Bruce Reitz
Encyclopedia
Bruce Reitz is a Board Certified Cardiothoracic Surgeon. Reitz is one of the foremost cardiac surgeons in the world and, during his term as chairman of the Department of Cardiothoracic surgery, he played a major role in keeping Stanford at the forefront of education, research and patient care in cardiac surgery. He obtained an undergraduate degree at Stanford University
(B.S.
1966) a medical degree at Yale Medical School (M.D.
1970) and completed an internship at Johns Hopkins Hospital
(1971) and residencies and fellowships at Stanford University Hospital (1972 and 78) the National Institutes of Health
(1974). He joined the surgical faculty at Stanford University (1978) then became Chief of cardiac surgery at Johns Hopkins University
(1982–92) and Chairman of the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Stanford (1992–2005). In 1981, Reitz and his team performed the first successful heart-lung transplant
, which also was the first time a lung had ever been transplanted. In 1995 he conducted another pioneering operation: he performed the first Heartport procedure, using a device that allows minimally invasive coronary bypass and valve operations. Reitz also played a major role in the resident education program at Stanford, which he reorganized and maintained as one of the top two or three programs in the country.
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
(B.S.
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
1966) a medical degree at Yale Medical School (M.D.
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
1970) and completed an internship at Johns Hopkins Hospital
Johns Hopkins Hospital
The Johns Hopkins Hospital is the teaching hospital and biomedical research facility of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, located in Baltimore, Maryland . It was founded using money from a bequest by philanthropist Johns Hopkins...
(1971) and residencies and fellowships at Stanford University Hospital (1972 and 78) the National Institutes of Health
National Institutes of Health
The National Institutes of Health are an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services and are the primary agency of the United States government responsible for biomedical and health-related research. Its science and engineering counterpart is the National Science Foundation...
(1974). He joined the surgical faculty at Stanford University (1978) then became Chief of cardiac surgery at Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
(1982–92) and Chairman of the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Stanford (1992–2005). In 1981, Reitz and his team performed the first successful heart-lung transplant
Heart-lung transplant
A heart–lung transplant is a procedure carried out to replace both heart and lungs in a single operation. Due to a shortage of suitable donors, it is a rare procedure; only about a hundred such transplants are performed each year in the USA....
, which also was the first time a lung had ever been transplanted. In 1995 he conducted another pioneering operation: he performed the first Heartport procedure, using a device that allows minimally invasive coronary bypass and valve operations. Reitz also played a major role in the resident education program at Stanford, which he reorganized and maintained as one of the top two or three programs in the country.