two main arteries, the pulmonary artery, and the aorta, together. And then when you start the blood flowing back into the aorta, it gets into the coronary arteries, and that starts the donor heart, to its normal function. And that’s the whole scenario.</p> </div> </div>      <div class="achiever__interview-copy"> <!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"> <html><body><figure id="attachment_33596" style="width: 2280px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><noscript><img class="wp-image-33596 size-full " src="https://web.archive.org/web/20170622211006im_/http://162.243.3.155/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/DACcrowdedORTHI1970HBO106.jpg"></noscript><img class="wp-image-33596 size-full lazyload" alt="Physicians from all over the world have visited the Texas Heart Institute to observe Dr. Denton A. Cooley perform cutting-edge surgical procedures. This photo of a crowded Texas Heart Institute operating room was taken in 1970 as visitors observed Dr. Cooley performing a new coronary artery bypass procedure." width="2280" height="1251" data-sizes="(max-width: 2280px) 100vw, 2280px" data-srcset="/web/20170622211006im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/DACcrowdedORTHI1970HBO106.jpg 2280w, /web/20170622211006im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/DACcrowdedORTHI1970HBO106-380x209.jpg 380w, /web/20170622211006im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/DACcrowdedORTHI1970HBO106-760x417.jpg 760w" data-src="https://web.archive.org/web/20170622211006/http://162.243.3.155/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/DACcrowdedORTHI1970HBO106.jpg"><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">Physicians from all over the world have visited the Texas Heart Institute in Houston to observe Dr. Denton A. Cooley perform cutting-edge surgical procedures. This photo of a crowded Texas Heart Institute operating room was taken in 1970 as visitors observed Dr. Denton Cooley performing a new coronary artery bypass procedure.</figcaption></figure><p><strong>Dr. Cooley, for all the accolades that you received for the transplants, they also raised a lot of legal and moral questions. Could you describe some of those controversies, and how you felt about them?</strong></p></body></html> </div>     <div class="achiever__video-block"> <figure class="achiever__interview-video"> <div class="embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9"> <iframe class="embed-responsive-item embed-responsive--has-thumbnail" width="200" height="150" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20170622211006if_/https://www.youtube.com/embed/eeNvstwudjI?feature=oembed&autohide=1&hd=1&color=white&modestbranding=1&rel=0&showinfo=0&theme=light" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="embed-responsive__thumbnail ratio-container__image lazyload" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Cooley-Denton-1991-MasterEdit.00_54_00_12.Still012-380x214.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Cooley-Denton-1991-MasterEdit.00_54_00_12.Still012-760x428.jpg"></div> <i class="embed-responsive__play icon-icon_play-full text-brand-primary"></i> </div> </figure>  <div class="achiever__interview-video__copy"> <p>Denton Cooley: When cardiac transplantation was first performed by Christiaan Barnard in 1967, it’s amazing how little we knew about the true meaning of life. Where does life reside? Is it in the heart, or is it in the brain? Where is it? What is life? That’s what got everyone in such a turmoil. That’s what brought up all of these moral and ethical issues. How could a man take the heart, a beating heart, out of one individual, and put it in another? No one was concerned about the recipient. You could see why he would like to have a nice, new heart, but what about the donor? At that time, so many people were completely ignorant about brain death. This was the first time it had been pointed out clearly, and in bold print, that there was such a thing as brain death, and that once the brain had been hopelessly destroyed, these other organs, which were still functioning, could be given to someone else.</p> </div> </div>      <div class="achiever__interview-copy"> <!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"> <html><body><p>Many of the moral and ethical issues that we confronted at that time have been almost forgotten over the past couple of decades. It is interesting to me that today, even some countries that are far advanced in technology, such as Japan, still have not done a heart transplant, because certain biases exist in that society. In this particular instance, they’re not involved in what we consider educated, 20th century scientific thought. But they’ll come around to it. We have broken the ice with our work in this country, and other Western societies.</p> <figure id="attachment_33590" style="width: 838px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><noscript><img class="size-full wp-image-33590 " src="https://web.archive.org/web/20170622211006im_/http://162.243.3.155/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/CxkUZ0VVQAANBsc.jpg"></noscript><img class="size-full wp-image-33590 lazyload" alt="Dubbed "Dr. Wonderful" by the media, Cooley was the leading expert on congenital heart defects in children, pioneered the use of the heart-lung machine that made open heart surgery possible, co-developed a technique for repairing torn aortic aneurysms, developed the techniques of “bloodless” heart surgery, and was one of the first and most successful proponents of the coronary artery bypass graft for treating blocked blood vessels." width="838" height="1181" data-sizes="(max-width: 838px) 100vw, 838px" data-srcset="/web/20170622211006im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/CxkUZ0VVQAANBsc.jpg 838w, /web/20170622211006im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/CxkUZ0VVQAANBsc-270x380.jpg 270w, /web/20170622211006im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/CxkUZ0VVQAANBsc-539x760.jpg 539w" data-src="https://web.archive.org/web/20170622211006/http://162.243.3.155/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/CxkUZ0VVQAANBsc.jpg"><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">Dubbed “Dr. Wonderful” by the media, Dr. Denton Cooley was the leading expert on congenital heart defects in children, pioneered the use of the heart-lung machine that made open heart surgery possible, co-developed a technique for repairing torn aortic aneurysms, developed the techniques of “bloodless” heart surgery, and one of the first and most successful proponents of the coronary artery bypass graft for treating blocked blood vessels.</figcaption></figure><p><strong>Have you ever had any spiritual conflicts about these tough decisions you’ve had to make? I know at times you’ve had to choose between recipients.</strong></p> <p>Denton Cooley: Yes, that is sometimes a problem. It’s a lot of responsibility deciding which individual should get the donor heart. The surgeon must also decide whether the donor organ is suitable, which is a very final decision. The only available donor heart may be of marginal quality. Should you put it into a young person, even though a transplant is the only hope for survival? It’s a heavy responsibility.</p></body></html> </div>     <div class="achiever__video-block"> <figure class="achiever__interview-video"> <div class="embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9"> <iframe class="embed-responsive-item embed-responsive--has-thumbnail" width="200" height="150" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20170622211006if_/https://www.youtube.com/embed/2toBV4OAUDk?feature=oembed&autohide=1&hd=1&color=white&modestbranding=1&rel=0&showinfo=0&theme=light" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="embed-responsive__thumbnail ratio-container__image lazyload" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Cooley-Denton-1991-MasterEdit.00_02_25_26.Still013-380x214.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Cooley-Denton-1991-MasterEdit.00_02_25_26.Still013-760x428.jpg"></div> <i class="embed-responsive__play icon-icon_play-full text-brand-primary"></i> </div> <figcaption class="achiever__interview-video-terms"> <span>Keys to success —</span> <a class="comma-item" href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/keys-to-success/courage/">Courage</a> </figcaption> </figure>  <div class="achiever__interview-video__copy"> <p>One of the most trying times in my career was when we did the first heart transplant. We put it into the patient, and wondered whether it was going to work. Suppose it had not functioned? We weren’t certain at all that it would function. So that five or ten minutes, while we were waiting for that heart to regain its function, was one of the most difficult times of my surgical career. And I’m sure it’s the same with other surgeons who have followed. Now we know that the heart will start up, and that’s just part of the knowledge that we have gained through the years.</p> </div> </div>      <div class="achiever__interview-copy"> <!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"> <html><body><figure id="attachment_33623" style="width: 2280px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><noscript><img class="wp-image-33623 size-full " src="https://web.archive.org/web/20170622211006im_/http://162.243.3.155/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/wp-cooleyartificialheartimg105.jpg"></noscript><img class="wp-image-33623 size-full lazyload" alt="Dr. Denton A. Cooley performed the first total artificial heart implant in the world, April 4, 1969, in Houston. The device, developed by Dr. Domingo Liotta, was implanted in a 47-year-old patient with severe heart failure. The patient lived for nearly three days with the artificial heart until a human heart was available for transplant. This experience demonstrated the viability of artificial hearts as a bridge to transplant in cardiac patients." width="2280" height="2837" data-sizes="(max-width: 2280px) 100vw, 2280px" data-srcset="/web/20170622211006im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/wp-cooleyartificialheartimg105.jpg 2280w, /web/20170622211006im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/wp-cooleyartificialheartimg105-305x380.jpg 305w, /web/20170622211006im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/wp-cooleyartificialheartimg105-611x760.jpg 611w" data-src="https://web.archive.org/web/20170622211006/http://162.243.3.155/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/wp-cooleyartificialheartimg105.jpg"><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">Dr. Denton A. Cooley performed the first total artificial heart implant in the world, April 4, 1969, in Houston. The device, developed by Dr. Domingo Liotta, was implanted in a 47-year-old patient with severe heart failure. The patient lived for nearly three days with the artificial heart until a human heart was available for transplant. This controversial surgery demonstrated the viability of artificial hearts as a bridge to transplant in cardiac patients.</figcaption></figure><p><strong>In 1969, you engendered more controversy. What made you take the risk of implanting an artificial heart into Haskell Carr. Why was it so controversial?</strong></p></body></html> </div>     <div class="achiever__video-block"> <figure class="achiever__interview-video"> <div class="embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9"> <iframe class="embed-responsive-item embed-responsive--has-thumbnail" width="200" height="150" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20170622211006if_/https://www.youtube.com/embed/q5VXjLN66WU?feature=oembed&autohide=1&hd=1&color=white&modestbranding=1&rel=0&showinfo=0&theme=light" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="embed-responsive__thumbnail ratio-container__image lazyload" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Cooley-Denton-1991-MasterEdit.00_31_39_11.Still009-380x214.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Cooley-Denton-1991-MasterEdit.00_31_39_11.Still009-760x428.jpg"></div> <i class="embed-responsive__play icon-icon_play-full text-brand-primary"></i> </div> <figcaption class="achiever__interview-video-terms"> <span>Keys to success —</span> <a class="comma-item" href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/keys-to-success/vision/">Vision</a> </figcaption> </figure>  <div class="achiever__interview-video__copy"> <p>Denton Cooley: At that time, the interest in heart transplantation was waning somewhat, because people were becoming concerned about rejection. And I knew that we were having a more difficult time getting donors. And here was a man who needed a transplant. Needed it badly and immediately, and we were having a difficult time getting a donor for him. I did know that if we used this artificial heart, we could use that as a bridge to transplantation, and it might even stimulate the actual donation of an organ. So, when the time came and things became critical with him, we went ahead and used this artificial heart to keep him alive until we could get a donor heart. And it did keep him alive. Unfortunately, he didn’t live very long after he had the heart transplantation, because he died of pneumonia. But nevertheless, it demonstrated that the artificial heart could sustain life.</p> </div> </div>      <div class="achiever__interview-copy"> <!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"> <html><body><p>In the same way, we had found a year and a half earlier that the heart transplant could sustain life.</p> <figure id="attachment_33595" style="width: 1500px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><noscript><img class="wp-image-33595 size-full " src="https://web.archive.org/web/20170622211006im_/http://162.243.3.155/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/DACClintonNationalMedalofTechnology19988x10.jpg"></noscript><img class="wp-image-33595 size-full lazyload" alt="Dr. Cooley receiving the National Medal of Technology and Innovation from President Bill Clinton in 1998." width="1500" height="1206" data-sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" data-srcset="/web/20170622211006im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/DACClintonNationalMedalofTechnology19988x10.jpg 1500w, /web/20170622211006im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/DACClintonNationalMedalofTechnology19988x10-380x306.jpg 380w, /web/20170622211006im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/DACClintonNationalMedalofTechnology19988x10-760x611.jpg 760w" data-src="https://web.archive.org/web/20170622211006/http://162.243.3.155/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/DACClintonNationalMedalofTechnology19988x10.jpg"><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">Dr. Denton Cooley receiving the National Medal of Technology and Innovation from President Bill Clinton in 1998.</figcaption></figure><p><strong>Why did people have such a big problem with this risk that you took?</strong></p> <p>Denton Cooley: Same thing as with heart transplantation. Is it justified to take that type of risk with someone, even though he was dying? Other investigators were poised to do it, but no one would do it. The same thing happened with Christiaan Barnard and the heart transplant. A lot of us were ready to do a heart transplant, but somebody had to do it first. Because we were the first to implant an artificial heart, others said it was premature, that we hadn’t done enough animal experiments. But there comes a time when you have to say, “This is a desperate situation, and we are justified in taking desperate measures.”</p> <figure id="attachment_33608" style="width: 2280px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><noscript><img class="size-full wp-image-33608 " src="https://web.archive.org/web/20170622211006im_/http://162.243.3.155/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/GettyImages-2994966_master.jpg"></noscript><img class="size-full wp-image-33608 lazyload" alt="May 2, 1998: Cardiologist Dr. Denton Cooley in Houston, Texas. (Pam Francis/Getty Images)" width="2280" height="2280" data-sizes="(max-width: 2280px) 100vw, 2280px" data-srcset="/web/20170622211006im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/GettyImages-2994966_master.jpg 2280w, /web/20170622211006im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/GettyImages-2994966_master-190x190.jpg 190w, /web/20170622211006im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/GettyImages-2994966_master-380x380.jpg 380w, /web/20170622211006im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/GettyImages-2994966_master-760x760.jpg 760w" data-src="https://web.archive.org/web/20170622211006/http://162.243.3.155/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/GettyImages-2994966_master.jpg"><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">May 2, 1998: Cardiologist Dr. Denton Cooley in Houston, Texas. Like many surgeons, Dr. Cooley was brimming with self-confidence and was not known for false modesty. When Cooley was a defendant in a medical liability trial, a lawyer asked Cooley if he thought of himself as the world’s best heart surgeon. “Yes,” Cooley said. “Don’t you think that’s being rather immodest?” the lawyer asked. “Perhaps,” Dr. Cooley replied. “But remember, I’m under oath.”</figcaption></figure><p><strong>In the last few years, you’ve perfected the heart bypass. That went from being a tremendously risky surgery, to almost routine. How did you make such a dramatic advance in such a short time?</strong></p> <p>Denton Cooley: There’s been an evolution of techniques. We realized that you could by-pass obstructions in the coronary system. But before that, we had to find some way to substitute for the heart function. Once the heart-lung machine was developed, we had one problem solved. Then we needed a method of seeing which part of the artery was obstructed. With the development of arteriography, we had our method. With those things behind us, and with some of the experience we’d had with bypassing arterial obstructions in the legs, we learned to bypass obstructions in the coronary arteries. Today, coronary artery bypass is the most commonly performed open heart operation.</p></body></html> </div>    <aside class="collapse" id="full-interview">    <div class="achiever__interview-copy"> <p><strong>Dr. Cooley, were you a sort of budding scientist as a child? Were you very curious?</strong></p> <p>Denton Cooley: I think I was a curious child. I was interested in all of the biological sciences when I was a student in grade school. Eventually that curiosity developed into an interest in medicine.</p> <p><strong>Where did that curiosity come from?</strong></p> <p>Denton Cooley: My father was a dentist. His work interested me, and he was always willing to explain procedures and new devices. My older brother was sort of a naturalist, and together we pursued all sorts of activities that dealt with life itself.</p> <p><strong>So you liked being out in nature?</strong></p> <p>Denton Cooley: I really enjoyed nature. We did a lot of hunting and camping together, and it inspired me to major in the biological sciences when I entered the university.</p> <p><strong>Dr. Cooley, were you very extroverted as a child?</strong></p> <p>Denton Cooley: No, on the contrary. I think I was very introverted and shy. I didn’t participate in a lot of social activities in high school. I didn’t have any dates in school. It was always sort of a joke that I had only three dates during my entire high school career, and those were with the same girl for the Christmas dance sponsored by our high school social club. The rest of the time, I did not have dates. I was more interested in sports, and the outdoors, than I was in the usual social activities.</p> <p><strong>Were you a particularly good student early on? Were you very motivated?</strong></p> <p>Denton Cooley: I was determined to make good grades. I was a straight “A” student, both in high school and in college.</p> <p><strong>What other interests did you have as a kid? What sports or hobbies interested you?</strong></p> <p>Denton Cooley: I was a varsity basketball player for four years at the University of Texas. I was on the championship Southwest Conference Basketball team. I also enjoyed golf and tennis, and other sports. I divided my time mostly between athletics and my studies. It was not easy for me to make straight A’s in college and play varsity sports. But I was determined to do so, and I did. I graduated Phi Beta Kappa, with highest honors.</p> <p><strong>You probably didn’t sleep a whole lot.</strong></p> <p>Denton Cooley: I think I slept as much as some of my comrades. You do have to budget your time if you want to do these things in college. In my opinion, you should put your major emphasis upon your studies.</p> <p><strong>A surgeon needs tremendous self-confidence. Where do you think that confidence comes from? Did you always have this as a kid?</strong></p> <p>Denton Cooley: No, I didn’t. I think confidence is something you build gradually, with experience. I’ve always felt that maybe one of the reasons that I did well as a student and made such good grades was because I lacked confidence. Lacked self-confidence, and I never felt that I was prepared to take an examination, and I had to study a little bit extra. So that sort of lack of confidence helped me, I think, to make a good record when I was a student. But since I finished my medical training, and so on, at that level, I’ve gained self-confidence over a period of years. And had a great deal of experience in everyday surgery.</p> <p><strong>So even the shyness you described as a kid might have been a benefit in some ways, because it kept you working.</strong></p> <p>Denton Cooley: I think so. By being shy, I steered away from a lot of the activities that most young people get involved with. I studied harder. I wanted to play sports too, but my emphasis was always on excelling.</p> <p><strong>When you were growing up, were there any particular books that inspired you?</strong></p> <p>Denton Cooley: As a child, I mostly read boys’ magazines and books. I don’t recall any particular book that really inspired me. During college, I enjoyed reading biographies, or fictional works based on real experiences. One book that influenced my decision to apply to medical school was <em>Miss Suzie Slagle’s</em> by Augusta Tucker. That was a book about some young men living in a boarding house while they were going to Johns Hopkins medical school.</p> <p><strong>Did you decide you wanted to go there yourself?</strong></p> <p>Denton Cooley: Yes, I did. That book influenced me greatly to enter Johns Hopkins, and to live some of the experiences described in that book.</p> <p><strong>Dr. Cooley, were there any teachers who particularly inspired you while you were growing up?</strong></p> <p>Denton Cooley: Many teachers influenced me. I especially remember my English teacher, in the seventh and eighth grade, who was so intent upon learning grammar.</p> <p>I think that one of the things that’s helped me so much in my life — I’ve done some writing, you know — but grammar has always come easy for me since I got that early grounding from a little, attractive teacher in the seventh and eighth grade named Miss Wineheimer. She taught us how to diagram sentences, and taught us the proper way to write. We never were forced to be real strong in composition, but in construction, it was always taught us that we should understand grammar. It disturbs me greatly nowadays when I hear people who are considered to be intelligent, or even intellectual, who can slaughter English grammar. You know, simple little things like using the pronoun “I” when you should be saying “me.” And people always think it sounds better to use the first person singular, “I” instead of “me” as the object of a preposition, and so on. All of those slights indicate to me an inadequate educational background.</p> <p><strong>That’s interesting, because we don’t think about surgeons needing to write. But obviously, you’ve written a tremendous amount of articles, and that is an important aspect of getting ahead in the field, isn’t it?</strong></p> <p>Denton Cooley: Oh yes. Writing is very important. And even in surgery, whether you’re an academician or a clinical practitioner, you have to “publish or perish.” I’ve participated in the writing of more than 1000 scientific articles. I’ve written several textbooks myself, and have contributed numerous chapters to other major textbooks. Writing has been a great asset to me throughout my life.</p> <p><strong>Do you enjoy writing?</strong></p> <p>Denton Cooley: I do and I don’t. Sometimes it’s a real chore. You have to discipline yourself. Sometimes I have something I want and need to write, but there are so many interruptions, the only time to I have to do it is them I’ve set aside for recreation. It takes discipline. Sometimes I have to write in the quiet hours between nine and midnight, or even later. That takes medicine.</p> <p><strong>Other than teachers, was there a particular person you emulated, or a particular doctor who inspired you?</strong></p> <p>Denton Cooley: The man who inspired me most, I think, was Dr. Alfred Blalock, who was professor of surgery at Johns Hopkins. He was a rather simple man with a burning curiosity. It was through his curiosity that he made many real contributions to medical science. I didn’t think he was an especially brilliant man, I just admired him for his curiosity, and for his perseverance. Dr. Blalock really inspired me more than any other person.</p> <p><strong>Was he a nice person to be with?</strong></p> <p>Denton Cooley: A very nice man. He was very humble and honest. In the operating room, he could be quite difficult. I never felt that he was entirely comfortable in the operating room. Outside of the operating room, however, he was entirely fair with his junior associates, and he inspired a spirit of harmony in the whole system. That’s something I’ve tried to emulate in my own program.</p> <p><strong>Dr. Cooley, obviously a surgeon needs highly developed motor skills. Were your skills apparent early on?</strong></p> <p>Denton Cooley: Perhaps so. I’ve always thought that my exposure to competitive sports helped me a great deal in the operating room. It teaches you endurance, and it teaches you how to cope with defeat, and with complications of all sort. I think I’m a well-coordinated person, more than average, and I think that came through my interest in sports, and athletics.</p> <p><strong>On the other hand, you can injure your hands playing basketball. Did that ever occur to you?</strong></p> <p>Denton Cooley: Yes, and I have injured my hands playing basketball. I’ve dislocated fingers, I suffered a severe fracture of my wrist playing tennis four or five years ago, but I’ve recovered from that, with some handicap. You can injure yourself, but those things don’t enter your mind when you are involved in athletics.</p> <p><strong>In basketball especially, you’re always thinking on your feet and adapting.</strong></p> <p>Denton Cooley: That’s true. You have to make decisions promptly, and that’s true in the operating room as well. You don’t have 12 or 24 hours to make up your mind to do something. In the operating room, you have to make a judgment, a decision, and act on it.</p> <p><strong>How old were you when you first decided to become a doctor, and what drew you to that profession?</strong></p> <p>Denton Cooley: I sort of got in by the side door. My father was anxious for me to become a dentist and take over his practice. When I went to the University of Texas, I planned to become a dentist. Then I had an experience which, I think, changed everything.</p> <p>When I was a sophomore at the University of Texas. I was invited to visit a friend down in San Antonio, who was an intern at the time, working at a municipal hospital there. And he asked me to come over and join him on a Saturday night when he was working in the emergency room. And he had all of these patients there who were all beat up, cut up, or so on, in fights and so on. And he offered me the opportunity to sew up some wounds, which I had never done. And sure enough, I did that, and I enjoyed it, enjoyed the evening. It inspired me, and right then I decided that I would go on into medicine rather than into dentistry. So here I am.</p> <p><strong>Did you ever have a shaky stomach, having to deal with the sight of blood? Or were you always very cool about it?</strong></p> <p>Denton Cooley: The sight of blood never made me queasy. Before my first major operation I felt a little uneasy and insecure, but once I began the operation, I regained my self confidence. Since then I’ve been very poised in surgery, but even today I have concerns about some of the major, more difficult operative procedures. Sometimes I have a difficult time sleeping the night before, or sleeping the night after, if I think I may not have made the right decisions during the procedure. There is never a feeling of complete self-assurance in some of these difficult cases.</p> <p><strong>I can imagine. You’re world famous for being able to do operations that no one else can do. As you began to specialize in surgery, how did you hone your surgical skills? I read that you actually practiced in a matchbox. Can you tell us some of your secrets?</strong></p> <p>Denton Cooley: That is really an exaggeration, which shows how myths grow. I did, like most young surgeons, practice tying surgical knots. You know, you take some string to your room at night, and you practice tying knots with one hand, or your left hand, and doing that sort of thing. And just thinking about surgery. And, you know, practicing. Get a scalpel, and practice just, say, cutting a piece of meat or something like that. You sort of learn how you want to hold your fingers, and that sort of thing, and try to become graceful when you operate. Because it’s sort of that gracefulness and poise at the operating table that inspires others to think that you are an accomplished surgeon. I watched a number of surgeons in this country and abroad, and tried to see what it was about their technique that made them successful, and made them masters of the art.</p> <p><strong>Isn’t some of that innate talent?</strong></p> <p>Denton Cooley: I think it probably is, yes. It’s true in so many other aspects of life. Some people can just play a violin and others can do it well. The talent seems to be instinctive. It’s the same thing if you watch a real accomplished golfer. You know that he has a God-given talent. Perhaps I have some of that in my field. I hope so.</p> <p><strong>Even a great violinist has to practice a lot to really accomplish something, and I gather that you, too, have worked very hard.</strong></p> <p>Denton Cooley: Yes, I have. I don’t think many people have worked harder at being a surgeon than I have. Maybe there is something back there that qualifies me to do what I am doing today. I think that’s true of a great violinist, a great golfer, a great sportsman, and others who find a niche in life that suits them.</p> <p><strong>I think a lot of kids have the attitude that if you’ve got talent, you don’t really need the hard work. But there is a famous quote by Edison, that “genius is one percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration.” Would you go along with that?</strong></p> <p>Denton Cooley: I think so. I really do. With your own effort, you can improve yourself, but people find they can’t improve beyond a certain point. I like to play golf, but I know that no matter how much I practice, I will never get above a certain level. I think that’s also true of surgery. Some people are born with the gifts and the mind for surgery, and they may go on to great heights. Others may try and try, only to reach a certain plateau. I’m very fortunate, I think, to have found a profession that seems suited, not only for my personality and level of intelligence, but also for my physical abilities.</p> <p><strong>As hard as the work is, I gather that for you, it’s also a pleasure.</strong></p> <p>Denton Cooley: There is a great deal of satisfaction in being a surgeon. You have instant evidence of success and accomplishment. In other medical specialties, you may not find such an instant reward.</p> <p><strong>On the other hand, you also have more dramatic failures.</strong></p> <p>Denton Cooley: Yes indeed, you do. The risk of failure is always there. But as I say, it’s an exhilarating feeling to walk away from a successful operation. You know you’ve done something great, and the patient is going to do extremely well. There’s a feeling of accomplishment that you may not get in other medical specialties.</p> <p><strong>You’re dealing with life and death situations on a daily basis.</strong></p> <p>Denton Cooley: Yes. There is something especially nice when you can do something with your hands to the patient. I’ve always told my residents this. This is why people go to osteopathic doctors and chiropractors. These practitioners may not use orthodox treatment methods, but they are doing something to the patient, and patients get a psychological boost from the fact that something is actually being done to them. I believe we should touch or manipulate patients in some way. We can learn from some of those specialties that make patients feel like something has been done for them.</p> <p>We are taught in orthodox medicine not to have a great deal of respect for some of those manipulative types of physicians. Nevertheless, I think they are doing a lot of good for the patient, which sometimes we don’t have the opportunity to do as medical doctors. We might prescribe some pills to take care of a back spasm. But the chiropractor or the osteopathic doctor is the one that is going in to do some manipulation, and also give some pills, and the patients leave thinking that something special has been done for them.</p> <p><strong>Dr. Cooley, going back to the beginning of your career, how did your parents react to your choice of profession?</strong></p> <p>Denton Cooley: I think they were proud of it. Medicine is perhaps the noblest of all professions. My dad may have been a little disappointed because I didn’t join him in his dental practice, but at the same time, I’m sure my parents were very proud of my choice.</p> <p><strong>Did they live to see some of your great success?</strong></p> <p>Denton Cooley: Yes, they did. My mother only died 10 years ago. My father, unfortunately, died about 20 years ago. But he did have a chance to see some of the things that I was doing. I’m sure that he took a great deal of pride in my career.</p> <p><strong>You obviously have tremendous drive. Where does that come from? Did your parents instill that in you?</strong></p> <p>Denton Cooley: I don’t know. I think I was born with it. I had a brother who was a lot less driven. Somehow or another, I developed that drive. I always took a great deal of personal satisfaction in excelling. As I told you, I was a straight “A” student all through grade school, university and medical school. I don’t know how you explain drive, but I enjoy accomplishment, and I enjoy being at the top. I wasn’t brilliant. I studied hard in school. I budgeted my time, and tried to make a good record, and I benefited from that philosophy throughout my life. I would encourage any young person who has some goal in life to devote himself entirely to his own development and education. Unless you are very fortunate or lucky, you won’t get to the very top unless you apply yourself completely.</p> <p><strong>Another important prerequisite of pursuing a career in surgery, obviously, is confidence. I wonder if that was something that you always enjoyed: a sense of confidence about yourself.</strong></p> <p>Denton Cooley: I think I’ve had self-confidence ever since I got over the shyness of my teenage years. I’ve come to believe that maybe I am somewhat better than average. When new developments are made, I believe I’m the one who should be making them. I’ve had more experience as a heart surgeon than anyone else in the world. It was only appropriate that I do the first successful heart transplantation, put in the first artificial heart, et cetera. I think that it was not only my right, but my duty to do so. That’s what motivated me do new things.</p> <p><strong>Did you ever doubt your abilities along the way?</strong></p> <p>Denton Cooley: I never doubted my abilities as a surgeon. I may have doubted my ability as a thinker. I’ve had some misgiving. As I said before, I don’t consider myself a highly intellectual or brilliant person. I’ve always thought the really brilliant people go into sciences such as physics, electronics, and computer engineering. Many people who consider themselves average are accomplished contract bridge players. That’s an area where I can’t compete. Being an excellent bridge player requires a level of skill and intelligence that I don’t think I have. I think I can do well in my profession because I do have a certain amount of imagination, and the projects that I get involved with don’t take that type of intelligence. My work takes clear thinking and the ability to anticipate problems. This I can do well.</p> <p><strong>Dr. Cooley, was there someone in your early career who gave you a first important break?</strong></p> <p>Denton Cooley: That’s difficult to say. I can think of a few situations where I may have been given a break, even in my athletic career. Once, during a basketball game, the coach could see that we were losing the game. In desperation, he looked down at the end of the bench, and sent me into the game. Sure enough, at that one moment, I excelled. Had I not done well at that one opportunity, I probably would have never made the varsity team. Things like that stick in my mind.</p> <p>My professor of surgery there at Johns Hopkins, Dr. Blalock, picked me out of the entire class and gave me some opportunities that I wouldn’t have had otherwise. I feel like I’ve had a rabbit’s foot in my pocket, because I had some lucky breaks along the way.</p> <p><strong>What do you think he saw in you that made him choose you?</strong></p> <p>Denton Cooley: I don’t know. He probably just saw me as someone who was a little different from the rest of the group. I may have been taller, or more athletic than most of my classmates, who were more of the studious type than I was at the time. He was a vigorous man, who liked an active life, and he may have thought that I just might have the abilities to be a good surgeon in the future. This must have been very premature, because I was still just a medical student.</p> <p><strong>So Blalock gave you an important break.</strong></p> <p>Denton Cooley: Yes. He gave me the opportunity, and he gave me the encouragement to go forward, and then he provided the inspiration. He was the type of man that I thought I might be too. As I said, he was not in my opinion a brilliant man, but he was a solid thinker, with a good, practical approach to problems, and he made a huge success of this career.</p> <p><strong>Dr. Cooley, what role has luck played in your career? You mentioned the rabbit’s foot.</strong></p> <p>Denton Cooley: I was able to participate in many new developments in heart surgery when they were not possible for others. I was able to start an open heart program long before any of the other major centers, except for the teams in Minnesota who developed extracorporene circulation and who were real pioneers. I had that opportunity in Houston, because I was the only one qualified to perform heart surgery in this area. I had access to several large hospitals where there were no space restrictions. When things like cardiac transplantation came along, we were ready and poised to do it.</p> <p>We did the first successful transplant in the United States. Same thing with the artificial heart. I was fortunate to be in an institution where we were developing an artificial heart. The opportunity arose to do it, and I went ahead and did it. It was somewhat controversial at the time, but nonetheless, we did it and proved that people could live, not only with a heart transplant, but also with an artificial heart. What we needed to do from then on was to perfect the device.</p> <p><strong>As we talk, Dr. Cooley, it occurs to me that you couldn’t have been born at a more opportune time to be a heart surgeon.</strong></p> <p>Denton Cooley: The timing was absolutely perfect. It was ideal. I began my career as a heart surgeon in 1944 and now I’ve been in the field for almost 50 years. Everything important that’s happened in heart surgery, has happened in those four or five decades. I was right there to be a part of it, and I’m happy that I stayed with it.</p> <p>Another good decision I made was that I’ve never departed from an academic atmosphere. I spent 18 years as a full-time faculty member in a surgical department, and then created our own academic program here at the Texas Heart Institute. I’ve stayed in an institutional environment, which I believe is necessary and ideal for a career in surgery.</p> <p><strong>What does teaching do for you? I have some idea what your teaching could do for others, but why have you kept teaching all these years, when you could fill up all your time with surgery?</strong></p> <p>Denton Cooley: I was a beneficiary of a good educational program, and it’s always been ingrained in me that I had an obligation to carry on that legacy. Most physicians in medical school are encouraged to teach, but not many do. I’ve always felt it was an obligation. It is also true that we learn by teaching. We have to organize our thinking so that we can transmit it to students. Every time I prepare a lecture, or write a paper on some scientific subject, I am learning something new. So, actually we learn by teaching. That’s one reason I believe we should continue teaching as long as we can.</p> <p><strong>Dr. Cooley, your speed as a surgeon is world-renowned. To what do you attribute that?</strong></p> <p>Denton Cooley: I think it’s having a game plan. I know what I want to do, and I try to think through the easiest, the best, the quickest way to get there. I try to do everything gracefully, and minimize the number of motions. What is the quickest way to get there? A straight line is the shortest distance between two points, and I try to use that concept in getting things done.</p> <p><strong>You also have a great reputation for keeping cool under pressure. How did you learn that, and was that something that you realized early on was important?</strong></p> <p>Denton Cooley: I don’t know how I learned that, but I figure it had something to do with my athletic experience. At the most critical point in crucial games, you have to be in total command of your faculties. I don’t like to see surgeons get frantic when something crucial comes up. I’ve found that I can solve such problems much better if I keep cool. When I’m cool, I can get my team to stay cool and confident. Then we get the best effort, even at those critical times.</p> <p><strong>Was there a time when you were a little hot-headed? Did you have to teach yourself to calm down, or were you always like that?</strong></p> <p>Denton Cooley: I’ve always been calm, I think. I’ve never been a temperamental type. I like to be a team player. I want to be captain of the team, and I think a good captain is someone who has everyone behind him and supporting him. There’s an old war story about second lieutenants who abuse their soldiers. When they go over the top, more of the new second lieutenants get shot in the back than get shot in the chest. I don’t want my team to think ill of me. And I want them to feel like I’m there to help them, and that I will stand behind them, even when they make a mistake.</p> <p><strong>You mentioned working as a team, and you have made an analogy between a surgical unit and a sports team. How are they similar?</strong></p> <p>Denton Cooley: A surgical unit is a team. When we do one of these operations, we may have three or more surgeons at the operating table. I try to be fair with everyone, and not overly critical. I realize many of my assistants are very learned. and if they were already accomplished surgeons, they probably would not be assisting at the operating table. I try to be a good teammate, and a good leader,</p> <p><strong>In a lot of ways, surgery is a team sport, isn’t it? You have to be able to work with people.</strong></p> <p>Denton Cooley: It is, yes. I have visited many operating rooms around the country, and seen many really celebrated surgeons in the operating room. The ones that I admire the most are those who maintain a sort of even pattern of behavior, who treat their assistants and nurses well, and don’t have flights of temperament or anger, and that sort of thing. To me, it just reflects their insecurity. I just don’t believe that that’s the way — the pattern — that I want to follow. I have five junior surgeons who are my associates, and none of them are temperamental. I selected them all because I liked their behavior in the operating room. In another institution, right here in our medical center, the surgeons are highly temperamental, and there are all sorts of histrionics going on in the operating room. You don’t see that at the Texas Heart Institute.</p> <p><strong>I’d rather come here for my heart surgery. It must take a very healthy ego to have the courage to open up another person’s heart. Is that the case, do you think?</strong></p> <p>Denton Cooley: Well, ego is a funny word. I think that might be part of it, but it’s still a matter of self-confidence. You develop that as you gain more and more experience.</p> <p>I think surgeons are perhaps a little more egotistical than the average doctor. So much praise is heaped upon you, because of the dramatic aspects of surgical procedure, as opposed to overcoming other types of illness. The doctor may have accomplished just the same thing, but by a slower process.</p> <p><strong>Is that uncomfortable? All that adulation from patients and colleagues and students?</strong></p> <p>Denton Cooley: Sometimes it is, but it’s also a great feeling of reward for what you’ve done. I rather enjoy it.</p> <p><strong>How do you prepare for surgery? Is there a certain mindset?</strong></p> <p>Denton Cooley: I like to think through what we’re going to do, and try to anticipate what will be presented at the time of an operation. In anticipating things, I develop a game plan that helps me perform the operation in the simplest and most direct manner.</p> <p><strong>Do you prepare yourself psychologically for an operation? Do you have to brace yourself, or is it just routine?</strong></p> <p>Denton Cooley: It depends on the nature of the operation. If it’s a particularly risky one, I do try to prepare myself. For an operation like the first heart transplant we did here in 1968, I was determined that my part of the procedure was going to be done in the best possible manner. All through the operation, I was telling myself to do my best. Some operations are more or less routine, so you’re not under so much pressure.</p> <p><strong>So during the transplant, for example, you’re kind of coaching yourself as you go along.</strong></p> <p>Denton Cooley: That’s right. So much goes into doing a transplant operation. All the way from preparing the patient, to procuring the donor. It’s like being an astronaut. The astronaut gets all the credit, he gets the trip to the moon, but he had nothing to do with the creation of the rocket, or navigating the ship. He’s the privileged one who gets to drive to the moon. I feel that way in some of these more difficult operations, like the heart transplant. I got all the glory for doing the heart transplant, but actually, the technique of implanting the heart is not that difficult. People believe that anyone who can transplant a heart is some sort of magician, a special, gifted surgeon. Whereas now we know that any surgeon can do a heart transplant. Any of our resident surgeons who are in training can do the procedure. In the early years, I think transplant surgeons were glorified beyond reason.</p> <p><strong>Dr. Cooley, in an article, you were referred to as the Chuck Yeager of heart surgeons, and I think that’s quite apt. You enjoy pushing the envelope.</strong></p> <p>Denton Cooley: I think that’s true. And I like that designation for me, because I do believe that often people are hesitant to take that chance, to take that extra personal risk, in doing something.</p> <p><strong>You faced lawsuits after the artificial heart implant in 1969.</strong></p> <p>Denton Cooley: Yes, I did have a lawsuit waged against me, but it was not a very meritorious one, and it was thrown out of court.</p> <p><strong>In taking risks, one clearly risks alienating people. And even close colleagues. Have you had to develop a thick skin in this field?</strong></p> <p>Denton Cooley: Sometimes, but I’m not out to win a popularity contest. I want to do what I think is right and proper. Some people will always object, but I can’t be too concerned about that.</p> <p><strong>Dr. Cooley, was it painful for you when you and Dr. DeBakey had a rift?</strong></p> <p>Denton Cooley: In a way it was painful, yes. But I realized, even before we split up, that his personality and mine didn’t jibe. It was time for me to go my separate way, and it just happened at that particular time. I don’t think we could have spent our entire careers as associates.</p> <p><strong>Do you think you were both too competitive?</strong></p> <p>Denton Cooley: It may be. We were both leaders, and you don’t need two leaders on the same team. There was an opportunity elsewhere, so I created the Texas Heart Institute. I knew that the Heart Institute was going to be my future.</p> <p><strong>Dr. Cooley, tell us about the goals and the achievements of the Texas Heart Institute.</strong></p> <p>Denton Cooley: We set out to develop an institution that would be known not only for excellent clinical care, but also for education and research. The research aspect of our program has become increasingly important. We’re now the most prolific clinical center for treatment of heart disease in the world. But I think that we need to put even more emphasis on research and education. It may be a long time before we find a cure for heart disease, but we can teach people ways to help prevent it.</p> <p><strong>You’ve also made it possible for people to have discount heart surgery. Why did you try to do that?</strong></p> <p>Denton Cooley: I, like so many people, believe that the cost of medicine is going up at too rapid a rate. And I feel that if we are going to provide health care to society, that we have to keep the cost within certain bounds. I think that some surgeons and hospitals may abuse that sort of ability — or that opportunity — that they have to escalate the cost of everything, and be completely unconcerned about what things cost. I guess it’s because I was raised during the Great Depression that I have always been concerned about the cost of things. I don’t want to compromise a patient’s care because of the cost, but at the same time, I don’t want to abuse our privilege of providing excellent health care. Some people say the cost is of no concern, this is a human life, and you have to do everything possible. But I think there is a limit to that. And since we do have a high-volume practice, I want to turn some of that back to the individual, so that they can have a reasonable cost of their health care.</p> <p><strong>You once said that you consider the Texas Heart Institute your greatest achievement. Why so?</strong></p> <p>Denton Cooley: I’ve reviewed the history of physicians and surgeons who have gone before me, and so often it’s not so much what they did themselves, like Dr. Blalock’s “blue baby operation,” which may be replaced entirely by some new procedure, but the school of surgery and the institution that he developed. That’s something that will endure for generations to come. I believe the Texas Heart Institute will endure long after I’m gone. Many young people will get their education here, and that will be my major accomplishment.</p> <p><strong>What advice do you have for young people who want to become surgeons? What qualities do you think are the most important?</strong></p> <p>Denton Cooley: You have to be intelligent, and be able to cope with stress. It is a stressful life, both mentally and physically. Those are the qualities to succeed as a surgeon.</p> <p><strong>In general, what do you think are the most important elements of achievement in any field?</strong></p> <p>Denton Cooley: Application and dedication to duty, respect for yourself and others. I don’t lead by force, I lead by example. And if I can, set a good example. If I can set an example to my staff and my group, by being punctual, I come to work every morning, walk onto the hospital floor within two or three minutes of the same time every day, and they can depend upon it. I deplore these doctors who would show up, you know, an hour, a half hour late, because they were doing something else, or so on. If I say I’m going to be there, I am there every morning. And I am going to be there until I get my work done at night.</p> <p><strong>What’s a typical work day for you these days?</strong></p> <p>Denton Cooley: I get to the hospital shortly after six every morning. I get home about eight at night. That goes on every day.</p> <p><strong>Surely you don’t have to work that kind of schedule. You could have rested on your laurels a long time ago. Why do you keep going?</strong></p> <p>Denton Cooley: I enjoy it. I enjoy accomplishment. There are other things to do besides operating. I enjoy writing scientific papers. I’m writing a textbook right now, and have several papers on the way. When I get through by five o’clock, which is unusual, I spend two hours on those kinds of things.</p> <p><strong>So you don’t look toward retirement very soon?</strong></p> <p>Denton Cooley: No. I dread the thought, as a matter of fact. People say, “When are you going to retire?” And I say, “The only thing that would make me retire would be poor health.” As long as I’m healthy, and I enjoy what I’m doing, I’m going to continue doing it.</p> <p><strong>Dr. Cooley, working as hard as you do, there must have been sacrifices in terms of your personal life. Did your career ever get in the way of relationships?</strong></p> <p>Denton Cooley: That’s a possibility. I may not have gained as many close friendships as others would have done. People say, “You must neglect your family.” I don’t really believe that. They appreciate what I’m doing for them. I spend time with my family — my wife, my five daughters and 13 grandchildren — when I can. But I’m not lying around the house for hours at a time.</p> <p><strong>How do you refresh yourself away from work?</strong></p> <p>Denton Cooley: I enjoy a number of activities. I still enjoy sports. I play golf and tennis when I can. I have a ranch, and a beach house close by. I go to those places when I can. Just taking my wife to a movie is relaxation for me. I also enjoy reading. Sometimes I read novels, but historical fiction and biographies interest me most. I enjoy history. When I am traveling, even going to medical meetings, I love to take along several books. I enjoy reading, just to keep abreast of what’s going on in the world.</p> <p><strong>Are there any novels that you’ve enjoyed in recent years?</strong></p> <p>Denton Cooley: I thought <em>The Bonfire of The Vanities</em> was fun to read. Not very educational, but fun to read. I’d have to think of some others a little more meaningful than that. I enjoy reading biographies. I found Gore Vidal’s books about Aaron Burr and Abraham Lincoln very inspiring. I really enjoy Vidal’s books. Although they’re works of fiction, they’re based on solid fact and provide an enjoyable means of expanding our knowledge and giving us another look at historical figures.</p> <p><strong>Dr. Cooley, what do you think is the next great frontier in medicine? You have, as you said, been privileged to take part in so many of the great innovations in heart medicine. What’s coming up?</strong></p> <p>Denton Cooley: I think that we are getting closer to solving the problem of malignancies and cancer. And I think that we will probably see some real advances made in that direction in the next decade. I think that, as far as my specialty is concerned, most of the exciting things have been done. We have had so many procedures now to do to the heart, that now we may perfect what we are doing some, but no real exciting breakthroughs like transplantation, open heart surgery, or the artificial heart. I think that most of the publicity and excitement has gone. I think the real practical advances we can look forward to are better methods of diagnosis, enhanced of course, by computers. So computerization pretty soon will be a more standard thing, like x-rays and other things. And it will make the future much better in this field of diagnosis of disease.</p> <p><strong>If there was some mystery that you personally could solve in the future, what would that be?</strong></p> <p>Denton Cooley: I would like to understand more about the function of the heart muscle. Why is it the heart muscle sometimes just refuse to work? If we could understand how the muscle functions, we could restore the failing muscle, or at least we might be able to develop the medication that gets the most work from it. I would like to participate in the development of such a wonder drug.</p> <p><strong>I think you’re uniquely qualified to give advice on how to sustain a healthy heart — how to avoid getting on your operating table. What are the key factors?</strong></p> <p>Denton Cooley: You should avoid those things we know are harmful. Today, everyone seems to understand that tobacco is harmful in any form, and that alcohol can also be a poison if used to excess. At the same time, our lifestyles are often not healthful. As a society, we tend to overeat. I don’t believe obese people eat all high-fat foods, but I do believe they eat too much food. Obesity, in my opinion, is the scourge of our society. In addition, we don’t get enough exercise to keep our bodies toned. Much of what happens to us, unfortunately, is due to heredity. You can’t do a great deal about that. Fortunately, there are factors we can control. We have to begin educating our children at an early age about the effects of nutrition and exercise. on our health.</p> <p><strong>Do you ever eat bacon and eggs?</strong></p> <p>Denton Cooley: Yes. I must confess that I don’t watch my diet very strictly. However, I do watch how much I eat, and I’m the same body weight as when I was in college and played basketball, and I intend to keep it that way. It may take more self-discipline, but I believe appropriate body weight can be maintained.</p> <p><strong>You seem to have a lot of self-discipline. How much sleep do you get?</strong></p> <p>Denton Cooley: On average, about four and a half hours a night.</p> <p><strong>That’s enough?</strong></p> <p>Denton Cooley: I’m probably sleepy a lot of times, but usually that’s enough. Now that I’ve gotten older, I take maybe 20 or 30 minutes on the couch in my office after having my soup and yogurt for lunch. That seems to be adequate for me.</p> <p><strong>Has your wife been an important support for you?</strong></p> <p>Denton Cooley: Yes, she has. She’s kept my family together, and she’s been very supportive of my life. She is the daughter of a surgeon, so she knew what she was getting into when we got married. We’ve been married for some 43 years now and we’re still together. I still enjoy a good family life, with my daughters and their children. I hope I can live long enough to see some of my great-grandchildren, which is a possibility. Unfortunately, I got married a little late, when I was 29 years old. People who were married when they were teenagers often get to see their great-grandchildren. I had a patient the other day who had several great-great-grandchildren!</p> <p><strong>Looking back, do you think there’s anything you would have done differently?</strong></p> <p>Denton Cooley: Nothing of great importance. I’ve had some financial reverses, and it’s always easy to second guess that. I was, perhaps, overly ambitious, and got involved in certain financial enterprises that met with disaster when we had a recession in this area. That was a mistake I wish I hadn’t made. I believed I knew what I was doing. I realize now that I was just as vulnerable as so many other people who got involved. But none of these problems were important to my professional career.</p> <p><strong>Does the work itself, or the results of your work, provide the greatest reward for you?</strong></p> <p>Denton Cooley: I think it’s about 50/50. I enjoy work. I think work is a privilege. I don’t understand people who say they have nothing to do. When I get up in the morning, I appreciate the fact that people are waiting for me to show up, and that I might be able to help someone. I think that is really a privilege. It keeps you alive, spiritually.</p> <p><strong>How many lives do you think have been saved by coronary artery bypass surgery?</strong></p> <p>Denton Cooley: It’s hard to say. In our own institution, we’ve done more than 40,000 coronary by-pass operations, and we continue to do about 100 a month.</p> <p><strong>Twenty years ago, many of these people would have died.</strong></p> <p>Denton Cooley: That’s right. They may have also been severely handicapped by chest pains, angina pectoris. After a bypass operation, most patients are relieved of that very disabling symptom, and can return to their normal activities.</p> <p><strong>How much satisfaction do you get from knowing that you’ve saved lives?</strong></p> <p>Denton Cooley: That’s the real reward for any heart surgeon, I think, knowing that you’ve saved someone’s life. Nothing can compare with that. That’s the richest reward anyone can have.</p> <p><strong>One last question. What advice would you give to people coming up in this field?</strong></p> <p>Denton Cooley: If you want to become a surgeon, you have to accept a life of dedication and of service. You must be prepared to make your work number one priority in everyday life, and apply yourself fully to the welfare of your patients.</p> <p><strong>Thank you for all your time. I know your work will be appreciated for many, many years to come.</strong></p> </div>  </aside>  <div class="read-more__toggle collapsed" data-toggle="collapse" data-target="#full-interview"><a href="#" class="sans-4 btn">Read full interview</a></div> </article> </section> </div> <div class="tab-pane fade" id="gallery" role="tabpanel"> <section class="isotope-wrapper">  <header class="toolbar toolbar--gallery bg-white clearfix"> <div class="col-md-6"> <div class="serif-4">Denton A. Cooley, M.D. Gallery</div> </div> <div class="col-md-6 text-md-right isotope-toolbar"> <ul class="list-unstyled list-inline m-b-0 text-brand-primary sans-4"> <li class="list-inline-item" data-filter=".photo"><i class="icon-icon_camera"></i>46 photos</li> </ul> </div> </header> <div class="isotope-gallery isotope-box single-achiever__gallery clearfix"> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="0.79736842105263" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/wp-cooleyheartimg104.jpg" data-image-caption="" data-image-copyright="wp-cooleyheartimg104" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/wp-cooleyheartimg104-380x303.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/11/wp-cooleyheartimg104-760x606.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="1.3571428571429" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/wp-cooleyheadshotimg103.jpg" data-image-caption="After studying Dr. Christiaan Barnard’s surgical technique, Dr. Cooley completed the first successful U.S. heart transplant on May 3, 1968, giving a 47-year-old man a heart from a 15-year-old girl who had committed suicide. The patient survived for 204 days. Over the next year, Dr. Cooley performed 22 heart transplants." data-image-copyright="wp-cooleyheadshotimg103" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/wp-cooleyheadshotimg103-280x380.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/11/wp-cooleyheadshotimg103-560x760.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="1.2438625204583" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/wp-cooleyartificialheartimg105.jpg" data-image-caption="Dr. Denton A. Cooley performed the first total artificial heart implant in the world, April 4, 1969, in Houston. The device, developed by Dr. Domingo Liotta, was implanted in a 47-year-old patient with severe heart failure. The patient lived for nearly three days with the artificial heart until a human heart was available for transplant. This experience demonstrated the viability of artificial hearts as a bridge to transplant in cardiac patients." data-image-copyright="wp-cooleyartificialheartimg105" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/wp-cooleyartificialheartimg105-305x380.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/11/wp-cooleyartificialheartimg105-611x760.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="0.81710526315789" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/drcooley1957.jpg" data-image-caption="1957: Dr. Cooley in his office at Baylor. He served on the full-time faculty of Baylor College of Medicine for 18 years as a professor of surgery. (Texas Heart Institute)" data-image-copyright="Denton A. Cooley 1957" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/drcooley1957-380x310.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/11/drcooley1957-760x621.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="0.71578947368421" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/surgeongroup2001100000pumpcases.jpg" data-image-caption="Reaching a major milestone with Cooley's associates at the Texas Heart Institute: 100,000 open heart operations, January 10, 2001. Standing left to right: Charles Hallman, Grady Hallman, George Reul, O.H. (Bud) Frazier, Jim Livesay, Mike Duncan and David Ott." data-image-copyright="surgeongroup2001100000pumpcases" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/surgeongroup2001100000pumpcases-380x272.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/11/surgeongroup2001100000pumpcases-760x544.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="1.4339622641509" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/rawImage3.jpg" data-image-caption="Dr. Denton Cooley and Dr. Richard Wainerdi at the 50th Anniversary Celebration of the Texas Heart Institute at the Westin Galleria, September 18, 2012. (Dave Rossman/For the Chronicle)" data-image-copyright="rawimage3" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/rawImage3-265x380.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/11/rawImage3-530x760.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="1.3103448275862" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/rawImage.jpg" data-image-caption="Legendary Houston heart surgeon Denton Cooley stands for a portrait at the Texas Heart Institute, June 6, 2013, in Houston. (Cody Duty/Houston Chronicle)" data-image-copyright="Cooley" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/rawImage-290x380.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/11/rawImage-580x760.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="0.63684210526316" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/image1.jpg" data-image-caption="The UT Longhorn basketball team, 1939 Southwest Conference Champions. Dr. Cooley located on the top row, far right." data-image-copyright="image1" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/image1-380x242.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/11/image1-760x484.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="1.374321880651" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/image8.jpg" data-image-caption="Diagram of the Cooley "coffeepot" oxygenator. In the early 1950s, Denton A. Cooley, M.D., adapted a coffee percolator into a blood oxygenator as part of what would become the heart-lung machine." data-image-copyright="image8" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/image8-276x380.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/11/image8-553x760.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="0.69736842105263" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/p-3016-cooley-john-c-norman-and-heart-model-400dpi-jpg.jpg" data-image-caption="Cardiologists Denton Cooley and John C. Norman with a model of a heart. Between 1975 and 1978, Dr. John Norman and Dr. Denton A. Cooley performed a series of implantations of a pneumatic (air-driven) abdominal left ventricular assist device (ALVAD). The Model-7 ALVAD was used to support post-cardiotomy patients (those whose hearts had failed after heart surgery). The device was evaluated in 22 patients at the Texas Heart Institute." data-image-copyright="p-3016-cooley-john-c-norman-and-heart-model-400dpi-jpg" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/p-3016-cooley-john-c-norman-and-heart-model-400dpi-jpg-380x265.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/11/p-3016-cooley-john-c-norman-and-heart-model-400dpi-jpg-760x530.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="1.2709030100334" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/GettyImages-53380313_master.jpg" data-image-caption="April 10, 1970 cover of LIFE magazine, with photos of Dr. Denton Cooley (top) and Dr. Michael DeBakey. The DeBakey-Cooley imbroglio was in part rooted in this ethical dilemma. In 1969, Dr. Cooley sought to use an artificial heart as a temporary measure while the patient awaited a human heart from a donor. It was never clear how Dr. Cooley obtained the artificial heart developed by Dr. DeBakey, but a member of Dr. Cooley’s surgical team had once worked for Dr. DeBakey. DeBakey, who was out of town when the surgery was performed by Dr. Cooley, felt betrayed and was furious. The episode put federal grants at risk and resulted in Dr. Cooley’s censure by the American College of Physicians. DeBakey said that his onetime colleague “disappointed me with his ethics” and that his actions were “a little childish.” They didn’t speak for almost 40 years before they reconciled in 2007, one year before Dr. DeBakey’s death, at age 99. (Ralph Morse/Life Magazine/Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images)" data-image-copyright="Cover of LIFE w. logo, dated 04-10-1970, w. photos" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/GettyImages-53380313_master-299x380.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/11/GettyImages-53380313_master-598x760.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="0.64605263157895" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/1994Dr.DentonCooleyandDr.TimBrickervisitwithSaraRemingtononthetenyearanniversaryofhearttransplant.jpg" data-image-caption="1994: Dr. Denton Cooley and Dr. Tim Bricker visit with Sara Remington on the ten-year anniversary of her heart transplant. Remington had a heart transplant that cardiologist Dr. Denton Cooley described as "a pilot study" for infant transplants. Baby Sara, as she was called for a time, is the youngest surviving recipient of a new heart. She was only 8 months old when she had the transplant on November 1, 1984, a week after Baby Fae was given a baboon heart in California. A few months earlier, a 10-day-old girl in London became the youngest patient to receive a new heart, but she died 18 days later." data-image-copyright="1994dr-dentoncooleyanddr-timbrickervisitwithsararemingtononthetenyearanniversaryofhearttransplant" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/1994Dr.DentonCooleyandDr.TimBrickervisitwithSaraRemingtononthetenyearanniversaryofhearttransplant-380x245.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/11/1994Dr.DentonCooleyandDr.TimBrickervisitwithSaraRemingtononthetenyearanniversaryofhearttransplant-760x491.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="0.78947368421053" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Drs.-Owen-H.-Wangensteen-and-Christiaan-Barnard.jpg" data-image-caption="Christiaan Barnard completed a surgical residency at the University of Minnesota from 1956-1958. After completing his Ph.D., Barnard returned to his home country of South Africa, where he performed that country’s first open heart surgery in 1958. Barnard later performed the first successful heart transplant in the world on December 3, 1967." data-image-copyright="drs-owen-h-wangensteen-and-christiaan-barnard" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Drs.-Owen-H.-Wangensteen-and-Christiaan-Barnard-380x300.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Drs.-Owen-H.-Wangensteen-and-Christiaan-Barnard-760x600.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="0.7" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/obit-cooley.jpg" data-image-caption="February 9, 1999: Dr. Denton Cooley at the Texas Heart Institute in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)" data-image-copyright="Denton Cooley" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/obit-cooley-380x266.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/11/obit-cooley-760x532.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="0.79868421052632" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Michael-DeBakey-at-Methodist-Hospital-1978.jpg" data-image-caption="Michael DeBakey at Methodist Hospital in 1978. (Courtesy of the Baylor College of Medicine Archives)" data-image-copyright="This publicity photo of Michael DeBakey, taken by Methodist Hosp" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Michael-DeBakey-at-Methodist-Hospital-1978-380x304.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Michael-DeBakey-at-Methodist-Hospital-1978-760x607.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="0.8" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/DACweddingcuttingcake.jpg" data-image-caption="January 15, 1949: Louise Goldsborough Thomas, R.N., head nurse at Halsted Surgical Clinic at Johns Hopkins Hospital, married Denton A. Cooley, chief surgical resident." data-image-copyright="Denton A. Cooley marriage 1949" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/DACweddingcuttingcake-380x304.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/11/DACweddingcuttingcake-760x608.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="0.79736842105263" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/medaloffreedomdac829.jpg" data-image-caption="Dr. Cooley receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Ronald Reagan in 1984." data-image-copyright="medaloffreedomdac829" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/medaloffreedomdac829-380x303.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/11/medaloffreedomdac829-760x606.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="0.79736842105263" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/image11.jpg" data-image-caption="Dr. Helen Taussig and Dr. Dan McNamara at the Texas Heart Institute (THI) in March 1970. Dr. Taussig was attending a conference at THI." data-image-copyright="image11" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/image11-380x303.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/11/image11-760x606.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="1.2903225806452" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/image10.jpg" data-image-caption="LIFE cover from September 1981. The magazine story described the implantation of the world's second total artificial heart implant in a human." data-image-copyright="image10" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/image10-295x380.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/11/image10-589x760.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="0.74342105263158" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/image6.jpg" data-image-caption="The Jefferson Davis Hospital house staff (residents and interns) and medical staff. Cooley is standing next to Mike DeBakey (end of second row, right)." data-image-copyright="image6" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/image6-380x283.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/11/image6-760x565.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="0.76710526315789" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/heart-care.jpg" data-image-caption="August 18,1969: U.S. heart specialist Denton Cooley on a professional visit to Rome. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images)" data-image-copyright="Heart Care" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/heart-care-380x292.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/11/heart-care-760x583.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="1" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/GettyImages-2994966_master.jpg" data-image-caption="May 2, 1998: Cardiologist Dr. Denton Cooley in Houston, Texas. (Pam Francis/Getty Images)" data-image-copyright="Houston Cardiologist - Dr. Denton Cooley" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/GettyImages-2994966_master-380x380.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/11/GettyImages-2994966_master-760x760.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="1" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/GettyImages-2994965_master.jpg" data-image-caption="May 2, 1998: Cardiologist Dr. Denton Cooley in Houston, Texas. Over four decades, Cooley performed an estimated 65,000 open heart surgeries at the Texas Heart Institute, drawing patients from around the globe. (Photo by Pam Francis/Getty Images)" data-image-copyright="Houston Cardiologist - Dr. Denton Cooley" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/GettyImages-2994965_master-380x380.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/11/GettyImages-2994965_master-760x760.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="0.71842105263158" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/DSC_0066Drs.CooleyandFrasershareamomentatHeartCenterreunion-photobyPVK.jpg" data-image-caption="Dr. Cooley and Dr. Charles Fraser, Jr., cardiac surgeon-in-chief at Texas Children’s Hospital. Dr. Fraser is married to Cooley’s daughter Helen." data-image-copyright="dsc_0066drs-cooleyandfrasershareamomentatheartcenterreunion-photobypvk" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/DSC_0066Drs.CooleyandFrasershareamomentatHeartCenterreunion-photobyPVK-380x273.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/11/DSC_0066Drs.CooleyandFrasershareamomentatHeartCenterreunion-photobyPVK-760x546.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="0.49868421052632" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Drs._Frazier_and_Cooley.jpg" data-image-caption="2011: Denton A. Cooley, M.D. and Bud Frazier, M.D., with Texas Heart Institute review x-ray of first implanted continuous-flow total artificial heart. (Photo: Business Wire)" data-image-copyright="drs-_frazier_and_cooley" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Drs._Frazier_and_Cooley-380x190.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Drs._Frazier_and_Cooley-760x379.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="0.66710526315789" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/DrCooley-DrFraser_004.jpg" data-image-caption="Dr. Denton Cooley, left, and his son-in-law Dr. Charles Fraser, right, on Monday June 29, 2015. The Texas Children’s Hospital Heart Center is one of the most active pediatric heart programs in the United States, setting a record with 32 heart transplants in 2014. The Heart Center consistently treats the most complex heart issues, including atrial septal defects, ventricular septal defects, tetralogy of Fallot and transposition of the great arteries. Pioneered by legendary heart surgeon Denton A. Cooley, M.D., founder of Texas Heart Institute, the program is now led by Cooley’s son-in-law Charles D. Fraser, M.D., Texas Children’s surgeon-in-chief and professor of surgery and pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine. (Photo/Scott Dalton)" data-image-copyright="drcooley-drfraser_004" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/DrCooley-DrFraser_004-380x253.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/11/DrCooley-DrFraser_004-760x507.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="0.8" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/DeBakey-DAC-8x10-DSC_0281.jpg" data-image-caption="Michael E. DeBakey and Denton A. Cooley as DeBakey accepts a lifetime achievement award and honorary membership from the Denton A. Cooley Cardiovascular Surgical Society, October 27, 2007." data-image-copyright="Michael E. DeBakey and Denton A. Cooley 10-27-07" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/DeBakey-DAC-8x10-DSC_0281-380x304.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/11/DeBakey-DAC-8x10-DSC_0281-760x608.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="0.68157894736842" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/DAC-Singleton-McNamara-1954-11x14cooley3250.jpg" data-image-caption="1954-62: Denton A. Cooley M.D., Edward Singleton, M.D. and Dan McNamara, M.D. at Texas Heart Institute." data-image-copyright="dac-singleton-mcnamara-1954-11x14cooley3250" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/DAC-Singleton-McNamara-1954-11x14cooley3250-380x259.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/11/DAC-Singleton-McNamara-1954-11x14cooley3250-760x518.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="1.4728682170543" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/DACLiottaTAHimplant4-4-691stTAH.jpg" data-image-caption="April 4, 1969: Denton A. Cooley, world's first total artificial heart implant at Texas Heart Institute on Good Friday. Dr. Cooley holds in his right hand the Liotta TAH, and in his left, the native heart which has just been removed from the patient's chest (Haskell Karp). The patient was maintained on the TAH for 64 hours until a donor heart was located and transplant was performed." data-image-copyright="Denton A Cooley world's first Total Artificial Heart implant at" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/DACLiottaTAHimplant4-4-691stTAH-258x380.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/11/DACLiottaTAHimplant4-4-691stTAH-516x760.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="1.4074074074074" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/dacjohnshopkinsmedschoolgrad200901.jpg" data-image-caption="Dr. Cooley giving the commencement address at the Johns Hopkins Medical School in May 2009." data-image-copyright="Denton A Cooley Johns Hopkins med school graduation address 2009" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/dacjohnshopkinsmedschoolgrad200901-270x380.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/11/dacjohnshopkinsmedschoolgrad200901-540x760.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="0.54868421052632" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/DACcrowdedORTHI1970HBO106.jpg" data-image-caption="Physicians from all over the world have visited the Texas Heart Institute to observe Dr. Denton A. Cooley perform cutting-edge surgical procedures. This photo of a crowded Texas Heart Institute operating room was taken in 1970 as visitors observed Dr. Cooley performing a new coronary artery bypass procedure." data-image-copyright="Crowded OR Texas Heart Institute in 1970" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/DACcrowdedORTHI1970HBO106-380x209.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/11/DACcrowdedORTHI1970HBO106-760x417.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="0.80394736842105" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/DACClintonNationalMedalofTechnology19988x10.jpg" data-image-caption="Dr. Cooley receiving the National Medal of Technology and Innovation from President Bill Clinton in 1998." data-image-copyright="dacclintonnationalmedaloftechnology19988x10" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/DACClintonNationalMedalofTechnology19988x10-380x306.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/11/DACClintonNationalMedalofTechnology19988x10-760x611.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="0.66578947368421" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/dac756photo21527office111201.jpg" data-image-caption="Dr. Cooley in his office between surgical cases. His office was just a few steps away from the operating room. He was chief of cardiovascular surgery at CHI St. Luke’s Health-Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center, surgeon-in-chief emeritus at the Texas Heart Institute, consultant in cardiovascular surgery at Texas Children's Hospital and a clinical professor of surgery at the University of Texas Medical School at Houston." data-image-copyright="dac756photo21527office111201" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/dac756photo21527office111201-380x253.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/11/dac756photo21527office111201-760x506.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="0.70394736842105" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/DAC659wgrandkidsathome1998.jpg" data-image-caption="1998: Denton A. Cooley, M.D. with his wife and grandchildren at his home in Houston, Texas. (Texas Heart Institute)" data-image-copyright="Denton A. Cooley, MD with his wife and grand children at his hom" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/DAC659wgrandkidsathome1998-380x268.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/11/DAC659wgrandkidsathome1998-760x535.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="0.72763157894737" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/DAC1sthearttransplantpressconf1968hbo507.jpg" data-image-caption="May 1968: Dr. Cooley at a press conference with his colleagues at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital after Everett Thomas's transplant operation, which was the first successful heart transplant in the United States. Left to right: Grady Hallman, Denton A. Cooley, Robert Bloodwell, Arthur Keats and Robert Leachman. Cooley transplanted a heart into Everett Thomas, 47, whose heart valves were deteriorating. The donor was a 15-year-old girl who had committed suicide. Thomas survived for 204 days and the procedure made national headlines." data-image-copyright="dac1sthearttransplantpressconf1968hbo507" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/DAC1sthearttransplantpressconf1968hbo507-380x276.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/11/DAC1sthearttransplantpressconf1968hbo507-760x553.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="0.63815789473684" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/DAC_SaraRheartTX1stbday2-85-850457.jpg" data-image-caption="Dr. Cooley with one of his young patients." data-image-copyright="Dr. Cooley with one of his young patients." data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/DAC_SaraRheartTX1stbday2-85-850457-380x243.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/11/DAC_SaraRheartTX1stbday2-85-850457-760x485.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="0.69210526315789" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/AP_6712240206.jpg" data-image-caption="December 24, 1967: South African heart surgeon Dr. Christiaan Barnard wth Dr. Adrian Kantrowitz of Brooklyn, New York and Dr. Michael DeBakey of Houston, Texas while appearing on the CBS-TV program <I>Face The Nation</I> in Washington, D.C. (AP Photo)" data-image-copyright="DeBakey Kantrowitz Barnard" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/AP_6712240206-380x263.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/11/AP_6712240206-760x526.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="1.4100185528757" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/CxkUZ0VVQAANBsc.jpg" data-image-caption="Dubbed "Dr. Wonderful" by the media, Cooley was the leading expert on congenital heart defects in children, pioneered the use of the heart-lung machine that made open heart surgery possible, co-developed a technique for repairing torn aortic aneurysms, developed the techniques of “bloodless” heart surgery, and was one of the first and most successful proponents of the coronary artery bypass graft for treating blocked blood vessels." data-image-copyright="cxkuz0vvqaanbsc" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/CxkUZ0VVQAANBsc-270x380.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/11/CxkUZ0VVQAANBsc-539x760.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="0.71447368421053" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Cooley-English-Willerson-THI-Fish-Award-12-14-5x7.jpg" data-image-caption="December 12, 2014: Dr. Denton A. Cooley, founder of Texas Heart Institute, Sir Terrence English, and Dr. James T. Willerson, president, Texas Heart Institute, in Houston, Texas." data-image-copyright="British Cardiac Pioneer Sir Terence English Receives Texas Heart" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Cooley-English-Willerson-THI-Fish-Award-12-14-5x7-380x271.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Cooley-English-Willerson-THI-Fish-Award-12-14-5x7-760x543.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="1.005291005291" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Cooley_dac-99-soe-4x5-watson-1916_FromKenHoge.jpg" data-image-caption="Dr. Denton Cooley next to a wooden heart sculpture inside the Texas Heart Institute." data-image-copyright="cooley_dac-99-soe-4x5-watson-1916_fromkenhoge" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Cooley_dac-99-soe-4x5-watson-1916_FromKenHoge-378x380.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Cooley_dac-99-soe-4x5-watson-1916_FromKenHoge-756x760.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="1.216" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Cooley-Denton-Life-Cover004.jpg" data-image-caption="August 1968: LIFE magazine cover of Dr. Denton Cooley performing a heart transplant. In May, Cooley had transplanted a heart into Everett Thomas." data-image-copyright="cooley-denton-life-cover004" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Cooley-Denton-Life-Cover004-313x380.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Cooley-Denton-Life-Cover004-625x760.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="1.2297734627832" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Christiaan-Barnard.jpg" data-image-caption="Dr. Christiaan N. Barnard, the South African surgeon who performed the world's first human heart transplant in 1967. In his autobiography, <i>One Life</i>, Barnard wrote about observing Cooley in surgery: “It was the most beautiful surgery I had ever seen... Every movement had a purpose and achieved its aim. Where most surgeons would take three hours, he could do the same operation in one hour. It went forward like a broad river — never obvious in haste, yet never going back... No one in the world, I knew, could equal it.”" data-image-copyright="christiaan-barnard" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Christiaan-Barnard-309x380.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Christiaan-Barnard-618x760.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="0.77236842105263" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/AP_99033002378.jpg" data-image-caption="January 12, 1999: Dr. Michael DeBakey, 90, at Methodist Hospital, January 12, 1999, in Houston, Texas. DeBakey has developed more than 50 surgical instruments; performed more than 60,000 cardiovascular procedures, pioneering many of them; trained more than 1,000 surgeons; written more than 1,400 articles or books; received 50 honorary degrees, and been given hundreds of awards. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)" data-image-copyright="DEBAKEY" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/AP_99033002378-380x293.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/11/AP_99033002378-760x587.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="0.69210526315789" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/AP_8505280100.jpg" data-image-caption="May 28, 1985: American heart surgeon Dr. Michael DeBakey in his office conference room at Methodist Hospital in Houston, Texas. The American Academy of Achievement's Golden Plate Award is hanging behind him. (AP Photo)" data-image-copyright="Dr. Michael DeBakey" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/AP_8505280100-380x263.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/11/AP_8505280100-760x526.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="0.78157894736842" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/alfred_blalock_and_helen_taussig.jpg" data-image-caption="In 1944, Dr. Alfred Blalock and Dr. Helen Taussig figured out a surgical method dealing with “blue baby syndrome.” At Johns Hopkins, Denton Cooley had been taken under the wing of Blalock. Blalock permitted him to assist in the first surgery to correct the congenital heart defect of a "blue baby," whose malfunctioning heart prevented him from getting adequate oxygen. That experience inspired Dr. Denton Cooley to make heart surgery his specialty." data-image-copyright="alfred_blalock_and_helen_taussig" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/alfred_blalock_and_helen_taussig-380x297.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/11/alfred_blalock_and_helen_taussig-760x594.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="0.66578947368421" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/2k12-0207-AK3_5264receptionforDrDentonCooley5-3-2012PhotobyAKramer.jpg" data-image-caption="May 3, 2012: Texas Children's Hospital President and CEO Mark A. Wallace and others honor Dr. Denton A. Cooley." data-image-copyright="2k12-0207-ak3_5264receptionfordrdentoncooley5-3-2012photobyakramer" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/2k12-0207-AK3_5264receptionforDrDentonCooley5-3-2012PhotobyAKramer-380x253.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/11/2k12-0207-AK3_5264receptionforDrDentonCooley5-3-2012PhotobyAKramer-760x506.jpg"></div>  </figure>    </div> </section> </div> </div> <div class="container"> <footer class="editorial-article__footer col-md-8 col-md-offset-4"> <div class="editorial-article__next-link sans-3"> <a href="#"><strong>What's next:</strong> <span class="editorial-article__next-link-title">profile</span></a> </div> <ul class="social list-unstyled list-inline ssk-group m-b-0"> <li class="list-inline-item"><a href="" class="ssk ssk-facebook" data-gtm-category="social" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Shared Achiever on Facebook"><i class="icon-icon_facebook-circle"></i></a></li> <li class="list-inline-item"><a href="" class="ssk ssk-twitter" data-gtm-category="social" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Shared Achiever on Twitter"><i class="icon-icon_twitter-circle"></i></a></li>  <li class="list-inline-item"><a href="" class="ssk ssk-email" data-gtm-category="social" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Shared Achiever via Email"><i class="icon-icon_email-circle"></i></a></li> </ul> <time class="editorial-article__last-updated sans-6">This page last revised on December 6, 2016</time> <div class="sans-4"><a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/how-to-cite" target="_blank">How to cite this page</a></div> </footer> </div> <div class="container interview-related-achievers"> <hr class="m-t-3 m-b-3"/> <footer class="clearfix small-blocks text-xs-center"> <h3 class="m-b-3 serif-3">If you are inspired by this achiever’s story, you might also enjoy:</h3> <div class="centered-blocks"> <div class="isotope-achiever sports illness-or-disability athletic ambitious " data-year-inducted="1976" data-achiever-name="Albright"> <div class="achiever-block view-grid"> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/tenley-albright-m-d/"> <figure class="ratio-container ratio-container--square bg-black"> <div class="lazyload box achiever-block__image" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/alb0-006a-190x190.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/03/alb0-006a-380x380.jpg"></div> <div class="achiever-block__overlay"></div> <figcaption class="text-xs-center achiever-block__text"> <div class="display--table"> <div class="display--table-cell"> <div class="achiever-block__text--center"> <div class="achiever-block__name text-brand-primary">Tenley Albright, M.D.</div> <div class="achiever-block__known-as text-white sans-6">U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame</div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="text-white achiever-block__text--bottom"> <div class="achiever-block__year sans-4">Inducted in <span class="year-inducted">1976</span></div> </div> </figcaption> </figure> </a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="centered-blocks"> <div class="isotope-achiever science-exploration racism-discrimination curious ambitious analytical work-in-medicine " data-year-inducted="1999" data-achiever-name="Black"> <div class="achiever-block view-grid"> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/keith-l-black/"> <figure class="ratio-container ratio-container--square bg-black"> <div class="lazyload box achiever-block__image" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/bla1-001a-190x190.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/03/bla1-001a-380x380.jpg"></div> <div class="achiever-block__overlay"></div> <figcaption class="text-xs-center achiever-block__text"> <div class="display--table"> <div class="display--table-cell"> <div class="achiever-block__text--center"> <div class="achiever-block__name text-brand-primary">Keith L. 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Gehry</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/vince-gill/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Vince Gill</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/ruth-bader-ginsburg/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Ruth Bader Ginsburg</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/louise-gluck/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Louise Glück</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/whoopi-goldberg/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Whoopi Goldberg</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/jane-goodall/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Dame Jane Goodall</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/doris-kearns-goodwin/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Doris Kearns Goodwin, Ph.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/mikhail-s-gorbachev/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Mikhail S. Gorbachev</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/nadine-gordimer/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Nadine Gordimer</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/stephen-jay-gould/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Stephen Jay Gould, Ph.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/carol-greider-ph-d/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Carol Greider, Ph.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/john-grisham/"><span class="achiever-list-name">John Grisham</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/dorothy-hamill/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Dorothy Hamill</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/lauryn-hill/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Lauryn Hill</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/sir-edmund-hillary/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Sir Edmund Hillary</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/reid-hoffman/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Reid Hoffman</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/khaled-hosseini/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Khaled Hosseini, M.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/ron-howard/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Ron Howard</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/john-hume/"><span class="achiever-list-name">John Hume</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/louis-ignarro-ph-d/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Louis Ignarro, Ph.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/daniel-inouye/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Daniel K. Inouye</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/jeremy-irons/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Jeremy Irons</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/john-irving/"><span class="achiever-list-name">John Irving</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/sir-peter-jackson/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Sir Peter Jackson</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/donald-c-johanson/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Donald C. Johanson, Ph.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/frank-m-johnson/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Frank M. Johnson, Jr.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/philip-johnson/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Philip C. Johnson</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/chuck-jones/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Chuck Jones</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/james-earl-jones/"><span class="achiever-list-name">James Earl Jones</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/quincy-jones/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Quincy Jones</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/thomas-keller-2/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Thomas Keller</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/anthony-m-kennedy/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Anthony M. Kennedy</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/b-b-king/"><span class="achiever-list-name">B.B. King</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/carole-king/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Carole King</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/coretta-scott-king/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Coretta Scott King</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/henry-kissinger-ph-d/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Henry A. Kissinger, Ph.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/willem-j-kolff/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Willem J. Kolff, M.D., Ph.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/wendy-kopp/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Wendy Kopp</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/henry-r-kravis/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Henry R. Kravis</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/nicholas-d-kristof/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Nicholas D. Kristof</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/mike-krzyzewski/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Mike Krzyzewski</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/ray-kurzwell/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Ray Kurzweil</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/eric-lander-ph-d/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Eric S. Lander, Ph.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/robert-s-langer-ph-d/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Robert S. Langer, Sc.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/richard-leakey/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Richard E. Leakey</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/robert-lefkowitz-m-d/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Robert J. Lefkowitz, M.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/congressman-john-r-lewis/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Congressman John R. Lewis</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/maya-lin/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Maya Lin</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/george-lucas/"><span class="achiever-list-name">George Lucas</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/norman-mailer/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Norman Mailer</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/peyton-manning/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Peyton Manning</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/wynton-marsalis/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Wynton Marsalis</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/john-c-mather-ph-d/"><span class="achiever-list-name">John C. Mather, Ph.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/johnny-mathis/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Johnny Mathis</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/willie-mays/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Willie Mays</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/frank-mccourt/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Frank McCourt</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/david-mccullough/"><span class="achiever-list-name">David McCullough</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/audra-mcdonald/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Audra McDonald</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/admiral-william-h-mcraven/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Admiral William H. McRaven, USN</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/w-s-merwin/"><span class="achiever-list-name">W. S. Merwin</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/james-a-michener/"><span class="achiever-list-name">James A. Michener</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/marvin-minsky-ph-d/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Marvin Minsky, Ph.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/mario-j-molina-ph-d/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Mario J. Molina, Ph.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/n-scott-momaday-ph-d/"><span class="achiever-list-name">N. Scott Momaday, Ph.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/story-musgrave/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Story Musgrave, M.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/ralph-nader/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Ralph Nader</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/peggy-noonan/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Peggy Noonan</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/jessye-norman/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Jessye Norman</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/tommy-norris/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Lt. Thomas R. Norris, USN</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/joyce-carol-oates/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Joyce Carol Oates</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/pierre-omidyar/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Pierre Omidyar</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/larry-page/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Larry Page</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/arnold-palmer/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Arnold Palmer</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/rosa-parks/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Rosa Parks</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/suzan-lori-parks/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Suzan-Lori Parks</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/linus-pauling/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Linus C. Pauling, Ph.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/shimon-peres/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Shimon Peres</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/general-david-petraeus/"><span class="achiever-list-name">General David H. Petraeus, USA</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/sidney-poitier/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Sidney Poitier</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/general-colin-l-powell/"><span class="achiever-list-name">General Colin L. Powell, USA</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/harold-prince/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Harold Prince</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/lloyd-richards/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Lloyd Richards</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/sally-ride-ph-d/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Sally K. Ride, Ph.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/sonny-rollins/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Sonny Rollins</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/anthony-romero/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Anthony Romero</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/james-rosenquist/"><span class="achiever-list-name">James Rosenquist</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/pete-rozelle/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Pete Rozelle</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/bill-russell/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Bill Russell</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/albie-sachs/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Albie Sachs</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/oliver-sacks-m-d/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Oliver Sacks, M.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/jonas-salk-m-d/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Jonas Salk, M.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/frederick-sanger-ph-d/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Frederick Sanger, Ph.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/barry-scheck/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Barry Scheck</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/richard-evans-schultes-ph-d/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Richard Evans Schultes, Ph.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/general-h-norman-schwarzkopf/"><span class="achiever-list-name">General H. Norman Schwarzkopf, USA</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/stephen-schwarzman/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Stephen A. Schwarzman</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/glenn-t-seaborg-ph-d/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Glenn T. Seaborg, Ph.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/neil-sheehan/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Neil Sheehan</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/admiral-alan-shepard-jr/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Admiral Alan B. Shepard, Jr., USN</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/ellen-johnson-sirleaf/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Ellen Johnson Sirleaf</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/carlos-slim/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Carlos Slim Helú</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/frederick-w-smith/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Frederick W. Smith</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/stephen-sondheim/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Stephen Sondheim</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/sonia-sotomayor/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Sonia Sotomayor</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/wole-soyinka/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Wole Soyinka</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/esperanza-spalding/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Esperanza Spalding</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/martha-stewart/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Martha Stewart</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/admiral-james-b-stockdale/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Admiral James B. Stockdale, USN</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/hilary-swank/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Hilary Swank</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/amy-tan/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Amy Tan</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/dame-kiri-te-kanawa/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Dame Kiri Te Kanawa</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/edward-teller-ph-d/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Edward Teller, Ph.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/twyla-tharp/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Twyla Tharp</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/wayne-thiebaud/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Wayne Thiebaud</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/lt-michael-e-thornton-usn/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Lt. Michael E. Thornton, USN</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/charles-h-townes-ph-d/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Charles H. Townes, Ph.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/david-trimble/"><span class="achiever-list-name">David Trimble</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/ted-turner/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Robert Edward (Ted) Turner</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/desmond-tutu/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Archbishop Desmond Tutu</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/john-updike/"><span class="achiever-list-name">John Updike</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/gore-vidal/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Gore Vidal</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/antonio-villaraigosa/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Antonio Villaraigosa</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/lech-walesa/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Lech Walesa</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/james-d-watson/"><span class="achiever-list-name">James D. Watson, Ph.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/andrew-weil-m-d/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Andrew Weil, M.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/elie-wiesel/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Elie Wiesel</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20170622211006/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/edward-o-wilson-ph-d/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Edward O. 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