Nina Helen Starr Braunwald
Personal Information
Born: 1928
Died: 1992
Country of Birth: USA
Nationality: USA
Ethnicity: White
Education
NYU BA 1949; NYU Medical School MD 1952; Georgetown University MS Surgery
"“Unless I am better, I am dead” (annalsthorcacicsurgery.org); "
— Nina Helen Starr Braunwald
Professional Life
Field of Study: Thoracic Surgery
Institution/Corporation: Bellevue Hospital; NIH; NYU; Georgetown University Hospital; UC San Diego; National Heart Institute (now National Heart, Lung & Blood Institute)
Degrees & Memberships: Member: American Association for Thoracic Surgery (1967), American Society of amateur Microscopers, Association of Women Surgeons
Awards & Achievements
Awards: 1962 Golden Plate Award, American Academy of Achievement
Achievements: 1st female female Board Certified cardiothoracic surgeon; played a key role in the development & implementation of the 1st prosthetic mitral valve; developed the flexible leaflet valve; 1960 led the operative team at NIH that implanted the 1st successful artificial mitral human heart valve replacement which she designed fabricated; established a cardiothoracic surgery training program at UC San Diego; specialized in valvular & congenital heart disease; carried out the 1st successful coronary artery bypass surgery in the San diego area
during her residency at Bellevue Hospital she was assisting the Chief of Surgery in an operation by standing on a stool and holding the incision open with a retractor,she held this position perfectly for over an hor when the surgery took a bad turn & the chief kicked the legs of the stool out from under her in a fit of rage & she fell backwards, hitting her head
was 1 of the 1st women trained in general surgery at Bellevue Hospital in NYC 1952-55
published over 150 peer-reviewed articles in leading journals
the Thoracic surgery Foundation for Research & Education awards a 2-year research grant & fellowship in her honor which was started with funds from her family
the Association of Women Surgeons has 2 awards named after her
studied art as an undergraduate
enjoyed working with her hands
at Boston children's Hospital created a cardiopulmonary bypass unit for children & infants undergoing surgery for heart defects
her hobbies included painting, sculpture, listening to classical music & horseback riding
at age 14 earned admission to the American Society of amateur Microscopers by independently culturing & observing paramecia with her own microscope at home
constructed her 1st flexible polyurethane mitral valve with Teflon chordae tendineae in her living room
was the 1st female elected to the American Association for Thoracic surgery in 1967 & was the only female member for the next 22 years
at UC San Diego the chairman of the new medical school insisted onnever having a female head of any of his divisions & she was never promoted to a full professorship or given tenure
1972 was the 1st woman on the faculty at Harvard Medical School
after the birth of her 3rd daughter hired a 19-year-old nanny who remained with the family for 35 years
mentored many students & stressed the importance of research
continued to perform surgeries during each of her 3 pregnancies only quitting when her belly prevented her from getting close enough to the table & her patients
unless there was an emergency she insisted on getting home to have dinner with her family & putting her daughters to bed even though she often had to then return to work