John W. Kirklin
Encyclopedia
John Webster Kirklin was born in Muncie, Indiana
, United States. After graduating from Harvard Medical School
in 1942 he made several important contributions to heart surgery
while practicing at the Mayo Clinic
, in Rochester, Minnesota. He is noted especially for refining the heart-lung machine, originally developed by John Gibbon
, to the point that heart surgeries could be performed with a high degree of success. Kirklin was responsible for bringing the heart-lung machine into routine use in heart surgery. After years as the Chair of the Department of Surgery at the Mayo Clinic, he accepted the same position at the University of Alabama School of Medicine
in 1966. He built the school and UAB Hospital
system into one of the leaders in the health care industry, and UAB named its Kirklin Clinic
in his honor. He was awarded the 1972 Lister Medal for his contributions to surgical science. The corresponding Lister Oration, given at the Royal College of Surgeons of England
, was delivered on 11 April 1973, and was titled 'An Academic Surgeon's Work'. He is buried in Birmingham's Elmwood Cemetery
.
Muncie, Indiana
Muncie is a city in Center Township, Delaware County in east central Indiana, best known as the home of Ball State University and the birthplace of the Ball Corporation. It is the principal city of the Muncie, Indiana, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which has a population of 118,769...
, United States. After graduating from Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School is the graduate medical school of Harvard University. It is located in the Longwood Medical Area of the Mission Hill neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts....
in 1942 he made several important contributions to heart surgery
Cardiac surgery
Cardiovascular surgery is surgery on the heart or great vessels performed by cardiac surgeons. Frequently, it is done to treat complications of ischemic heart disease , correct congenital heart disease, or treat valvular heart disease from various causes including endocarditis, rheumatic heart...
while practicing at the Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic is a not-for-profit medical practice and medical research group specializing in treating difficult patients . Patients are referred to Mayo Clinic from across the U.S. and the world, and it is known for innovative and effective treatments. Mayo Clinic is known for being at the top of...
, in Rochester, Minnesota. He is noted especially for refining the heart-lung machine, originally developed by John Gibbon
John Gibbon
John Gibbon was a career United States Army officer who fought in the American Civil War and the Indian Wars.-Early life:...
, to the point that heart surgeries could be performed with a high degree of success. Kirklin was responsible for bringing the heart-lung machine into routine use in heart surgery. After years as the Chair of the Department of Surgery at the Mayo Clinic, he accepted the same position at the University of Alabama School of Medicine
University of Alabama School of Medicine
The University of Alabama School of Medicine at the University of Alabama at Birmingham is a public medical school located in Birmingham, Alabama. The UAB School of Medicine has branch campuses in Huntsville and at the University of Alabama College of Community Health Sciences in Tuscaloosa...
in 1966. He built the school and UAB Hospital
UAB Hospital
The University of Alabama Hospital , is a Level I trauma center hospital located in Birmingham, Alabama....
system into one of the leaders in the health care industry, and UAB named its Kirklin Clinic
Kirklin Clinic
The Kirklin Clinic is an outpatient facility of UAB Hospital. It was named for heart surgeon, John W. Kirklin, and was designed by noted architect, I. M. Pei.-Further reading:-External links:...
in his honor. He was awarded the 1972 Lister Medal for his contributions to surgical science. The corresponding Lister Oration, given at the Royal College of Surgeons of England
Royal College of Surgeons of England
The Royal College of Surgeons of England is an independent professional body and registered charity committed to promoting and advancing the highest standards of surgical care for patients, regulating surgery, including dentistry, in England and Wales...
, was delivered on 11 April 1973, and was titled 'An Academic Surgeon's Work'. He is buried in Birmingham's Elmwood Cemetery
Elmwood Cemetery (Birmingham, Alabama)
Elmwood Cemetery is a cemetery established in 1900 in Birmingham, Alabama northwest of Homewood by a group of fraternal organizations. It was renamed in 1906 and gradually eclipsed Oak Hill Cemetery as the most prominent burial place in the city...
.
External links
- UAB Press Release about Kirklin
- Texas Heart Institute Journal Article
- Biography from Plarr's Lives of the Fellows Online, from the Royal College of Surgeons of England