Issue link: https://tmcpulse.uberflip.com/i/375565
t m c » p u l s e | s e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 4 19 Cohn, M.D., co-director of the Cullen Cardiovascular Research Laboratory at THI, Frazier remains active in the development of new heart assist and replacement devices. The team also recently welcomed Daniel Timms, Ph.D., a biomedical engineer and native Australian who envisioned a heart replacement device that would be small enough for use in children, but powerful enough to support an active adult. He first began development of the BiVACOR total arti- ficial heart over ten years ago as a Ph.D. candidate at Queensland University of Technology and The Prince Charles Hospital in Australia. After Timms met Cohn, Frazier and Cooley in 2012, the team began discussing plans to bring his lab to Houston. Today they continue testing on the device, hopeful that the magnetic rotating disc will reduce the likelihood of device failure due to mechanical wear over time. Beyond mechanical devices, the THI team is also researching ways to help repair damaged hearts with the use of stem cells. Doris Taylor, Ph.D., THI director of regenerative medicine research, is exploring ways in which a patient's heart could be repaired without the long-term use of a device. Taylor and her team have used a pig heart to demonstrate how healthy adult stem cells could potentially help repair or rebuild damaged organs. "More women die of heart and vascular disease than all cancers combined. There are 35,000 children born each year with heart and vascular disease in the United States. And one out of 2.5 men worldwide will have heart and vascular disease during their lives," explained Willerson. "So it's really an important effort, and we have to help people realize that really the greatest threat to their health and their lives—no matter what their gender or age—is heart or vascular disease. And that effort has to continue." From treating patients to devel- oping new surgical techniques or mechanical assist devices, the Texas Heart Institute has been impacting lives for 52 years. For those who have worked alongside Cooley in that time, credit is due, in no small part, to his personal commitment to the institute and the patients. "Dr. Cooley is probably the very best heart surgeon who has ever lived," said Willerson. "He has great technical skills, enormous experience, the cour- age to tackle these things, and wonder- ful judgment about what needed to be done in individual patients. "And, of course, he is the father of the Texas Heart Institute, and certainly one of the fathers of cardiovascular surgery worldwide. He has always encouraged others to do their very best, and be the best they can be in caring for patients with cardiovascular disease." Though he shows no sign of slowing down any time soon, Cooley acknowledges that time with family is something he enjoys most outside of work. He and his wife Louise have been married for 68 years. "From a personal standpoint, I have always believed that a man who is going to get ahead has to have a bal- anced life," said Cooley. "I've tried, for most of my life, to give my first atten- tion to my patients and to my practice, but also to my family. I have a family of women…five daughters and my wife. "An old friend of mine just invited me to a birthday luncheon for his 100th birthday, and I told him he was sort of a role model for me. I've always thought life was like a marathon," he added. "You want to save some effort for the last hundred yards and have a little kick at the finish. And that's what I would like to do." top: among those who consider cooley a role model and friend is texas heart institute president James t. willerson. Bottom: cooley and o.h. "Bud" frazier review an x-ray of the first patient to receive a continuous-flow artificial heart. (credit: texas heart institute) From a personal standpoint, i have always believed that a man who is going to get ahead has to have a balanced life. i've tried, for most of my life, to give my first attention to my patients and to my practice, but also to my family. — denton A. cooley, m.d. president emeritus of the texas heart institute