Notable people · Surgeon · Physician
René Gerónimo Favaloro
René Favaloro, born in La Plata, Argentina, worked at the Cleveland Clinic from 1962 to 1971. In 1967 he began using the saphenous vein for coronary bypass; his first such operation was in May 1967. He returned to Argentina and founded the Favaloro Foundation.
At a glance
- Born
- 1923-07-12
- Died
- 2000-07-29
- Education
- National University of La Plata, La Plata, Argentina, to 1949, medical degree
- Known as
- Surgeon, Physician
- Organizations
- Cleveland Clinic
Life story
René Favaloro was born in La Plata, Argentina, in 1923, to a family of Sicilian immigrant grandparents. He earned his medical degree in 1949 and worked first as a rural doctor in Jacinto Aráuz.
He came to the Cleveland Clinic and worked with leading cardiologists. In May 1967 he did his first coronary bypass using the saphenous vein.
He went back to Argentina, founded the Favaloro Foundation in 1975 and the Instituto de Cardiología in 1992, and trained more than 450 residents.
He died in 2000. Denton Cooley wrote that he was the surgeon to credit with bringing bypass surgery into clinical use.
Timeline
- 1923-07-12: Born (La Plata, Argentina) source
- 1949: Medical degree, La Plata (Argentina) source
- 1951: Marries María Antonia Delgado (Argentina) source
- 1962: Joins Cleveland Clinic (existing record) (Cleveland, OH) source
- 1967-05: First saphenous-vein coronary bypass (Cleveland, OH) source
- 1975: Founds Fundación Favaloro (Buenos Aires, Argentina) source
- 1987: Gairdner International Award (Canada) source
- 1992: Establishes Instituto de Cardiología (Argentina) source
- 2000-07-29: Dies (Argentina) source
What René is known for
- Pioneered saphenous-vein coronary artery bypass surgery, Cleveland Clinic, 1967
- Saphenous-vein coronary bypass (1967)
- Fundación Favaloro (1975)
Inventions and firsts
- Coronary artery bypass grafting (1967) credit is disputed
Honors and things named for them
- Canada Gairdner International Award (1987)
- Prince Mahidol Award (1998)
Family
- wife: María Antonia Delgado
- parent: Juan Manuel Favaloro
- parent: Geni Ida Raffaeli
- colleague: Mason Sones
Ohio places
Where René Gerónimo Favaloro was born, lived, worked and is remembered, with the ZIP code, town and county pages for each.
- Worked: Cleveland, Cuyahoga County (Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Ave) Cleveland · Cuyahoga County
Myths and corrections
- Disputed: Credit for being first to perform coronary bypass surgery is debated; Garrett and Kolesov are named as earlier claimants.
Further reading
Sources
Confidence. High: the main facts were confirmed in sources we opened.
- René Favaloro (Wikipedia) life, honors
