IV 

110TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 1353 

Remembering Dr. Michael E. DeBakey, known as the ‘‘best surgeon who 

ever lived’’, who served our Nation throughout his career and was the 

father of cardiovascular medicine and Veterans Administration Medical 

Research. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JULY 17, 2008 

Mr. BUYER (for himself and Mr. SCALISE) submitted the following resolution; 

which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 

RESOLUTION 

Remembering Dr. Michael E. DeBakey, known as the ‘‘best 

surgeon who ever lived’’, who served our Nation throughout his career and was the father of cardiovascular medicine and Veterans Administration Medical Research. 

Whereas Dr. Michael E. DeBakey was born on September 7, 

1908, in Lake Charles, Louisiana, to 2 self-educated Lebanese immigrants; 

Whereas at the age of 23, Dr. Michael E. DeBakey developed 

the roller pump for blood transfusions, which was later 

adapted for use as a major component of the heart-lung 

machine used in the first successful open heart operation; 

Whereas Dr. Michael E. DeBakey served his country in the 

Army Surgeon General’s office during World War II, risVerDate Aug 31 2005 00:16 Jul 18, 2008 Jkt 069200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR1353.IH HR1353

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ing to the rank of colonel during the War and Chief of 

the Surgical Consultants Division at the end of the War; 

Whereas through his first-hand knowledge of military service 

and the treatment of wounded soldiers in combat theaters, Dr. Michael E. DeBakey contributed to the development of mobile army surgical hospitals (MASH) units, 

which earned him the Legion of Merit in 1945; 

Whereas Dr. Michael E. DeBakey founded a private organization, the Society of Medical Consultants to the Armed 

Forces, for the purpose of establishing graduate-level 

medical education in the military medical departments; 

Whereas Dr. Michael E. DeBakey fought for the war zone 

deployment of vascular surgeons, which saved the limbs 

of hundreds of civilians and members of the Armed 

Forces; 

Whereas Dr. Michael E. DeBakey volunteered for active duty 

following World War II to ensure that the lessons of military medicine documented in the War became long-standing policy; 

Whereas Dr. Michael E. DeBakey led the movement for a 

National Library of Medicine in Bethesda, Maryland, and 

the creation of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; 

Whereas Dr. Michael E. DeBakey developed innovative and 

groundbreaking procedures that later became standards 

of surgical practice in the treatment of strokes and aneurysms; 

Whereas Dr. Michael E. DeBakey developed Dacron grafts 

for use in heart bypass surgery; 


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•HRES 1353 IH 

Whereas Dr. Michael E. DeBakey performed the first removal of blockage in a carotid artery and the first patchgraft angioplasty; 

Whereas Dr. Michael E. DeBakey worked with the National 

Aeronautics and Space Administration to develop an 

implantable device to help the heart pump blood; 

Whereas Dr. Michael E. DeBakey served for 55 years as the 

first chairman of the Dean’s Committee at the Veteran 

Affairs Medical Center in Houston, Texas, a facility 

which now bears his name in recognition of the lifetime 

of service he gave to sick and wounded veterans; 

Whereas Dr. Michael E. DeBakey was awarded by President 

Lyndon B. Johnson the highest civilian honor, the Congressional Medal of Freedom with Distinction, as well as 

the National Medal of Science by President Ronald 

Reagan, for his groundbreaking research and leadership 

in medical and veterans matters; 

Whereas Dr. Michael E. Debakey was appointed by President 

Lyndon B. Johnson to the position of Chairman of the 

President’s Commission on Heart Disease, Cancer, and 

Stroke, leading to the creation of Regional Medical Programs, established to assist and encourage the creation 

of cooperative arrangements for research and training 

among medical schools, research institutions, and hospitals; 

Whereas the leadership and groundbreaking work of Dr. Michael E. DeBakey saved countless lives and made the 

Veterans Administration Research Program the best of 

such programs in the world; 


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Whereas Dr. Michael E. DeBakey published over 1,600 articles and 3 best-selling books, and performed over 60,000 

surgical operations; and 

Whereas on July 11, 2008, all Americans, especially veterans, 

were greatly saddened by the death of Dr. Michael E. 

DeBakey: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives honors 

2 Dr. Michael E. DeBakey for his legendary career as a 

3 skilled surgeon, caring healer, inventor, teacher, medical 

4 statesman, leader, and patriot, and expresses condolences 

5 on his passing to his family, friends, and all those affected. 

Æ 


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