Vivien Thomas: the Man who Helped Invent the Heart Surgery

Vivian Thomas, born in 1910, was a pioneering figure in heart surgery despite not having a formal medical degree. He began his career as a lab assistant to Alfred Blalock at Vanderbilt University and later moved to Johns Hopkins, where they developed life-saving procedures for infants with heart defects. Despite his significant contributions, Thomas faced racial discrimination and was often underrecognized. He eventually received an honorary doctorate and left a lasting legacy in the medical field.

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