Dalton, Dr Norton 1982-03-13
Dr. Dalton discusses his career as a heart physician specializing in open-heart surgery. Included are details on the founding of Lubbock’s open-heart program, advances in the field and various health issues.
General Interview Information
Interviewee Name: Dr. Norton Dalton
Additional Parties Recorded:
Date: March 13, 1982
Location: Lubbock, Texas
Interviewer: Bill Brown
Length: 50 minutes
Abstract
Tape 1, Side 1:
Norton Dalton background,
b: May 15, 1932, Columbus, Georgia,
Raised in Eufaula, Alabama,
Auburn University,
Alabama Medical College - 1957,
Interest in medicine,
Childhood,
Medical conditions,
Surgery,
Cardiovascular/thoracic surgery,
Dr. James Hardee,
Dr. Walter Webb,
Army at Walter Reed Medical Center,
Artificial heart pumps,
Southwestern Medical School,
To Lubbock, Texas, 1965 reasons,
Friends and professors,
Reputation,
Norton Dalton, Lubbock career,
First genuine cardiovascular surgeon in city,
Open-heart method,
Background,
Dr. John Guermon,
1953,
No catheterization lab in city,
Dr. Sam King attains one for Methodist Hospital - 1970,
Dr. Selby and Krueger - closed-heart surgeons,
November 1970--first open heart surgery in Lubbock,
Establishment of Lubbock program,
By-pass surgery precedent by Dr. Rene Favalero 1967,
Methodist catheterization lab (again),
Coronary by-pass surgery caused demand,
Dr. Robert Salem and Dr. Jerry Stinson,
Dr. Donald Bricker of Houston as advisor,
Lubbock's first open-heart surgery 1970 (again),
Currently 500 per year,
St. Mary's program - 1977,
Establishing private practice,
Two years with Dr. Bronwell and Rutledge,
Competition for patients,
Dr. Selby, Krueger Thomas,
Types of heart surgery,
Statistics on doctors to patients,
Methodist Hospital granting privileges to him only,
Reactions by other surgeons,
Continuing education,
Cleveland Clinic,
Milwaukee - Dr. Dudley Johnson,
Southwest Medical School - Dr. Pete Wilson,
Changes in practice of heart surgery 1971-1982,
Protecting the heart while arrested,
Potassium/salt/glucose solution,
Main shortcomings,
Use of vein grafts,
Unsuitability of veins,
Optimism regarding future,
Plastic veins,
Mechanical heart development,
Life expectancy of heart patients,
Genetic factors,
Causes of coronary artery disease,
Post World War II prosperity,
Smoking,
High fat/cholesterol foods,
Indolence,
Obesity,
Statistics,
Stress,
Dr. Myra Friedman's study
Tape 1, Side 2:
Causes of coronary artery disease (continued),
Stress (continued),
Friedman's thesis,
Effect on women,
Disease control,
Friedman's thesis (again),
Educating the public,
National level - C. Everett Koop,
State and local level,
Tobacco,
Obesity,
Greatest danger,
Teaching children,
Norton Dalton (again),
Types of surgery performed,
Less thoracic surgery,
Demise of TB,
Pneumonia,
More vascular,
Open-heart,
Cardiovascular surgery,
Dr. Sterling Edwards,
University of New Mexico,
Dr.Albert Starr,
1960 - artificial aorta valve,
Expectations for future,
Dr. Cooley,
Dr. Debake,
Importance of good hand-eye coordination,
Other interests,
Retirement plans,
Care Medico,
Teaching,
Dr. Robert Shaw,
Church missions,
Dr. Krueger (again),
Reflections on career,
Greatest achievements,
Establishing Lubbock's open-heart program,
American Association of Thoracic Surgeons
Range Dates: 1932-1982
Bulk Dates: 1970
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Transcript:
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