The Resume

(February 9, 1923-February 10, 2006)
Earned a medical degree from Vanderbilt University (1949)
First surgeon in the U.S. to perform a successful open heart transplant operation (Stanford University School of Medicine - January 6, 1968)
Oversaw about 800 human heart transplants
Died of lung cancer one day after turning 83 years old

Why he might be annoying:

He was studying pre-law, but when he took an Army aptitude test showing promise as a physician a colonel gave him a choice of staying in the infantry or going to medical school. His reply, 'I always wanted to be a doctor.'
One of his pupils, South African Dr. Christiaan Barnard, beat him to the punch by one month, performing the first human heart transplant (December 3, 1967).
His first heart transplant patient died after two weeks in what he termed 'a fantastic galaxy of complications.'

Why he might not be annoying:

He helped define 'brain death.'
He continued improving techniques for heart transplants when other U.S. doctors gave up the practice of heart transplants due to 'poor results.'
He pioneered anti-rejection methods with a combination of immune system suppressive drugs and careful monitoring of heart activity to predict and prevent complications.
In part due to his efforts, as of 2006, 85% of American heart transplant recipients live at least a year and 70% at least five years.

Credit: Scar Tactics

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• 20th Century Scientists
• Buddy! Dude! Man! Guy!
• Egg Heads
• I Attended University of Minnesota
• I Attended Vanderbilt
• I Died in 2006 (Ranked: 83)
• I Earned a Doctorate
• I Have Lung Cancer
• Profiles 17251-17500 (Ranked: 17269)
• Scar Tactics' Profiles [Series 04]
• Scientists
• Silver Foxes [Gray and Don't Care]
• Snaggle Tooth

Year In Review:

In 2023, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 9 Votes: 55.56% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 5 Votes: 20.0% Annoying
In 2019, Out of 5 Votes: 20.0% Annoying
In 2018, Out of 8 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2017, Out of 5 Votes: 40.0% Annoying
In 2016, Out of 5 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
In 2015, Out of 12 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2014, Out of 25 Votes: 52.00% Annoying
In 2013, Out of 16 Votes: 56.25% Annoying
In 2012, Out of 25 Votes: 48.00% Annoying
In 2011, Out of 8 Votes: 62.50% Annoying
In 2010, Out of 23 Votes: 26.09% Annoying
In 2009, Out of 26 Votes: 34.62% Annoying
In 2008, Out of 40 Votes: 37.50% Annoying
In 2007, Out of 87 Votes: 45.98% Annoying
In 2006, Out of 157 Votes: 40.76% Annoying