Viewpoint
Feb 2000

Michael E. DeBakey, MD

Audiey Kao, MD, PhD
Virtual Mentor. 2000;2(2):18. doi: doi: 10.1001/virtualmentor.2000.2.2.prol1-0002.

 

In February, the month to celebrate love and romance, we present the first Virtual Mentor Award for being an exemplary role model in medicine to Dr. Michael E. DeBakey, a physician and surgeon who has spent his professional career healing ailing hearts.

Dr. DeBakey earned his medical degree from Tulane University School of Medicine in 1932. After military service in World War II, he worked in the US Surgeon General's Office and is credited with developing MASH (Mobile Army Surgical Hospital) units. The establishment of MASH units led to the saving thousands of lives during the Korean and Vietnam Wars.

As a pioneer in the field of cardiovascular surgery, Dr. DeBakey's work led to the development of coronary artery bypass operations and heart transplants, which are now common procedures. As a lifelong scholar, he has published hundreds of articles and book chapters on an array of surgical topics, and also spearheaded the movement to establish the National Library of Medicine. As a humanitarian, his expertise has not only saved the lives of kings and heads of state, but also those whose life circumstances are less fortunate.

For his extraordinary embodiment of the art and science of medicine, we are proud to present Dr. DeBakey with the first Virtual Mentor Award.

Citation

Virtual Mentor. 2000;2(2):18.

DOI

doi: 10.1001/virtualmentor.2000.2.2.prol1-0002.

The viewpoints expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the AMA.