The Texas Medical Center (TMC) gained significant traction in the medical community courtesy of two eminent cardiothoracic surgeons – Drs. DeBakey and Cooley. After DeBakey’s passing over eight years ago, Dr. Cooley continued to serve as the quintessential example of an educator and visionary in medicine. Few others have left such a profound and timeless impact on such a complex field.
I had the privilege of speaking with Dr. Cooley about 18 months ago during my rotation at Texas Heart Institute, a hospital he founded over 50 years ago! He was sitting by himself in a lecture auditorium waiting for a presentation, so I decided to build up the courage to speak to this real celebrity.
I probed his mind about cardiovascular medicine, medical education, and his incredible career. For someone with so many accolades and fame to have such a simple and humble view on life was incredibly inspiring.
Today the medical community lost a pioneer, visionary, scientist, and educator, but Dr. Cooley’s legacy will live on through the countless lives he has touched. 🙂
