Joseph Edward Murray ( April 1 , 1919 -- November 26 , 2012 ) was an American plastic surgeon who performed the first successful human kidney transplant on identical twins Richard and Ronald Herrick on December 23 , 1954 .
Joseph Edward Murray ( April 1 , 1919 -- November 26 , 2012 ) was an American plastic surgeon . He is best known for performing the first successful human kidney transplant on identical twins Richard and Ronald Herrick on December 23 , 1954 .