Show notes
The pioneering surgeon Dr. Joseph Murray received
the 1990 Nobel Prize in Medicine for his accomplishments in
transplant surgery, including the first transplant of a human
kidney from a living donor, an event that opened the door to the
entire field of transplantation surgery. He was first inspired to
become a surgeon by his childhood experience with a family
doctor. He graduated from Harvard Medical School, but his
residency was interrupted by service in World War II. During the
war, he learned the techniques of plastic surgery; he later
applied the methods of skin grafting to the transplantation of
organs. For many years, Dr. Murray was Professor of Surgery at
Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. He is now retired from
active practice. In this podcast, recorded at the Academy of
Achievement's 1991 Summit in New York City, Dr. Murray recalls
his career as a surgeon, including his early experience with
kidney transplants and his pioneering work correcting congenital
facial deformities in young children. He emphasizes the
importance of maintaining a balance between work and family life
and reminds the students that "service to society is the rent we
pay to live on this planet."



