Ray C. Fish (1902–1962) was a leading figure in Houston's natural gas industry and a philanthropist. He believed in the American dream of “opportunity for success.” The Ray C. Fish Foundation was established so that others might be encouraged to broaden man's self-knowledge and to keep the American dream alive. After its founder's death from heart disease, the Fish Foundation granted $5 million to make the Texas Heart Institute a reality. For this reason, the Institute's highest professional award is given in honor of this extraordinary man. The award recognizes those whose innovations have made significant contributions to cardiovascular medicine and surgery.
The 1st Texas Heart Institute Medal and the Ray C. Fish Award for Scientific Achievement in Cardiovascular Diseases were presented in 1972 to Dr. Norman Shumway. Since 1972, 25 other highly deserving recipients have been so honored by the Institute. The complete Roll of Recipients appears at the end of this article. In 2004, the faculty and staff of the Institute were extremely pleased to honor James L. Cox, MD. Dr. Cox received his award at a dinner held in conjunction with the Fifth Symposium on Cardiac Arrhythmias (New Pharmacologic and Interventional Strategies), on 14 February 2004, at the Houstonian Hotel, Club and Spa.
James L. Cox, MD
Dr. James L. Cox was honored for his seminal work in atrial fibrillation, a condition that affects up to 2 million people in the United States and is responsible for about 300,000 strokes every year. This disorder is characterized by spiraling electric signals that cause the heart to beat out of control.
Dr. Cox has spent his career unraveling the mechanism behind this disorder and devising surgical techniques to cure it. In 1987, Dr. Cox performed his first Maze procedure. The Maze procedure definitively curbs the electrical, atrial chaos with a maze of incisions on the surface of the atria. The incisions block the signals, stopping the atrium from fibrillating. The Cox-Maze procedure has proved highly successful in long-term follow-up of patients.
In 1967, Dr. Cox received his medical degree from the University of Tennessee, where he earned the Alpha Omega Alpha Distinguished Graduate Award as the outstanding student in his graduating class. He spent the next 11 years in surgical training under Dr. David Sabiston, Jr., at Duke University, except for a 2-year stint on active duty in the U.S. Army, which earned him a personal commendation from Brigadier General George S. Patton III. Dr. Cox was appointed an NIH Scholar in Academic Surgery for the remainder of his surgical training. After completing his residency, he remained at Duke for 5 years before leaving to become chief of the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
In 1997, he left St. Louis for Washington, D.C., and the chairmanship of the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Georgetown University. Not long thereafter, simultaneous bilateral knee replacements forced him to give up the clinical practice of surgery, but he has remained very active in the field. Currently, he is chairman and chief executive officer of The World Heart Foundation and a member of the board of directors of The Cardiothoracic Surgery Network (CTSNet). In addition, Dr. Cox was editor-in-chief of 2 of the 3 official journals of the American Association for Thoracic Surgery.
Dr. Cox has trained more than 100 residents and fellows, delivered over 150 peer-reviewed scientific presentations, given over 180 invited lectures, and served as visiting professor at 79 institutions nationally and internationally and as invited operating surgeon at 40 international institutions. Dr. Cox has been a director of the American Board of Thoracic Surgery, a board member of the Thoracic Foundation for Research and Education, a member of the NIH Study Section on Surgery and Bioengineering, and chairman of the Residency Review Committee for Thoracic Surgery; in 2001, he was president of the American Association for Thoracic Surgery.
Roll of Recipients
of the Texas Heart Institute Medal and the Ray C. Fish Award for Scientific Achievement in Cardiovascular Diseases
1972 Norman E. Shumway, Cardiovascular Surgery (Heart Transplantation)
1973 F. Mason Sones, Jr., Cardiology (Coronary Angiography)
1974 Eugene E. Braunwald, Physiology (Myocardial Preservation)
1975 Willem J. Kolff, Cardiovascular Surgery (Artificial Organs)
1976 Harvey Feigenbaum, Cardiology (Echocardiography)
1977 John W. Kirklin, Cardiovascular Surgery (Heart-Lung Machines)
1978 Bernard Lown, Cardiology (Cardiac Arrhythmias)
1979 John J. Gallagher and William C. Sealy, (co-recipients), Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery (Surgery for Pre-excitation)
1980 W. Proctor Harvey, Cardiology (Clinical Practice and Teaching)
1981 Paul M. Zoll, Cardiology (Pacemaking)
1983 Andreas R. Grüntzig, Cardiology (Percutaneous Transluminal, Coronary Angioplasty)
1984 Hein J.J. Wellens and Douglas P. Zipes, (co-recipients), Cardiology (Diagnosis and Management of Pediatric Cardiac Arrhythmias)
1985 Denton A. Cooley, Cardiovascular Surgery (Surgery for Congenital Heart Disease, Aneurysms of the Aorta, and Implantation of the Artificial Heart)
1986 William J. Rashkind, Pediatric Cardiology (Nonsurgical Treatment of, Congenital Heart Disease)
1987 Dwight E. Harken, Cardiovascular Surgery (Intracardiac Surgery)
1988 J. Willis Hurst, Cardiology (Writing and Teaching)
1989 Robert J. Hall, Cardiology (Clinical Practice and Teaching)
1990 Sol Sherry, Cardiology (Thrombolytic Therapy)
1992 Arthur S. Keats, Cardiovascular Anesthesiology
1997 Aldo R. Castañeda, Pediatric Cardiovascular Surgery
1997 Julio C. Palmaz, Radiology (Endovascular Stents)
1998 Magdi Yacoub, Cardiovascular Surgery (Heart-Lung Transplantation)
1999 Thomas J. Fogarty, Cardiovascular Surgery (Medical and Surgical Devices)
2004 James L. Cox, Cardiovascular Surgery (Surgery for Atrial Fibrillation)
Figure. Dr. Cox holds the Ray C. Fish Award for Scientific Achievement after its presentation by Dr. J. Michael Duncan (right).