W. Gerald Austen, MD, FACS, ACS Past-President and a giant in cardiac surgery, died September 11 at the age of 92. Dr. Austen passed away surrounded by family at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) in Boston, where he played a key role in growing the institution to a world-class medical establishment and revolutionizing cardiac care.
Born in Akron, OH, Dr. Austen graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston with a degree in mechanical engineering in 1951 and received his medical degree from Harvard Medical School (HMS) in 1955. He completed residencies in general surgery and cardiothoracic surgery at MGH and returned there after spending 2 years conducting research at the National Institutes of Health.
Dr. Austen was appointed professor of surgery at HMS at the age of 36 and served as the hospital’s first chief of cardiovascular surgical research. As a professor, he was regarded as a kind, engaged mentor. He went on to be appointed as the MGH chief of surgical services at only 39 years of age, which was a notable achievement for a young surgeon, and he would hold the position for 29 years. After his retirement from clinical practice in 1998, he was honored with the creation of the W. Gerald Austen Chair in Surgery at HMS and MGH. In 2020, MGH renamed part of the hospital to the W. Gerald Austen, MD, Building to honor his decades of service to the hospital.
Among Dr. Austen’s many contributions to patient care and surgical science, he was instrumental in the design and creation of a cardiopulmonary bypass machine and the intra-aortic balloon pump. Because of his engineering background and knowledge in fluid mechanics, he was able to provide a unique mechanical perspective to solving serious cardiac issues. Dr. Austen and MGH colleague Robert Shaw, MD, worked together on the bypass machine after their practice hours, and it was put into clinical use in 1956.
Several of the “test patients,” who had end-stage cardiac disease and were expected to die within 30 days without treatment, were able to have heart surgery, recover, and lead full lives. In the 1960s, Dr. Austen worked with Mortimer Buckley, MD, FACS, and others to develop and successfully implement the intra-aortic balloon to patients experiencing cardiogenic shock.
These remarkable innovations would invigorate cardiac care at MGH and change the face of heart health around the world.
More than a Decade of ACS Leadership
Dr. Austen’s dedication to surgery and innovation carried through to his more than 20 years of service as a leader in numerous roles with the ACS. He served as ACS President from 1992 to 1993, leading the College in a transformative time for organization as it sought to increase its presence in Washington, DC, and be a part of conversations involving physician reimbursement. His term as President was a capstone to his years serving on the ACS Board of Regents (B/R) (1982–1991) in various capacities, including as B/R Chair (1989–1991), and Chair of the Health Policy and Reimbursement Committee and the Finance Committee. Dr. Austen’s commitment to the ACS and its principles extended beyond his years as a leader and active practice into philanthropy; in 2014, he and his wife Patricia were honored with the ACS Distinguished Philanthropist Award.
During his time at the College, Dr. Austen worked closely with other significant figures in the ACS and surgical history, including C. Rollin Hanlon, MD, FACS, ACS Past-Director and Past-President; Oliver Beahrs, MD, FACS; David Sabiston, MD, FACS; LaSalle Leffall, MD, FACS; and Frank Spencer, MD, FACS, among many others.
Beyond the ACS, Dr. Austen was a respected and valued leader in many other organizations, serving as president of the Association for Academic Surgery, Society of University Surgeons, American Surgical Association, American Heart Association, and American Association for Thoracic Surgery.
Dr. Austen is survived by his wife, four children, and 10 grandchildren. His legacy includes inspiring medical students and staff, as well as improving the lives of thousands of patients. Read more about Dr. Austen's remarkable life and career.
