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 through-
out his career and was the father of cardiovascular medi-
cine and Veterans Administration Medical Research. 
Whereas Dr. Michael E. DeBakey was born on September 7, 
1908, in Lake Charles, Louisiana, to 2 self-educated Leb-
anese 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, ris-
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•HRES 1353 IH 
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 thea-
ters, Dr. Michael E. DeBakey contributed to the develop-
ment of mobile army surgical hospitals (MASH) units, 
which earned him the Legion of Merit in 1945; 
Whereas Dr. Michael E. DeBakey founded a private organi-
zation, 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 mili-
tary medicine documented in the War became long-stand-
ing 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 In-
stitute; 
Whereas Dr. Michael E. DeBakey developed innovative and 
groundbreaking procedures that later became standards 
of surgical practice in the treatment of strokes and aneu-
rysms; 
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 re-
moval of blockage in a carotid artery and the first patch- 
graft 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 Con-
gressional 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 Pro-
grams, established to assist and encourage the creation 
of cooperative arrangements for research and training 
among medical schools, research institutions, and hos-
pitals; 
Whereas the leadership and groundbreaking work of Dr. Mi-
chael E. DeBakey saved countless lives and made the 
Veterans Administration Research Program the best of 
such programs in the world; 
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•HRES 1353 IH 
Whereas Dr. Michael E. DeBakey published over 1,600 arti-
cles 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 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives honors 
Dr. Michael E. DeBakey for his legendary career as a 
skilled surgeon, caring healer, inventor, teacher, medical 
statesman, leader, and patriot, and expresses condolences 
on his passing to his family, friends, and all those affected. 
Æ 
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