RIP Dr. DeBakey

Panacea Financial Contract Review
This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
Yeah...what an amazing life! Surgery (and medicine, for that matter) has truly lost one of the all-time greats.
 
Tired said:
No doubt he would have thought we were all a big bunch of pu$$ie$.
Click to expand...

I'm sure he would have.

Despite widely reported personality issues, he was really a great man in terms of foresight and innovation.

Besides, he was one of those "rareities" who only needed 4 hours of sleep a night. I'd love to hear what he'd say to the other thread that claims that everyone is impaired after working 16 hours. In his heyday, DeBakey worked from 6 am to 11 pm/12 am.
 
They don't make 'em like they used to. I poured out some Cris in the OR today after the tech handed me a set of DeBakes (even though I asked for a multitooth). One for me...and one for Dr. DeBakey.
 
Was talking about Dr. Michael DeBakey just last week with our hospitals' cardiologists. Fantastic career!
 
..
 
Last edited:
DrDre311 said:
They don't make 'em like they used to. I poured out some Cris in the OR today after the tech handed me a set of DeBakes (even though I asked for a multitooth). One for me...and one for Dr. DeBakey.
Click to expand...

I'm jealous. We almost never have champagne in the OR anymore, ever since the hospital starting whining that we can't operate drunk. Is it me, or are there just too many rules these days....

:::sigh::: I guess I'll just have to bitch-slap the scrub tech, throw a scalpel at the med student, and then pour out some marcaine for my homey DeBake.
 
I saw him speak once or twice. I couldn't understand a damn word he was saying because of that thick Louisiana accent.
And I was born in Louisiana.

But seriously, what a character. I don't think it's possible to be that caliber of surgeon anymore or to be that influential.
 
My friend trained at Baylor in the late 1980's. They still had the red line across the SICU threshold that the SICU resident was not allowed to cross. There were visiting hours on Sundays for the wives. At least one of his kids was conceived in the call room there! Apparently DeBakey had a masterkey to the elevators and would summon them and then kick people off to go straight to wherever he wanted.
 
DeBakey was one of my medical idols...he will be missed. I had an uncle that actually studied under him and he confirmed DeBakey's personality roomers.
 
We have a family friend who did a cardiac surgery fellowship there. His first night on call, he was in the OR with Debakey-- the great man. He made a trivial mistake, either verbal or technical, and Debakey scowled and said "Doctor, are you stupid or do you just not care?" and threw him out.

You gotta be tough as nails to survive an aortic dissection at 98.
 
I was actually watching the movie "Breast Men" the other night. For those not familiar with the film, it occurs at Baylor during the early 60's and follows the two surgeons who developed the silicon implant. Shwimer's charecter goes on a rant about how he wants to switch to cardio to work w/ DeBakey and they actually show an actor who is supposed to be him briefly in the film at a party w/ a heart shaped ice statue spewing punch that looks like blood, the next day I see this article. It's spooky.
 
BlondeDocteur said:
We have a family friend who did a cardiac surgery fellowship there. His first night on call, he was in the OR with Debakey-- the great man. He made a trivial mistake, either verbal or technical, and Debakey scowled and said "Doctor, are you stupid or do you just not care?" and threw him out.

You gotta be tough as nails to survive an aortic dissection at 98.
Click to expand...
Yes, he was not kind to those prone to mistakes...thats for sure. haha
 
I heard a story that one time DeBakey invited all his residents to his place one evening and when they arrived, he gave them all white servant coats and made them serve his guests at a cocktail/dinner party. aint that some ish
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

T
DeBakey
Replies
4
Views
3K
HighPriest
HighPriest
V
The Making of a Surgeon, Dr. William Nolen
Replies
7
Views
4K
mestielest
mestielest
Y
  • Question Question
DRG disbursement info
Replies
6
Views
1K
younggrasshopper
Y
alitejada97
Just Me, Myself, and a Dream of Plastic Surgery—Looking for Guidance
Replies
1
Views
2K
ara104
A
S
Needle driver for suture practice
Replies
3
Views
4K
operaman
O
Top Bottom