Forty years ago, during the 1977-1978 academic year, Yale Cardiothoracic surgeon, Dr. Arthur W. Baue, was appointed chairman of the Department of Surgery. The surgical specialties at the time included:
- Gross Anatomy
- Cardiothoracic Surgery
- Dental Surgery
- General Surgery
- Neurosurgery
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Otolaryngology
- Plastic Surgery
- Pediatric Surgery
- Urology
Not only did these specialties treat complex cases of a variety of diseases and conditions, but they also provided educational and training opportunities to residents and fellows.
Surgical residents were afforded an opportunity to learn from the greatest minds in healthcare in General Surgery, Neurosurgery, Orthopedic Surgery, Otolaryngology and Urology specialties. Fellowship training programs were also offered in Cardiothoracic surgery and Plastic Surgery specialties, following the successful completion of a general surgery residency.
During this time in Yale’s educational and surgical history, Yale-New Haven Hospital and West
Haven Veterans Administration Hospital were the primary sites of resident training and the
Hospital of St. Raphael was where the cardiothoracic surgery fellows completed their fellowships.
Department of Surgery Spotlight Gross Anatomy, Cardiothoracic and General Surgery
Gross Anatomy
During this time, the Division of Gross Anatomy experienced many changes. Dr. Edmund Crelin, was appointed Section Chief after Dr. Thomas Forbes' resignation and advances in the department and research flourished:
- Working with the electron microscope, Dr. Shanta Kapadia investigated the effects of pregnancy related hormonal changes within the uterine and ovarian blood vessels.
- Dr. William Stewart joined the section as both an investigator and lecturer.
- The Human Anatomy course was built upon to include videotaped dissections, scientifically accurate plastic models for the course in embryology and the availability of fetal and newborn dissections. These focused anatomic dissections increased in popularity for surgical residents, especially those involving the head, neck and genitourinary system.
Cardiothoracic Surgery
Cardiothoracic surgery continued its noteworthy activity in basic science, clinical research and
high volume surgical care. Departmental activities included:
- Newly appointed Head of Cardiac Surgery, Dr. Alexander Geha focused his research efforts in the surgical aspects of myocardial hypertrophy
- Department of Surgery Chairman and Chief of Thoracic Surgery, Dr. Arthur Baue continued his national leadership in the surgical aspects of shock and hypoxia in tissue metabolism
- Dr. Glenn William continued his clinical activities in providing remote stimulation for patients with chronic ventilator insufficiency.
- Departmental leaders included:
- Head of Cardiothoracic Research Dr. Graeme Hammond
- Chief of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery Dr. Hillel Laks
- Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery Dr. Richard Shaw
- Chief of Peripheral Vascular Surgery Dr. Horace Stansel
General Surgery
The Division of General Surgery, led by Dr. Hastings Wright, focused its efforts on all aspects of
complicated abdominal surgery which included procedures for cancer and arterial/venous
conditions. The department was growing with exemplary surgeons including:
- Dr. Barbara Kinder, a Yale general surgery program graduate, who focused her interests in surgical oncology and endocrine malignancies
- Dr. Richard Gusberg, a Columbia University graduate, who focused his interests in surgical interventions for portal hypertension and peripheral vascular diseases
During this time, the general surgery training program appointed fifth year residents as Yale School of Medicine Instructors in Surgery; they were additionally granted Yale-New Haven Hospital admitting privileges. The departmental reach extended outside of US borders, sending the fourth-year general surgery resident and senior resident appointments to the Albert Schweitzer Hospital in Port-Au-Prince Hospital in Haiti to treat pediatric, chest and general surgery patients overseas.
Academic year 1977-78 was instrumental in paving the way for many of the advances in research and surgery currently carried out by the Yale School of Medicine’s Department of Surgery. This commitment to academic advancement continues on today, as the Yale Department of Surgery maintains that legacy.