Dr. Michael DeBakey (http://www.bcm.edu/news/features/item.cfm?newsID=992)

“Hard work is painful when life is devoid of purpose. But when you live for something greater than yourself and the gratification of your own ego, then hard work becomes a labor of love” (Steve Pavlina). DeBakey’s selfless devotion to his career and countless days and nights lost in the operating rooms at the Baylor Medical Center in Houston, accurately describes the nature of this quote. His last years of life were spent living in an apartment by the hospital where he knew or cared for little but his students and his lifelong devotion to medicine. Noted as a world renowned cardiovascular surgeon, medical inventor and statesperson, Dr. DeBakey is credited for countless lifesaving innovations in health and medicine. Born September 7, 1908, DeBakey’s contributions to medicine spanned over seventy-five years until his death at age ninety-nine. Dr. DeBakey’s dedication and tireless efforts to innovate the face of medicine left a lasting imprint in the betterment of mankind.

Dr. DeBakey's M.A.S.H unit (http://myhero.com/go/hero.asp?hero=michael_debakey)

Dr. DeBakey’s visionary approach in the medical field allowed him to discover countless ground-breaking discoveries which saved the lives of many. His pioneering spirit and fierce devotion to task was a driving force in expanding the horizon of the medical modus operandi. “DeBakey was deeply involved in the research related to all aspects of cardiothoracic and vascular surgery. While in medical school DeBakey actively engaged in medical research which led him to the invention of the roller pump, which became an essential component of the heart-lung machine and thus helped launch the era of open heart surgery”(Baylor College of Medicine). The roller pump was one of the many devices that DeBakey created at an early age which enlightened his fellow physicians. This invention opened the gateway for many new procedures in surgery and was instrumental in changing the outcomes of otherwise incurable heart disease. In addition, DeBakey’s distinctive way of thinking spanned further than just the operating room. He made it a priority to aid the veterans which he believed were true heroes in the United States.

“At the beginning of World War II, DeBakey volunteered for military service; after serving four years in the U.S Surgeons General’s office, he was appointed director of the Surgical Consultants Division there. His work led to the establishment of the mobile army surgical hospitals (MASH units). He also helped organize a specialized medical center system to treat soldiers returning from the war; that system became the VA Medical Center System. He received the Legion of Merit Award in 1945 for his wartime achievements” (Gale 2003).

Dr. DeBakey helped revolutionize the care troops receive in and out of combat. Without the establishment of these two key aspects of troop care the quality of medicine in and out of war zones would be less than satisfactory. The fact that DeBakey was awarded with such a prestigious honor gave him national recognition and paved his way to further success. Dr. DeBakey’s continual effort to innovate and seek out new solutions gave him international credibility and authority to find new solutions to medical problems that can benefit people all around the world. Although his visionary approach was a key ingredient to his success, his dedication proved to be another critical factor that not only benefited him, but others around him and truly made him whole.

DeBakey accepts the Congressional Gold Medal (http://politicsoffthegrid.wordpress.com/2008/07/)

Dr. DeBakey’s dedication to medicine proved to be the factor that made him the great medical legend that he is remembered as today. Dedication spanned further then just money and awards for Dr. DeBakey. What he truly desired was to better the life of each and every person he treated.

“’I spoke recently with a prominent cardiologist in New York who would send all of his difficult surgical cases to Dr. DeBakey. Not a single time did Dr. DeBakey ever ask, “Can this patient pay? Does he have insurance? Is he on Medicare? Is he a VIP?” He would take one and all, regardless of whom they were. I observed him treat a poor patient with no source of funds with the same attention and respect that he gave to a head of state’” (Gotto, M. Antonio).

DeBakey was always willing to go against the grain to help other people. In his mind all patients were to be treated with equal respect and dignity, he prioritized their wellness over anything else. Dr. DeBakey’s hard work and dedication was not only admired by his patients, but also greatly desired by his colleagues. Although he was constantly awarded with countless prizes, his work ethic was never altered. DeBakey’s great dedication not only allowed him to complete more than 60,000 operations and publish more than 1,500 books, articles, and chapters but it gave him national recognition from the most honored and chief leaders in the world.“’For nearly a hundred years, our country has been blessed with the endless talents and dedication of Dr. Michael DeBakey. He has dedicated his career to a truly noble ambition- bettering the life of his fellow man,” President Bush said as he bestowed the Congressional Gold Medal upon Dr. DeBakey…Bush signed the bill authorizing the award-the highest a civilian can receive’” (Sorrel, Amy Lynn). DeBakey spent nearly every day of his life studying to become the legend he is today. The achievement of this award shows that this hero didn’t achieve his goals in merely a few days or months, but his whole lifetime to gain such recognition. In the course of his life, DeBakey was able to save the lives of thousands of people and aid other physicians in doing the same. None of this would have been imaginable if Dr. DeBakey did not sacrifice every spare moment in the pursuit of achieving a greater medical field. The sole incentive for DeBakey was to help others. This was a trait that many of DeBakey’s colleagues admired greatly and hoped to attain one day.

DeBakey Congressional Gold Coin (http://www.coinnews.net/2008/04/21/dr-debakey-receives-congressional-gold-medal-on-april-23-2008-4043/)

Dr. DeBakey’s passion, vision, and determination was intrinsic, but his motivation was “for something greater than himself” (Steve Pavlina). His pioneering spirit and perseverance proved to be the determining factor in his success as a surgeon and as a hero. It is a hero who dedicates his life to something greater than himself and gives hope to the otherwise hopeless. DeBakey’s seventy-five years of research and unprecedented technologies continue to improve the quality of medicine and save countless lives. His work serves as an inspiration to younger generations to ask questions and think beyond the box. This makes one man’s life, work, and vision a truly remarkable contribution and makes us question where we would be without him.

Works Cited

“Heart Surgeon Pioneer Wins Highest Civilian Honor.” American Medical News. 19 May 2008: Academic Onefile. Web. 11 Dec. 2010.

“Michael Ellis DeBakey.” Baylor College Of Medicine. 9 Dec. 2010. Web 11 December 2010. http://www.debakeydepartmentofsurgery.org/home/context.cfm?content_id=287.

“Michael Ellis DeBakey.” DISCovering U.S History. Detroit: Gale, 2003. Gale Student Resources In Context. Web. 9 Dec. 2010.

“Tribute to Michael DeBakey.” Heart Views. June 2010. Web. 12 December 2010. http://www.hmc.org.qa/heartviews/VOL10NO2/IN_MEMORIAM.htm.