Denton Arthur Cooley, MD: A Conversation With the Editor¹

Denton Arthur Cooley was born in Houston, Texas, in 1920. After his surgical training in Baltimore and London, he returned to his beloved Texas by joining the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston in 1951. Since that time he has been a major force in the treatment of cardiovascular disease in the world. He has contributed to the techniques for repair and replacement of diseased heart valves and the aorta and its branches, and he is widely known for his pioneering surgical treatment of cardiac anomalies in infants and children. His publications number nearly 1,200. Dr. Cooley and his team have performed over 90,000 open heart operations at his hospital. In 1962, he created the Texas Heart Institute where he has trained over 600 surgeons who are now members of the Cooley Cardiovascular Surgical Society. Dr. Cooley is a member or honorary member of over 50 professional societies around the world. He has received 68 honors and awards including the Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian award, the Theodore Roosevelt Award given by the National Collegiate Athletic Association to a varsity athlete who has achieved national recognition in his profession, and the Rene Leriche Prize, the highest honor of the International Surgical Society for cardiovascular contributions. He has received honorary degrees from 5 American Universities and from 3 foreign universities. He has been married for 47 years to Louise Thomas Cooley; they have 5 daughters and 16 grandchildren. He enjoys spending time with his family at their ranch and at their Galveston beach house. He has several hobbies and currently is hooked on golf. He also is a nice guy with great capacity for friendship.