Dr. Clarence Crafoord, internationally known surgeon from Stockholm, Sweden, has been selected to receive the Rudolph Matas award in vascular surgery at Tulane university, Dr. Maxwell E. Lapham, dean of the Tulane medical school, announced Thursday,
A vascular surgeon, who performed the first successful operation to correct a malformation of blood vessels around the heart, Dr. Crafoord will receive the award, generally regarded as the world's highest recognition for surgery of the heart and blood vessels, in special ceremonies April 20 at the Tulane medical school.
EIGHTH PRESENTATION
Dr. Crafoord also serves as professor of thoratic surgery at the Karolinska institute and as director of the thoratic clinic at the Karolinska hospital in Stockholm.
This will be only the eighth presentation of the Matas award since it was established in 1933 in honor of Dr. Rudolph Matas, late professor of surgery at Tulane and internationally known surgeon who was a pioneer in vascular surgery.
Dr. Lapham said that the award is being presented tc Dr. Crafoord for "his pioneering achievements in surgery oi the heart and blood vessels."
"In addition to being the first person to perform successfully an operation for coarctation of the aorta, a malformation of the blood vessels around the heart, Dr. Crafoord has also done pioneering work in the study of heparin, a drug which prevents the clotting of blood during surgery."
Dr. Lapham also pointed out that the Swedish surgeon- developed an anesthetic apparatus with which more patients' breathing can be maintained during long operation in the chest.
SELECTION COMMITTEE
Members of the selection committee for the lytatas award are: Dr. Emile Bloch, New Orleans surgeon and chairman of the awards committee; Dr. Isidore Cohn Sr., colleague and biographer of the late Dr. Matas; Dr. Oscar Creech Jr., professor and chairman of the department of surgery at Tulane, and Dr. Rudolph M. Lan-dry, Memphis surgeon who was elected to the committee in 1960 to succeed his late father, Dr. Lucian Landry.
During the awards program, Dr. Conn will speak on the life and work of Dr. Matas and will also present the citation and medallion to Dr. Crafoord.
Dr. Crafoord will deliver an address on problems of vascular surgery at the ceremonies which is open to members of I the medical profession, friends and associates of Dr. Matas, and to medical students.
Dr. Bloch, Dr. Lapham, and Dr. Herbert E. Longenecker, president of Tulane, will also participate in the awards program. PHOTO: DR. CLARENCE CRAFOORD
