Forest Dewey Dodrill

Forest Dewey Dodrill
Born	(1902-01-26)January 26, 1902 Webster Springs, West Virginia
Died	June 28, 1997(1997-06-28) (aged 95) Baltimore, Maryland
Nationality	American
Alma mater	Harvard Medical School University of Michigan
Known for	Open heart surgery
Scientific career
Fields	Surgery
Institutions	Harper University Hospital, Wayne State University

Forest Dewey Dodrill (January 26, 1902 – June 28, 1997) was a medical doctor at Harper University Hospital at Wayne State University in Michigan who performed the first successful open heart surgery using a mechanical pump.^[1][2]

Biography

Dodrill was born in Webster Springs, West Virginia and attended West Virginia University, where he earned his bachelor's degree in 1925, he attended Harvard Medical School, graduating in 1930. Dodrill was an intern and resident at Harper Hospital in Detroit where he became a staff surgeon. He undertook a thoracic surgical residency at the University of Michigan in the early 1940s, receiving a M.Ch. degree from in 1942.^[3]

On July 3, 1952, Dodrill completed the first successful open heart surgery on the left ventricle of Henry Opitek. He used a machine developed by himself and researchers at General Motors, the Dodrill-GMR, considered to be the first operational mechanical heart used while performing open heart surgery.^[4][5][6]

References

1. Stephenson, Larry W; Arbulu Agustin; Bassett Joseph S; Silbergleit Allen; Hughes Calvin H (2002). "Forest Dewey Dodrill: heart surgery pioneer. Michigan Heart, Part II". Journal of Cardiac Surgery. 17 (3): 247–57, discussion 258–9. doi:10.1111/j.1540-8191.2002.tb01210.x. PMID 12489912. S2CID 35545263.
2. "DR. FOREST DODRILL; PIONEERED USE OF MECHANICAL HEART PUMPS". Chicago Tribune. 29 June 1997. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
3. Stephenson, Larry. "The Michigan Heart" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 May 2012. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
4. American Heart Association. The Mechanical Heart celebrates 50 lifesaving years. 22 10 2002. 9 Feb 2008 americanheart.org Archived 2009-11-28 at the Wayback Machine
5. Wayne State University | School of Medicine Archived June 10, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
6. Stephenson, Larry W; Arbulu Agustin; Bassett Joseph S; Silbergleit Allen; Hughes Calvin H (2002). "The Michigan Heart: the world's first successful open heart operation? Part I". Journal of Cardiac Surgery. 17 (3): 238–46, discussion 258–9. doi:10.1111/j.1540-8191.2002.tb01209.x. PMID 12489911. S2CID 37404105.