CTSNet Transitions Section

HOME > MEMBERS > TRANSITIONS

This page lists the significant happenings in the lives and careers of Cardiothoracic surgeons around the world. Please send suggested postings to W. Gerald Rainer, Transitions Section Editor.

	Honored: Women in Thoracic Surgery announces its officers for 2004-2005.
	Mercedes K. C. Dullum, President Margarita Camacho, Vice President Lorraine J. Rubis, Secretary/Treasurer Andrea J. Carpenter, Past President Mary J. Boylan Carolyn M. Dresler Shauna R. Roberts
	Honored: The Western Thoracic Surgical Association officers for 2004-2005 are:
	Steven W. Guyton, President R. Scott Mitchell, Vice-President John A. Hawkins , Secretary Robbin G. Cohen, Treasurer Andrew S. Wechsler, Editor Marvin Pomerantz, Historian
	Councillors Gabriel S. Aldea Elliot T. Gelfand J. Scott Millikan Colleen F. Sintek Vaughn A. Starnes, Past President Arthur N. Thomas, Councillor-Founder
	Deceased: Demetre M. Nicoloff, MD., PhD August 5, 2003 at age 69. Master surgeon, inventor and businessman, he practiced in both academic and private practice settings for 43 years in Minnesota's twin cities of Minneapolis - St Paul. Read the tribute to Dr. Nicoloff by his colleague Dr. Robert Emery.
	Deceased: Donald B. Effler, MD on August 24, 2004, at the age of 89. A giant in cardiothoracic surgery, he was the head of the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery at the Cleveland Clinic from 1949 to 1975. There he and his colleagues developed tachniques for visualizing the coronary arteries and then surgically bypassing the obstructions. A native of New York City, he received his undergraduate and medical training at the University of Michigan, receiving his MD degree in 1941. He was the 5th President of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Read the tribute to Dr. Effler by his distinguished pupil, Dr. Floyd Loop.
	Honored: At its meeting on October 19-24, 2004, The American Board of Thoracic Surgery elected the following slate of officers and new directors:
	Timothy J. Gardner, Chairman for the second of two years, Carolyn E. Reed, Vice-Chairman for the second of two years, after which she will become Chairman. The following were elected as Directors, each to serve a six year term: Mark S. Allen, Rochester MN Edward L. Bove, Ann Arbor, MI David A. Fullerton, Denver, CO David H. Harpole, Durham, NC Douglas E. Wood, Seattle, WA
	Honored: The European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery announces its officers for 2004-2005.
	Torkel Aberg, President Tom Treasure, Vice-President Bruce Keogh, Secretary General Jose Pomar, Treasurer Ludwig von Segesser, Editor Paul Sergeant, Information Officer James Monro, Past-President Councillors Friedhelm Beyersdorf Juan Comas Stephano Elia Timothy Gardner Pieter Kappetein Ralf Schmid
	Honored: The European Society of Thoracic Surgeons announces its officers for 2004-2005.
	Walter Weder, President Semih Halezeroglu, President-elect Tomasz Grodzki, Past-President Richard Berrisford , General Secretary Gaetano Rocco , Treasurer Jay Jeyasingham, Editor Councillors Ion Bellenis Past Past President Kalliopi Athanassiadi Dirk van Raemdonck Michael Mueller Bernward Passlick Ab Hensens New 2004 Sandro Mattioli New 2004 Pascal Thomas New 2004 Pavel Pafko New 2004
	Honored:The Board of Directors of CTSNet unanimously approved the following Officers and appointees for 2003-2004.
	Torkel H. J. Aberg, President Donald C. Watson, Secretary Richard P. Anderson, Treasurer Robert L. Replogle, Physician Executive Director
	Honored: Richard Jonas MD, President-Elect of the American Association for Thoracic Surgery, has accepted a position as Cardiovascular Surgeon-in-Chief as well as co-Director of the Congenital Heart Center at Children's National Medical Center, Washington DC. CNMC is in the process of a major expansion including a new dedicated cardiac ICU and new cardiac operating rooms. Dr. Jonas will be on site September 1.
	Honored: Aydyn Aytac MD, American Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey, was awarded an honorary membership in the European Society for Cardiovascular Surgery (ESCVS) at the 53rd Congress in Ljubljana, Slovenia.
	Honored: The International Society for Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery (ISMICS) officers for 2004-2005 are:
	Naresh K. Trehan, President Randall K Wolf, President-elect Valavanur A Subramanian, M.D., Past President John D. Puskas, Secretary James D. Fonger, Treasurer Mark Levinson, Editor Hermann Reichenspurner, Senior Advisor
	Honored: Patrick M. McCarthy MD, has joined the Northwestern Medical Faculty Foundation, Chicago, IL., as Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery, and Co-Director of the Northwestern Memorial Cardiovascular Institute.
	Honored: Tomas A. Salerno MD, of Miami, Florida, at a meeting in Naples, Italy was given the PREMIO MONTEVERGINE award for his work on myocardial protection, and on beating heart surgery.
	Honored: George J. Magovern, Sr. MD, Pittsburgh, PA., at the recent meeting of the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) in Boston, MA. was awarded the AAMI Foundation Laufman-Greatbatch Prize. This award honors an individual who has made a unique and significant contribution to the advancement of medical instrumentation, and bestows a commemorative plaque and a $5000 honorarium on the recepient. Dr. Magovern was the Chief of Surgery at Allegeheny General Hospital for over 30 years.
	Honored: The American Association for Thoracic Surgery announces its officers for 2004-2005.
	Tirone E. David, President Richard A. Jonas, President-Elect Bruce W. Lytle, Vice-President Irving L. Kron, Secretary G. Alexander Patterson, Treasurer Andrew S. Wechsler, Editor Robert B. Wallace, Historian
	Councillors Joel D. Cooper, O. Howard Frazier D. Craig Miller Hartzell V. Schaff David J. Sugarbaker Marko I. Turina
	Deceased: Richard L. Varco, MD on May 2, 2004. Dr. Varco, an internationally renowned surgeon, innovator and educator, spent his entire career at the University of Minnesota. He received three degrees at the University of Minnesota: an MB in Physiology in 1936; an MD in 1937; and a PhD, with a major in Surgery and a minor in Biological Problems, in 1944. He completed his Department of Surgery residency training in 1943 and joined the Department of Surgery. Dr. Varco became full Professor in 1950. He was Chief of the Division of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery from 1968 to 1980. Dr. Varco was a Regents Professor (the University of Minnesotas highest academic honor). He was instrumental in many world firsts that took place at the University of Minnesota. He was first assistant in the first successful direct vision open-heart operation (September 2, 1952 led by F. John Lewis) and in the first open-heart operation using cross-circulation (March 26, 1954, led by C. Walton Lillehei). He led the first jejunoileal bypass operation in 1953 and co-invented the implantable drug pump in 1969. This pump was first implanted in 1975 for continuous heparin delivery, then became the first intraarterial chemotherapy unit in 1978 and the first pump for insulin delivery in 1980. In addition, Dr. Varco performed the University of Minnesotas first organ transplant in 1963, a successful living donor kidney transplant between identical twin sisters, who each went on to enjoy many decades of active life. Varco had more than 300 published articles to his credit and nearly 30 books or book chapters. Varcos pioneering contributions to open-heart surgery were acknowledged when he and his colleagues, C. Walton Lillehei, Herbert E. Warden, and Morley Cohen, received the prestigious Lasker Award, often referred to as the American Nobel Prize. Read a tribute to Dr. Varco by Dr. R. Morton Bolman, III, MD.
	Honored: W. Randolph Chitwood, Jr. MD of Greenville, NC, professor of surgery and chief of cardiothoracic and vascular surgery at Eastern Carolina University, received the highest honor given by the University of North Carolina Board of Governors, the O. Max Gardner Award, at a ceremony in Chapel Hill, NC. The award carries a $10,000 prize. Chitwood was honored for his innovations in cardiac surgery, including his development of minimally invasive techniques. He has trained surgeons from around the world on the Da Vinci Robot at ECU, the first U.S. institution where robotic cardiac valve surgery was performed.
	Deceased: John W. Kirklin, MD on April 21, 2004. Dr. Kirklin, an internationally prominent surgeon, was for many years associated with the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, and then Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery at the University of Alabama School of Medicine until his retirement. Among his many honors, he was President of the American Association for Thoracic Surgery in 1978-79. Read a tribute to Dr. Kirklin by his pupil and colleague Dr. Nicholas T. Kouchoukos, MD.
	Honored: Raymond O. Heimbecker, MD of Collingwood, Canada received the Queen's Jubliee Medal in the fall of 2002. He has recently been awarded the Order of Ontario, in recognition of his pioneering heart research, and for his volunteer medical work, here and in parts of the third world. For many years Dr Heimbecker was Professor and Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario.
	Deceased: Austin R. Grant, Phoenix, AZ on March 24, 2004.
	Honored: W. Gerald Rainer, M.D., Denver, CO, will receive the Distinguished Service Award of the University of Colorado, conferred by the Board of Regents in recognition of outstanding achievements and contributions to the University, the state and the nation. Dr. Rainer will receive this honor during the commencement ceremony Friday, May 8, 2004.
	Honored: James Cox, M.D., of Naples, FL, developer of the Maze procedure for the surgical control of atrial fibrillation, is the 2004 recepient of the Ray C. Fish Award for Scientific Achievement from the Texas Heart Institute, Houston, TX. For the past 33 years, this prestigious award has been bestowed annually upon a cardiologist or cardiac surgeon. Cox is only the 10th surgeon to receive the honor.
	Honored: The Society of Thoracic Surgeons announces its officers for 2004-2005.
	Peter C. Pairolero, President Sidney Levitsky, First Vice President Frederick L. Grover, Second Vice President Gordon F. Murray, Secretary Douglas E. Wood, Secretary-Elect Douglas J. Mathisen, Treasurer Robert A. Guyton, Immediate Past President
	Directors-at-Large Constantine Mavroudis (2005) Jeffry B. Rich (2005) Jeffry P. Gold (2006) Leslie J. Kohman (2006) Michael J. Mack (2007) Meredith L. Scott (2007) International Director Torkel Aberg L. Henry Edmunds, Jr., Editor W. Gerald Rainer, Historian Executive Director and General Counsel Robert A. Wynbrandt, Esq.
	Honored: Joe B. Putnam, Jr. MD has been appointed Professor and Chair of the Department of Cardiac and Thoracic Surgery, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN
	Honored: Richard P. Anderson, MD at the recently-concluded meeting of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, was awarded the Distinguished Service Award, the Society's highest honor, established in 1969 to recognize outstanding contributions and service to the organization.
	Honored: Mark D. Iannettoni, MD has been appointed Professor of Surgery and Chief of the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery at the University of Iowa Medical Center.
	Deceased: Professor Yingkai Wu of Beijing, China, on November 13, 2003 at the age of 93 years. Dr. Wu was a pioneer in cardiothoracic surgery in China, performing many "firsts" in that country. In addition, he was a friend and colleague of several generations of CT surgeons from around the world. A tribute to Dr. Wu by his friend and co-worker Dr. Zhang Zhaoguang, M.D. President of Anzhen Hospital, Beijing, can be read here.
	Honored: The Southern Thoracic Surgical Association announces its officers for 2003-2004:
	D. Glenn Pennington, President Peter K. Smith, Vice President Irving L. Kron, President-Elect John H. Calhoon, Secretary/Treasurer Duke E. Cameron, Councilor G. Alexander Patterson, Councilor W. Steves Ring, Councilor Clifford H. Van Meter, Continuing Medical Education Director L. Henry Edmunds, Editor Harold C. Urschel, Historian Joseph I. Miller, Council Chair Constantine Mavroudis, Past President
	Deceased: Bertram A. Glass on May 24, 2003 at the age of 81 years. Dr. Glass, a past President of the Southern Thoracic Surgical Association, was for many years in private practice in New Orleans, LA. A tribute to Dr. Glass by his friend and colleague Dr. A. Robert Cordell can be read here.
	Honored: The Thoracic Surgery Directors Association officers for 2003-2004 are:
	Douglas J. Mathisen , President Jeffrey P. Gold, Vice President John H. Calhoon , Secretary-Treasurer
	Deceased: Nityanath V. Mandke of Mumbae, India on May 22, 2003. Dr. Mande was a prominent Asian cardiac surgeon, recognized for bringing minimally invasive coronary artery surgery to his country. A tribute to Dr. Mandke can be read here.
	Deceased: William Glenn on March 10, 2003 at the age of 88 years. Dr. Glenn, an internationally recognized surgeon, was Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Yale University School of Medicine from 1948 to 1975. A tribute to Dr. Glenn by his friend and colleague Dr. John A. Elefteriades can be read here.
	Honored: Constantine Mavroudis, M.D., of Chicago, IL., Willis J. Potts Professor of Surgery in the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, has been appointed Surgeon-in-Chief of Children's Memorial Hospital.
	Deceased: John Leigh Collis on February 4, 2003. Mr. Collis was an internationally recognized thoracic surgeon, and Past President of the Society of Cardiothoracic Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland. A moving tribute to Mr. Collis can be read here.
	Deceased: Robert J. Ginsberg on March 1, 2003. A tribute to Dr. Ginsberg by his friend and colleague Dr. Thomas W. Rice can be read here.
	Deceased: Sir Keith Ross, Southampton, UK, on February 18, 2003. A tribute to Sir Keith by his friend and colleague Mr. James Monro can be read here.
	Deceased: Robert W. Jamplis, Palo Alto, CA., on February 3, 2003. Among many other honers, he was a Past-President of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons. A Tribute to Doctor Jamplis by his friend Dr.Harold C. Urschel, Jr. may by read here.
	Deceased: David B. Skinner, New York, NY died on January 24, 2003. A Tribute to Doctor Skinner written by his friend and colleague Doctor Harold C. Urschel, Jr can be read here.
	Deceased: Henry T. Bahnson, Pittsburgh, PA, died on January 10, 2003. A Tribute to Doctor Bahnson written by Doctor Ben Eisemen can be read here.
	Retiring: Lynda Mickleborough has announced her retirement as Professor of Surgery in the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Toronto. As a tribute to Dr. Mickleborough a symposium entitled, "Surgical Treatment of Coronary Artery Disease and its Sequelae" will be held at Toronto General Hospital on May 8, 2003. For more information, please contact Carolyn Dunford at ph:(416) 340-4789, FAX:(416) 340-4020, or carolyn.dunford@uhn.on.ca.
	Honored: W. Randolph Chitwood, Jr., of Greenville, NC, has recently been elected to Fellowship in the Royal College of Surgeons of England. Dr. Chitwood is Chief of the Department of Surgery at the Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University.
	Deceased: Arthur C. Beall, Jr., Houston, TX, died on December 8, 2002. A Tribute to Doctor Beall written by Doctors Ernesto R. Soltero and Kenneth L. Mattox can be read here.
	Deceased: Albert J. Pfister died suddenly on November 7, 2002. He was 51 years of age. Doctor Pfister was Senior Attending Surgeon in Cardiac Surgery at the Washington Medical Center, and a member of the clinical faculty of George Washington University Medical School and Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, D.C. He was prominent in the development of techniques for performing beating heart surgery. Two tributes by his colleagues are now posted, here, and here.
	Honored: Tomas Salerno of Miami, Florida was awarded a Honoris Causa Degree from Argentina by the University of Miami School of Medicine on October 31,2002.
	Deceased: J. Gordon Scannell of Fox Hill, Westwood, Mass. died August 24, 2002. Associated all his professional life with Harvard Medical School and the Massachusetts General Hospital, Dr. Scannell was a former President of The American Association for Thoracic Surgery. A Tribute to Doctor Scannell written by Doctor W. Gerald Austen can be read here.
	Deceased: Richard J. Cleveland of Wellesley, Mass. died June 11, 2002. For many years Chair of the Department of Surgery at Tufts School of Medicine-New England Medical Center before his retirement, Doctor Cleveland was also until recently Secretary of the American Board of Thoracic Surgery. A Tribute to Doctor Cleveland written by Doctor Marvin Pomerantz can be read here.
	Deceased: Frederick H. Taylor of St. Simons Island, Georgia died April 1, 2002. Doctor Taylor practiced cardiothoracic surgery in Charlotte, North Carolina until his retirement. He was a past president of the Southern Thoracic Surgical Association.
	Deceased: Harry W. Power of Great Falls, Montana died in March, 2002.
	Deceased: Thomas Jacob of Hollywood, Florida died in February, 2002.
	Deceased: John R. Derrick of Galveston, Texas died February 28, 2002.
	Deceased: Herbert E. Warden died January 14, 2002. Tribute to Doctor Warden.
	Deceased: Michael Barry of Rockvile, Maryland, died 13 December, 2001.
	Deceased: Notice has been received of the death of Scott J. Comp of Houma, Louisiana.
	Deceased: Thomas L. Buhl of Long Beach, California died in January, 2002.
	Deceased: Irving M. Madoff of Brookline, Massachusetts died April 10, 2000.
	Deceased: Melvin M. Newman of Pasadena, California died January 17, 2002.
	Deceased: Professor Georgy L. Ratner of Samara, Russia died November 3, 2001.More about Dr.Ratner.
	New Location: Joseph LoCicero III has accepted the position as Professor and Chairman of the Department of Surgery at Finch University/ The Chicago Medical School, Chicago, Illinois
	New Location: Lars G. Svensson has accepted the position as Director, Center for Aortic Surgery and the Marfan Syndrome Clinic in the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio
	Deceased: Professor Christiaan Barnard, of Beaufort West, South Africa, died September 2, 2001. More about Dr.Barnard.
	Moving: As of November 1, 2001, Tom R. Karl will become Professor of Surgery and Chief of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery at the University of California - San Francisco. Dr. Karl is the Associate Editor of Internet Activities for The Annals of Thoracic Surgery.
	New Location:Verdi J. DiSesa has accepted the position as Chief of Cardiac Surgery at the CardioVascular Center at Chester County Hospital in West Chester, Pennsylvania
	Deceased: Amram Cohen of Holon, Israel died in August, 2001. More about Dr.Cohen.
	Deceased: William E. Neville of Santa Rosa, California died July 28, 2001
	Deceased: Will Camp Sealy of Greenville, North Carolina, Sixth President of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, died January 27, 2001.More about Dr. Sealy.
	Honored: William A. Gay, Jr. of St. Louis, Missouri named Secretary-Treasurer of The American Board of Thoracic Surgery.More about Dr. Gay.
	Deceased: William E. Bloomer of Pasadena, California died January 19, 2001
	Deceased: Joe R. Utley of Spartanburg, South Carolina died January 15, 2001. More about Dr. Utley.
	Deceased: Elmore M. Aronstam of Los Osos, California died January 10, 2001
	Deceased: Allan Stranahan of Atlantic Beach, Florida died in 2000
	Deceased: George A. Schimert of Buffalo, New York died in December, 2000
	Deceased: Paul Walstad of Yuma, Arizona died October 26, 2000.
	Deceased: Maruf A. Razzuk of Dallas, Texas died October 8, 2000.
	Deceased: Bobby Heath from Jackson, Mississippi died in August 2000.
	Deceased: Åke Senning from Zurich, Switzerland died July 21, 2000. More about Dr. Senning, a pioneer in cardiothoracic surgery.
	Deceased: Keith Reemtsma died June 23, 2000. Dr. Reemtsma, broke new ground in the field of transplantation. More about Dr. Reemtsma.
	Deceased: Donald L. Paulsen of Dallas, Texas died September 1, 1999. Dr. Paulsen was the third president of The Society of Thoracic Surgeons.
	Deceased: Earl B. Kay of Cleveland, Ohio. Dr. Kay was the ninth president of The Society of Thoracic Surgeons.
	Honored: Bum Koo Cho of Seoul, South Korea, has been appointed thoracic and cardiovascular surgeon to the President of Korea. Dr. Cho is a member of the STS, AATS, and KTCS. He is also the Editor-in-Chief of the Asian Cardiovascular & Thoracic Annals