In 1962, they actually created the first communication course in a medical school curriculum. And they were professors of scientific communication. He was very close to his two sisters, Selma and Lois that are named in the endowed chair. So he's still one of the most celebrated surgeons of all time. DeBakey, and he lived to practice a few more years after that, and there are surgical instruments that bear his name. George Noon had to perform that surgery on Dr. And he also pioneered the repair of aortic aneurysms, which was an operation that he actually himself needed when he was 97 years old. He was one of the pioneers of using the Dacron grafts or artificial grafts to replace blood vessels. He pioneered carotid surgery for prevention of strokes and artificial hearts, and devices that help assist the heart when people have congestive heart failure and need transplant. Well, Michael DeBakey, he was famous for surgical innovations like coronary bypass operations, so open-heart surgery. Well, you mentioned that he's a renowned surgeon, I know that people who have ties to the medical field and higher ed practice as well might know the DeBakey name, but when people hear that name and the fact that it is placed in conjunction with our medical humanities program in regards to this chair, who was Michael DeBakey and Selma and Lois, and why they've established things in his name? So chair and the DeBakey name really validates, and confirms, and blesses, and honors the work that we're doing, not just locally, but also nationally and internationally as well. I mean, he's one of the most well known surgeons of all time. DeBakey always emphasized excellence, and the DeBakey name is medical royalty. Well, having an endowed chair from the DeBakey Medical Foundation has to be one of the greatest honors and endorsements that we could imagine. What has it meant to you and to the program that the DeBakey Medical Foundation would invest in this program in this way? Well, you shared some information right at the top about why it's been an exciting time with the establishment of the DeBakey chair. And we thank you for coming on the program today to talk about that. Barron, and for Baylor Medical Humanities.
I know it's been a particularly busy and exciting stretch for you, Dr. You've been involved in a number of different important areas at Baylor and in this community. And last fall was named as the DeBakey chair for medical humanities, which was established through Baylor's Give Light philanthropic campaign.
She transitioned to teaching at Baylor on a full-time basis while maintaining her medical practice through the family health center. With an interdisciplinary approach, Baylor Medical Humanities includes courses across a wide range, including literature, religion, philosophy, history, economics, and ethics. Along the way she began teaching courses within Baylor's Medical Humanities, a program which encompasses a liberal arts education in connection with modern medical practice. She went on to join a private family practice and served as Medical Director for Hillcrest Community Hospice. Barron returned Waco after medical school to serve at Waco's Family Health Center developing special interests in women's health and palliative care. DeBakey, MD, Selma DeBakey, and Lois DeBakey chair for medical humanities. Barron serves as the inaugural Michael E. Lauren Barron, a medical doctor and Baylor professor. I'm Derek Smith, and our guest today is Dr. Each week, we go in depth with Baylor leaders, professors, and more, discussing important topics in higher education, research, and student life.
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