Lawrence H. Cohn facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lawrence H. Cohn
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| Born | March 11, 1937 |
| Died | January 9, 2016 (aged 78) Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
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| Education | Stanford University School of Medicine University of California, Berkeley |
| Known for | Heart valve repair and replacement surgery Minimally invasive heart valve surgery |
| Medical career | |
| Profession | Surgeon |
| Institutions | Brigham and Women's Hospital Harvard Medical School |
| Sub-specialties | Cardiovascular surgery |
Lawrence H. Cohn (March 11, 1937 – January 9, 2016) was an American cardiac surgeon. He was a true pioneer in heart surgery, a dedicated researcher, and a medical teacher. Dr. Cohn worked at Harvard Medical School from 1971. He became a Professor of Surgery there in 1980. In 2000, he received the first special award for Cardiac Surgery at Harvard Medical School.
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Dr. Cohn's Early Life and Training
Lawrence H. Cohn was born in San Francisco, California. He earned his first degree from the University of California, Berkeley in 1958. In 1962, he became a doctor at the Stanford University School of Medicine.
He continued his medical training from 1962 to 1971. He studied at places like Boston City Hospital and the National Heart Institute. At Stanford, he learned from Dr. Norman E. Shumway, another famous heart surgeon.
At Harvard Medical School, Dr. Cohn quickly moved up. He started as an Assistant Professor in 1971. By 1980, he was a full Professor of Surgery. In 2000, he received a special award called the Virginia and James Hubbard Chair in Cardiac Surgery.
Awards and Leadership Roles
Dr. Cohn received many honors for his work. Harvard gave him an honorary Masters of Medicine in 1989. The University of Paris also gave him an honorary doctorate in 1992.
In 2005, he won the Paul Dudley White Award. This is the highest award given by the American Heart Association. He was also the Chief of Cardiac Surgery at Brigham and Women's Hospital for many years. He led the training program for heart surgeons there too.
A Pioneer in Heart Surgery
Dr. Cohn was a true leader in his field. He performed over 11,000 heart operations. He was especially skilled at fixing and replacing heart valves. He also pioneered less invasive heart surgery methods. This means smaller cuts and faster recovery for patients.
He wrote more than 440 scientific articles. He also wrote 12 books, including Cardiac Surgery in the Adult. This book is one of the most important textbooks for heart surgeons today. He also gave over 750 lectures around the world.
Dr. Cohn held important positions in many medical groups. He was President of the American Association for Thoracic Surgery. He was also President of the American College of Chest Physicians. He even chaired the board of the National Library of Medicine.
Teaching the Next Generation
Dr. Cohn was also a dedicated teacher. He trained over 150 new heart surgeons. These doctors now work in important roles all over the world. About 30 of his former students are now leaders in their own medical departments.
