Born in Brandon, Manitoba, the son of Dr. Wilfred Abram Bigelow, founder of the first private medical clinic in Canada, and Grace Ann Gordon, nurse and midwife, he gained his MD from the University of Toronto in 1938. He served during World War II as a captain in the Royal Canadian Medical Army Corps, performing battle surgery on the frontlines. He was appointed to the surgical staff of Toronto General Hospital in 1947, after spending a year at Johns Hopkins Medical School, and then a year later to the Department of Surgery at the University of Toronto in 1948.
In the 1950s, Bigelow developed the idea of using hypothermia as a medical procedure. This involves reducing a patient's body temperature prior to an operation in order to reduce the amount of oxygen needed, making heart operations safer.[2]
He wrote two books, Cold Hearts and Mysterious Heparin. He served as a director of the Audubon Society and the Nature Conservancy of Canada.
He was married to Ruth Jennings for almost 60 years. They had four children; Pixie, John, Dan and Bill.
Referencesedit
^Kermode-Scott, B. (2005). "Wilfred G Bigelow". BMJ. 330 (7497): 967. doi:10.1136/bmj.330.7497.967. PMC556354.
^Sealy, W. C. (1989). "Hypothermia: Its possible role in cardiac surgery". The Annals of Thoracic Surgery. 47 (5): 788–91. doi:10.1016/0003-4975(89)90151-3. PMID 2658888.
A Biographical Sketch of Dr. Wilfred G. Bigelow at website of the Cardiovascular Sciences Collaborative Program, University of Toronto
Wilfred G. Bigelow: From Cooling Hearts to Pacing Them
Canadian Medical Hall of Fame
January 01, 1970
wilfred, gordon, bigelow, wilfred, gordon, bill, bigelow, frsc, june, 1913, march, 2005, canadian, heart, surgeon, known, role, developing, artificial, pacemaker, hypothermia, open, heart, surgery, born, brandon, manitoba, wilfred, abram, bigelow, founder, fir. Wilfred Gordon Bill Bigelow OC FRSC June 18 1913 March 27 2005 was a Canadian heart surgeon known for his role in developing the artificial pacemaker and the use of hypothermia in open heart surgery 1 Born in Brandon Manitoba the son of Dr Wilfred Abram Bigelow founder of the first private medical clinic in Canada and Grace Ann Gordon nurse and midwife he gained his MD from the University of Toronto in 1938 He served during World War II as a captain in the Royal Canadian Medical Army Corps performing battle surgery on the frontlines He was appointed to the surgical staff of Toronto General Hospital in 1947 after spending a year at Johns Hopkins Medical School and then a year later to the Department of Surgery at the University of Toronto in 1948 In the 1950s Bigelow developed the idea of using hypothermia as a medical procedure This involves reducing a patient s body temperature prior to an operation in order to reduce the amount of oxygen needed making heart operations safer 2 He wrote two books Cold Hearts and Mysterious Heparin He served as a director of the Audubon Society and the Nature Conservancy of Canada In 1981 he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada 3 He was inducted into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame in 1997 He was married to Ruth Jennings for almost 60 years They had four children Pixie John Dan and Bill References edit Kermode Scott B 2005 Wilfred G Bigelow BMJ 330 7497 967 doi 10 1136 bmj 330 7497 967 PMC 556354 Sealy W C 1989 Hypothermia Its possible role in cardiac surgery The Annals of Thoracic Surgery 47 5 788 91 doi 10 1016 0003 4975 89 90151 3 PMID 2658888 Order of Canada citationExternal links editA Biographical Sketch of Dr Wilfred G Bigelow at website of the Cardiovascular Sciences Collaborative Program University of Toronto Wilfred G Bigelow From Cooling Hearts to Pacing Them Canadian Medical Hall of Fame Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Wilfred Gordon Bigelow amp oldid 1117542231, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
