Dr.
Henry Heimlich
Class of 1993
Background:
Henry J. Heimlich was born in 1920. Educated at Cornell University
and Cornell Medical College, Dr. Heimlich was a surgical resident
at Mt. Sinai and Bellevue Hospitals in New York City. During
World War II, he served as a surgeon with the United States
Naval Group, China, classified as voluntary extra-hazardous
overseas duty.
Professional
Experience:
Throughout a career which spans 50 years, Dr. Heimlich has
a truly amazing "track record" of service to humanity.
Probably best known for the Heimlich Maneuver, a technique
that saved the lives of thousands of choking and drowning
victims each year, and now being applied to overcome asthma
attacks without the need of medication and to save twice as
many heart attack victims as the usual cardiopulmonary resuscitation
(CPR), Dr. Heimlich continued to achieve highly significant
breakthroughs in the field of medicine. A few of his many
other accomplishments are the Heimlich Micro Trach, the state-of-the-art
medical procedure for patients needing oxygen; the study and
clinical treatment of Lyme disease; malaria treatment to induce
fever and stimulate immune responses in cancer patients; the
provision of a new esophagus for victims of birth defects
or cancer; the Heimlich valve for chest drainage; the Heimlich
method for rehabilitation of swallowing, which restores the
ability to swallow food after a stroke; and many other medical
innovations.
At Dr.
Heimlich's Institute Foundation, Inc., emphasis is placed
on using creative thinking in medicine and life. There, each
person can create within the limits of his or her knowledge
and capability as they observe Dr. Heimlich's favorite phrase,
"If all of your peers understand what you have done,
you are not creative!" Foundation support has been exclusively
through private grants and donations from the public.
Career
Highlights:
Dr. Norman Vincent Peale credited Dr. Heimlich with saving
more lives than any other living American. Tens of thousands
of lives have been saved by the Heimlich Maneuver alone, which
is endorsed by the American Red Cross, the American Heart
Association, and the American Medical Association for saving
choking and drowning victims. Former Surgeon General C. Everett
Koop declared that "the best rescue technique in any
choking situation is the Heimlich Maneuver." Dr. Heimlich
received numerous awards, honorary degrees and commendations,
including the Albert Lasker Public Service Award, the American
Academy of Achievement Golden Plate Award and enshrinement
in the Engineering and Science Hall of Fame.
