Today, we honor Dr. Denton Arthur Cooley, the distinguished and celebrated founder of the Texas Heart Institute and recognized as one of the most gifted heart surgeon of his time, was has died today November 18, 2016. He was 96.
Over his more than 60 years of practice, he did over 65,000 open heart surgeries at the institute and was a pioneer in his field, spearheading two particularly historical ones – in 1968, the first transplant of a human heart in which the patient lived more than a few weeks; and in 1969, the first implantation of a mechanical heart.
Samir Becic says of Cooley “I know that the vast majority of doctors worldwide are honoring his life’s work today. The medical world lost one of the most important authorities today.”
