Clarence Walton Lillehei was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota back in 1918 to Clarence and Elizabeth. He attended West High School graduating in 1935. After graduation, he attended the University of Minnesota earing 4 degrees including a B.S. (with distinction) in 1939, his M.D. (alpha Omega Alpha) in 1942, his M.S. in physiology in 1951, and his Ph.D. in surgery in 1951.
He trained more than 150 cardiac surgeons from 40 nations. In 1967, he was appointed to the Lewis Atterbury Stimson professor and chairman of the surgery department at Cornell Medical Center, New York. He returned to St. Paul, Minnesota in 1975, where he became the director of medical affairs at St. Jude Medical. He died in 1999, he was 80.
What you may not know about Clarence is that he was the surgeon who pioneered open-heart surgery, as well as numerous techniques, equipment and prostheses for cardiothoracic surgery. He was responsible for the world’s first use of a battery-powered pacemaker.
NW Arkansas, come for a visit, stay for a lifetime.
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