Mayo Clinic Celebrates 50 Years of Heart Surgery

Monday, May 09, 2005

What: The Mayo-Gibbon heart-lung machine was perfected 50 years ago at Mayo Clinic, which led to the world's first successful series of open heart surgical procedures. Cardiovascular Surgery physicians, staff and guests will celebrate 50 years of heart bypass surgery at Mayo Clinic.

Who: Interviews will be available with:

Mayo Clinic's first heart bypass patient (second in the world), Linda Stout J. Willard Marriott Jr., and daughter, Deborah Harrison. The Marriotts are supporters of Mayo Clinic cardiovascular research and Ms. Harrison was another early heart bypass patient at Mayo Clinic

Garrison Keillor, host of A Prairie Home Companion and author of more than a dozen books, including Lake Wobegon Days. Mr. Keillor had heart surgery at mayo Clinic in July, 2001.

Hartzell Schaff, M.D., chair of Cardiovascular Surgery

When: Thursday, May 12, 9 a.m.-noon

Where: Phillips Hall, Siebens Building, 100 2nd Ave SW, Rochester, MN 55905 (daytime events) and Mayo Civic Center, 30 Civic Center Drive SE (dinner) For more details on this anniversary celebration and background on the achievement, go to www.mayoclinic.org/cvsurg50
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