May 22, 2008
In Memoriam: Richard Lower, M.D.
UNOS mourns the passing of Richard Lower, M.D. His pioneering research and practice helped establish heart transplantation as a successful therapy that has benefited tens of thousands of people worldwide.
Dr. Lower took part in early experiments with heart transplantation at Stanford University Hospital beginning in the late 1950s.He and Dr. Norman Shumway helped perfect the procedure of cooling the heart to slow or stop it, a technique fundamental not just to heart transplantation but other cardiac surgery procedures.
Dr. Lower continued his research at the Medical College of Virginia (now VCU Health System), where he practiced from 1966 until 1989. He helped teach procedures to Dr. Christiaan Barnard, who later performed the world's first heart transplant in South Africa in 1967. Dr. Lower performed his first heart transplant procedure (believed to be the ninth done in the U.S.) in May 1968.He would eventually participate in almost 400 heart transplants during his career and train many prominent heart surgeons in practice today.
Dr. Lower was known for his humility as well as his commitment to excellence.Several years after his retirement he returned to Richmond, volunteering his service as a general practitioner for a local ministry-based clinic. His contributions and his personal example will continue to inspire generations of transplant professionals.
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