The Cooley/DeBakeyJoint Session

Figure. Joseph S. Coselli, MD

In the fall of 2007, Dr. Michael E. DeBakey visited Dr. Denton A. Cooley at the Texas Heart Institute during the Denton A. Cooley Cardiovascular Surgical Society's 15th Symposium. Dr. DeBakey was presented with honorary membership in the Society, along with a personal token of esteem from Dr. Cooley, and history was made as the two smiled and shook hands to the bountiful applause of the symposium's attendees. Six months later, on 2 May 2008, Dr. DeBakey invited Dr. Cooley to attend the joint session of the Current Trends in Cardiothoracic Surgery Conference and the 17th Congress of the Michael E. DeBakey International Surgical Society. Completing a circle of reconnection, Dr. DeBakey presented Dr. Cooley with honorary membership in the DeBakey Society, along with a bound copy of a 1952 paper—the first co-authored by these pioneers in cardiovascular surgery.

The Cooley and DeBakey societies were founded more than 30 years ago by residents who trained with these great surgeons and who sought to preserve their legacies of excellence in clinical care, research, and education for future generations of surgeons. Although the possibility of the two societies' holding a joint meeting had been discussed before, this year seemed the most appropriate time to accomplish the goal. Therefore, in June 2010, at Barton Creek in Austin, Texas, the two groups held a historic first joint session. I'm pleased to report that many old friendships were renewed and new ones were forged, as former trainees came together to hear their colleagues talk about the latest surgical techniques and other innovations.

We are in debt to those presenters who helped to make this meeting an unqualified success with their varied and timely contributions to a wide range of cardiac, aortic, vascular, and other surgical topics—as well as with their insights into the ethics of surgical trials, the future of cardiothoracic education, and the emerging subjects of endovascular repair and transcatheter valve placement. It is clear that the tradition of excellence upheld by the many colleagues and trainees of these great teachers endows the future of our profession.

Joseph S. Coselli, MD
Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine; and Adult Cardiac Surgery, Texas Heart Institute at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital; Houston