Partners of the Heart: Vivien Thomas and His Work with Alfred Blalock: An Autobiography [Paperback]

Vivien T. Thomas (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1998 | ISBN-10: 0812216342 | ISBN-13: 978-0812216349

Visitors to the Blalock Building at the Johns Hopkins University Medical Center are greeted by portraits of two great men. One, of renowned heart surgeon Alfred Blalock, speaks for itself. The other, of highschool graduate Vivien Thomas, is testimony to the incredible genius and determination of the first black man to hold a professional position at one of America's premier medical institutions.

Thomas's dreams of attending medical school were dashed when the Depression hit. After spending some time as a carpenter's apprentice, Thomas took what he expected to be a temporary job as a technician in Blalock's lab. The two men soon became partners and together invented the field of cardiac surgery.

Partners of the Heart is Thomas's extraordinary autobiography. Trained in laboratory techniques by Alfred Blalock and Joseph W. Beard, Thomas remained Blalock's principal technician and laboratory chief for the rest of Blalock's distinguished career. Thomas very rapidly learned to perform surgery, to do chemical determinations, and to carry out physiologic studies. He became a phenomenal technician and was able to carry out complicated experimental cardiac operations totally unassisted and to devise new ones.

In addition to telling Thomas's life story, Partners of the Heart traces the beginnings of modern cardiac surgery, crucial investigations into the nature of shock, and Blalock's methods of training surgeons.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The fascinating tale of an extraordinary black man's involvement, growth, and final recognition in a white man's world of surgical research and medical practice. . . . At the same time, an insightful firsthand account of the genesis of some of the pioneering research into the nature of shock and some of the early procedures in cardiovascular surgery."—Journal of the History of Medicine

About the Author

Vivien T. Thomas, a high school graduate, was awarded an honorary doctorate by the Johns Hopkins University and was made a member of the medical school faculty in recognition of his contributions to the practice of cardiovascular surgery and to the education of young surgeons. Partners of the Heart is the autobiography of this extraordinary man who struggled against overwhelming odds and achieved international recognition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 264 pages
• Publisher: University of Pennsylvania Press (January 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0812216342
• ISBN-13: 978-0812216349
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #135,724 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #35 in Books > Medical Books > Allied Health Professions > Physician Assistants
  • #91 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Regional U.S. > South

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

44 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring account of a man behind the scenes, February 10, 2001

By 

chad t wilson (Baltimore, MD) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Partners of the Heart: Vivien Thomas and His Work with Alfred Blalock: An Autobiography (Paperback)

As a medical student at the Johsn Hopkins University School of Medicine, I found it absolutely facinating to peer into the life of a man who worked side by side with Dr. Blalock to help develop some of the most important advances in surgery of the 20th century. I have seen the portrait that Mr. Thomas describes in the book still hanging in the atrium of the Blalock elevators. I recommend this book to anyone interested in medical or surgical history.

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you've seen the movie, now read the book, March 20, 2006

By 

M. Fields (Brooklyn, New York USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Partners of the Heart: Vivien Thomas and His Work with Alfred Blalock: An Autobiography (Paperback)

In this book you will hear from Vivien Thomas himself. As wonderful as the movie was, it did take some dramatic license here and there. Vivien tells the story of the first "blue baby" operation very matter of factly. As you read the book you will discover that he played things pretty close to the vest. He was not one for dramatic outbursts or fits of temper. Thomas is a dignified quite man and his relation with Dr. Blalock was not all sweetness and light but they worked well togehter and became very close.

There is a lot of medical talk in the book. The squeemish may have trouble getting through the accounts of the experiments that were performed on the dogs. Don't let that stop you from reading this book. It gives you a wonderful insight into this modest, unassuming but brilliant doctor. He never went to medical school but taught some of the finset surgeons in the world how to operate. Happily, Thomas was finally given an honorary doctorate by Johns Hopkins.

If you have seen the movie, don't expect this book to play out the same way. This is real life.

Enjoy!

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The true expression of brillance, February 21, 2006

By 

Daryle Wane (New Port Richey, Florida USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Partners of the Heart: Vivien Thomas and His Work with Alfred Blalock: An Autobiography (Paperback)

The story of Vivian Thomas is one that every student in the health professional field should study. The simple elegance of his surgical ability combined with his ability to critically think transcend the commonplace notion of traditional medical school training.