Article
ID: CBB111701523

Vivien Theodore Thomas (1910–1985): An African-American Laboratory Technician Who Went on to Become an Innovator in Cardiac Surgery (2017)

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African Americans and science Surgical techniques African Americans Surgery Cardiology Science and race 20th century Thomas, Vivien T. Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore, Md.) Johns Hopkins University

Vivien Theodore Thomas (1910–1985) was an African-American laboratory technician and instructor of surgery at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore. He was born as the grandson of a slave in Lousiana, working as a carpenter and subsequently as a laboratory technician after the great depression and the loss of his savings derailed his plans to become a doctor. In his role as a laboratory technician, he overcame challenging personal circumstances to become an innovator in paediatric cardiac surgery, despite having no formal college education. He played an important role in assisting Alfred Blalock and Helen Taussig in the development of the ‘Blalock-Taussig’ shunt, a procedure used to improve the survival of children with cyanotic congenital heart defects. He also contributed to major breakthroughs in research covering a spectrum of disorders such as traumatic shock, coarctation of the aorta and transposition of the great arteries. He acted as a teacher and mentor to a generation of surgical residents and technicians who went on to become leaders in their field across the USA. A television film based on his life was premiered by HBO in 2004 titled ‘Something the Lord made’.

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Authors & Contributors
Mendes, Gabriel N.
Martinez, Jesus Ruben
Weininger, Stephen J.
Watkins, Rachel J.
Wald, Priscilla
Wailoo, Keith
Journals
Chemical Heritage
Social Studies of Science
History of Psychiatry
Current Anthropology
American Quarterly
Publishers
Oxford University Press
University of Texas at Austin
Georgia State University
University of Nebraska Press
University of Georgia Press
Johns Hopkins University Press
Concepts
African Americans and science
African Americans
Science and race
Science and literature
Race
Medicine and race
People
Wright, Richard
Bishop, Shelton Hale
Wertham, Fredric
Thomas, Vivien T.
Lacks, Henrietta
Knox, William
Time Periods
20th century
19th century
18th century
Places
United States
Southern states (U.S.)
New York City (New York, U.S.)
Alabama (U.S.)
Institutions
Lafargue Mental Hygiene Clinic
Eastman Kodak Company
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