Lawrence H. Cohn
Encyclopedia
Lawrence H. Cohn, MD, is an American-born pioneering cardiac surgeon
, researcher, and medical educator. He has been on the surgical staff at Harvard Medical School
since 1971 and has been a Professor of Surgery at Harvard Medical School since 1980. In 2000, he was awarded the first endowed Chair in Cardiac Surgery at Harvard Medical School,.
, Cohn received his Bachelor of Arts
degree from the University of California, Berkeley
with honors in 1958. In 1962, he received his Doctor of Medicine
degree from the Stanford University School of Medicine
with distinction (Alpha Omega Alpha
). He received his graduate medical training from 1962 to 1971 at Boston City Hospital
/Harvard, the National Heart Institute in Bethesda, Maryland
, the University of California at San Francisco and the Stanford University School of Medicine
. During his tenure at Stanford University, he trained with pioneering heart surgeon, Dr. Norman E. Shumway. At Harvard Medical School, he served as Assistant Professor of Surgery from 1971 to 1975, Associate Professor of Surgery from 1975 to 1980, Professor of Surgery since 1980, and was awarded the first endowed Virginia and James Hubbard Chair in Cardiac Surgery in 2000.
He was awarded an honorary Masters of Medicine from Harvard in 1989 and a Doctor Honoris Causa from the University of Paris
in 1992. In 2005 he was the recipient of the Paul Dudley White
Award, the highest award given by the American Heart Association
. He has served as the Chief of Cardiac Surgery at Brigham and Women's Hospital
from 1987 to 2005 and as Director of the Cardiothoracic Surgery Residency Training Program at Brigham and Women’s Hospital/Children's Hospital Medical Center from 1987 to 2000. From 2000 to 2004, he served as Chair of the Brigham and Women’s Physician Organization (BWPO). Currently, he serves as Physician Director of Medical Device Technology for Partners HealthCare
Systems and is the Chair of the Physician and Scientist Fundraising Program (PSFP) at the Brigham and Women's Hospital.
repair and replacement surgery and minimally invasive heart valve surgery. He has published over 440 original scientific articles, 105 book chapters and 12 books, including Cardiac Surgery in the Adult, the most referenced text book in adult cardiac surgery today. He has given more than 750 lectures worldwide. He has held or holds office in the American Board of Thoracic Surgery (ABTS), the American College of Cardiology
, and the American Association for Thoracic Surgery
of which he was President. In 1999, he presented pioneering cardiac surgeon Dr. Michael E. DeBakey
with the Scientific Achievement Award of The American Association for Thoracic Surgery. He has also been the President of the American College of Chest Physicians
and Chairman of the Board of the National Library of Medicine in Bethesda, Maryland. He is Past-President of the Thoracic Surgery Foundation for Research and Education. He is a member of 20 other professional organizations, and holds honorary membership in 4 international organizations. He has served on the Editorial Board of 14 medical journals. He is currently the editor of the Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery
, the most referenced journal in the field of cardiothoracic surgery.
He is a consultant in cardiovascular services with emphasis on the organization of the cardiovascular service line. As a part of this consultative effort, he has been very involved in advising medical centers strategies for medical device purchases emphasizing standardization and economization as well as efficacy of the products.
As a pioneering educator, Cohn has trained more than 150 residents and fellows at the Brigham and Women's Hospital/Children's Hospital Medical Center Cardiothoracic Surgery Residency Training Program. Graduates of this program occupy responsible positions at major medical centers worldwide, including approximately 30 surgeons who are Division Chiefs or Department Chairs.
Cardiac surgeon
A cardiac surgeon is a surgeon who performs cardiac surgery—operative procedures on the heart and great vessels.-Training:A cardiac surgery residency typically comprises anywhere from six to nine years of training to become a fully qualified surgeon...
, researcher, and medical educator. He has been on the surgical staff at Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School is the graduate medical school of Harvard University. It is located in the Longwood Medical Area of the Mission Hill neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts....
since 1971 and has been a Professor of Surgery at Harvard Medical School since 1980. In 2000, he was awarded the first endowed Chair in Cardiac Surgery at Harvard Medical School,.
Early life and medical career
Born in San Francisco, CaliforniaSan Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
, Cohn received his Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree from the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
with honors in 1958. In 1962, he received his Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
degree from the Stanford University School of Medicine
Stanford University School of Medicine
Stanford University School of Medicine is a leading medical school located at Stanford University Medical Center in Stanford, California. Originally based in San Francisco, California as Cooper Medical College, it is the oldest continuously running medical school in the western United States...
with distinction (Alpha Omega Alpha
Alpha Omega Alpha
The Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society, commonly called Alpha Omega Alpha and abbreviated ΑΩΑ or AOA, is a national honor society for medical students, residents, scientists and physicians in the United States and Canada.-History:...
). He received his graduate medical training from 1962 to 1971 at Boston City Hospital
Boston City Hospital
The Boston City Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, was "intended for the use and comfort of poor patients, to whom medical care will be provided at the expense of the city, and .....
/Harvard, the National Heart Institute in Bethesda, Maryland
Bethesda, Maryland
Bethesda is a census designated place in southern Montgomery County, Maryland, United States, just northwest of Washington, D.C. It takes its name from a local church, the Bethesda Meeting House , which in turn took its name from Jerusalem's Pool of Bethesda...
, the University of California at San Francisco and the Stanford University School of Medicine
Stanford University School of Medicine
Stanford University School of Medicine is a leading medical school located at Stanford University Medical Center in Stanford, California. Originally based in San Francisco, California as Cooper Medical College, it is the oldest continuously running medical school in the western United States...
. During his tenure at Stanford University, he trained with pioneering heart surgeon, Dr. Norman E. Shumway. At Harvard Medical School, he served as Assistant Professor of Surgery from 1971 to 1975, Associate Professor of Surgery from 1975 to 1980, Professor of Surgery since 1980, and was awarded the first endowed Virginia and James Hubbard Chair in Cardiac Surgery in 2000.
He was awarded an honorary Masters of Medicine from Harvard in 1989 and a Doctor Honoris Causa from the University of Paris
University of Paris
The University of Paris was a university located in Paris, France and one of the earliest to be established in Europe. It was founded in the mid 12th century, and officially recognized as a university probably between 1160 and 1250...
in 1992. In 2005 he was the recipient of the Paul Dudley White
Paul Dudley White
Paul Dudley White , American physician and cardiologist, was born in Roxbury, Massachusetts, the son of Herbert Warren White and Elizabeth Abigail Dudley. White's interest in medicine was sparked early in life, when he accompanied his father, a family practitioner, on rounds and house calls in a...
Award, the highest award given by the American Heart Association
American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is a non-profit organization in the United States that fosters appropriate cardiac care in an effort to reduce disability and deaths caused by cardiovascular disease and stroke. It is headquartered in Dallas, Texas...
. He has served as the Chief of Cardiac Surgery at Brigham and Women's Hospital
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Brigham and Women's Hospital is the largest hospital of the Longwood Medical and Academic Area in Boston, Massachusetts. It is directly adjacent to Harvard Medical School of which it is the second largest teaching affiliate with 793 beds...
from 1987 to 2005 and as Director of the Cardiothoracic Surgery Residency Training Program at Brigham and Women’s Hospital/Children's Hospital Medical Center from 1987 to 2000. From 2000 to 2004, he served as Chair of the Brigham and Women’s Physician Organization (BWPO). Currently, he serves as Physician Director of Medical Device Technology for Partners HealthCare
Partners HealthCare
Partners HealthCare is a non-profit organization that owns several hospitals in Massachusetts, primarily in the Boston area. Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women's Hospital founded the organization in 1994...
Systems and is the Chair of the Physician and Scientist Fundraising Program (PSFP) at the Brigham and Women's Hospital.
Medical pioneer, researcher, and educator
Having performed over 11,000 cardiac surgical operations, Cohn is an expert in the field of heart valveHeart valve
A heart valve normally allows blood flow in only one direction through the heart. The four valves commonly represented in a mammalian heart determine the pathway of blood flow through the heart...
repair and replacement surgery and minimally invasive heart valve surgery. He has published over 440 original scientific articles, 105 book chapters and 12 books, including Cardiac Surgery in the Adult, the most referenced text book in adult cardiac surgery today. He has given more than 750 lectures worldwide. He has held or holds office in the American Board of Thoracic Surgery (ABTS), the American College of Cardiology
American College of Cardiology
The American College of Cardiology is a nonprofit medical association established in 1949 to advocate for quality cardiovascular care through education, research promotion, development and application of standards and guidelines, and to influence health care policy...
, and the American Association for Thoracic Surgery
American Association for Thoracic Surgery
The American Association for Thoracic Surgery is an international association of cardiothoracic surgeons. It was founded in 1917 by the earliest pioneers in the field of thoracic surgery. Headquartered in Beverly, Massachusetts, it has over 1,200 members from 35 countries...
of which he was President. In 1999, he presented pioneering cardiac surgeon Dr. Michael E. DeBakey
Michael E. DeBakey
Michael Elias DeBakey was a world-renowned Lebanese-American cardiac surgeon, innovator, scientist, medical educator, and international medical statesman...
with the Scientific Achievement Award of The American Association for Thoracic Surgery. He has also been the President of the American College of Chest Physicians
American College of Chest Physicians
The American College of Chest Physicians is a medical organization in the United States consisting of physicians and non-physician specialists in the field of chest medicine, which includes pulmonology, thoracic surgery, and critical care medicine....
and Chairman of the Board of the National Library of Medicine in Bethesda, Maryland. He is Past-President of the Thoracic Surgery Foundation for Research and Education. He is a member of 20 other professional organizations, and holds honorary membership in 4 international organizations. He has served on the Editorial Board of 14 medical journals. He is currently the editor of the Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery
Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery
The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery is a monthly peer-reviewed medical journal covering cardiology, general surgery, pulmonary medicine, and vascular disease published by Elsevier. It is an official journal of the American Association for Thoracic Surgery and The Western Thoracic...
, the most referenced journal in the field of cardiothoracic surgery.
He is a consultant in cardiovascular services with emphasis on the organization of the cardiovascular service line. As a part of this consultative effort, he has been very involved in advising medical centers strategies for medical device purchases emphasizing standardization and economization as well as efficacy of the products.
As a pioneering educator, Cohn has trained more than 150 residents and fellows at the Brigham and Women's Hospital/Children's Hospital Medical Center Cardiothoracic Surgery Residency Training Program. Graduates of this program occupy responsible positions at major medical centers worldwide, including approximately 30 surgeons who are Division Chiefs or Department Chairs.