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J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2008;136:809-811
© 2008 The American Association for Thoracic Surgery

Obituary

Michael E. DeBakey, 1908 to 2008

O.H. Frazier, MD*

Texas Heart Institute, Houston, Texas

Received for publication August 13, 2008; accepted for publication August 13, 2008.

* Address for reprints: O. H. Frazier, MD, Texas Heart Institute, PO Box 20345, Suite P357, Houston, TX 77225-0345. (Email: LSchwenke@heart.thi.tmc.edu).

The first 300 words of the full text of this article appear below.


Figure 1
Michael Ellis DeBakey, MD


Dr Michael Ellis DeBakey—surgeon, scientist, and teacher—died suddenly at home on July 11, 2008, at the age of 99 years—2 months before his 100th birthday. Dr DeBakey, Chancellor Emeritus of Baylor College of Medicine, was a preeminent and predominant force in the development of the field of cardiovascular surgery in the twentieth century.

Born in Lake Charles, Louisiana, on September 7, 1908, Dr DeBakey was the son of Lebanese immigrants. His parents instilled in him the virtues of learning, pursuit of excellence, dedication, self-discipline, and the abhorrence of wasting time. His ability to organize every facet of his life contributed greatly to his success. In addition to performing 60,000 surgical operations during his long and constantly productive career, Dr DeBakey published more than 1600 medical articles, chapters, and books on various aspects of surgery and medicine, as well as ethical, socioeconomic, and philosophic essays. In this effort, he was aided by his sisters Selma and Lois DeBakey, who were pioneers in the field of professional medical writing and editing. Dr DeBakey's lifelong love and study of music and literature, particularly poetry, gave him a unique perspective in his writing. His productivity attests to an exceptionally rare degree of self-discipline. "Inattention to detail is the hallmark of mediocrity" was a frequent exhortation to his many trainees.

Because his father owned 2 pharmacies, Dr DeBakey was exposed to the world of medicine early in life, and he decided in his youth that he wanted to become a doctor. To that end, he earned his bachelor's degree, master of science, and medical degree at Tulane University and Medical School in New Orleans, where he graduated with high honors. While a medical student, he was mentored by Surgery Department Chairman Dr Alton Oschner, with whom Dr DeBakey published several scientific . . . [Full Text of this Article]


Related Article

Michael E. DeBakey
Shahbudin H. Rahimtoola
J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. 2009 138: 785. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]



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 J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg.Home page
S. H. Rahimtoola
Michael E. DeBakey
J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg., September 1, 2009; 138(3): 785 - 785.
[Full Text] [PDF]


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