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Michael DeBakey
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Dr. Michael Ellis DeBakey
Born September 7, 1908
Died July 11, 2008 (aged 99)
Houston, Texas, United States
Alma mater Tulane University

Michael Ellis DeBakey (born September 7, 1908 – died July 11, 2008) was a famous American heart surgeon. He was known as one of the most important doctors in his field and was a pioneer in heart surgery.

Michael DeBakey was born as Michel Dabaghi in Lake Charles, Louisiana. This was on September 7, 1908. His parents came from Lebanon and moved to America before he was born.

DeBakey showed interest in medicine from a young age. He studied at Tulane University. Throughout his life, he held many important jobs in the medical world.

DeBakey's Impact on Medicine

Improving Wartime Healthcare

During World War II, DeBakey greatly improved how medicine was practiced during wartime. He believed doctors should be closer to the battlefields. This idea worked very well. Because of this change, many more injured soldiers survived.

This led to the creation of Mobile Army Surgical Hospitals. These were also known as MASH units. MASH units were famously used during the Korean War. They brought medical care quickly to soldiers in need.

Key Inventions in Surgery

Besides MASH units, DeBakey made many other important inventions for surgery. One of his most famous inventions was the roller pump. DeBakey created this pump when he was only 23 years old. He was still a student at Tulane University at the time.

The roller pump was a huge step forward. It made open-heart surgery possible. This pump helps blood flow through the body during an operation. This means doctors can work on the heart while it is still.

Working with Other Surgeons

DeBakey worked with another important heart surgeon, Denton Cooley. However, they had a disagreement. This was about the first time an artificial heart (a man-made heart) was put into a human. They did not get along for a long time after that. But in 2007, they finally became friends again.

Operating on World Leaders

DeBakey continued to practice medicine even when he was very old. This was quite rare for a surgeon. He operated on many important people. These included world leaders, like Russian President Boris Yeltsin.

His Own Health Challenge

In 2005, Dr. DeBakey faced a serious heart problem himself. He had actually created the surgery for this very problem. At first, he did not want to have the surgery. But his condition got worse. So, his medical team decided to perform the surgery anyway. After the operation, he got much better. DeBakey later said he was glad the surgery happened.

Later Life and Legacy

On July 11, 2008, Michael DeBakey passed away from natural causes. He was 99 years old. He left behind his second wife, a daughter, two sons, and two sisters. DeBakey's work changed heart surgery forever. He saved countless lives around the world.

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See also

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