William F. Bernhard
American surgeon
William F. Bernhard (December 11, 1924 – October 29, 2018) was an American cardiovascular surgeon, Emeritus Professor of Surgery at Harvard Medical School, and cardiovascular surgical pioneer.
Bernhard's cardiovascular work first came to public light with his 1963 breakthrough hyperbaric chamber work and use of the chamber to try to save Patrick Bouvier Kennedy, son of U.S. President John F. Kennedy. Bernhard continued cardiovascular research at Boston Children's Hospital and developed innovative surgical alternatives for cardiovascular disease including the Ventricular Assist Device.
Biography
Bernhard was born in Brooklyn, New York raised in Great Neck, New York, son of William Bernhard and Helen (Conroy) Bernhard. During World War II, after finishing college at Williams College in three years he served in the United States Navy as an Ensign in the U.S. Naval Reserve. He completed his medical training at Syracuse University Medical School, and after several thoracic and surgical residencies at Bellevue Hospital and New York-Presbyterian Hospital (formerly Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital) in New York Bernhard began his work at Boston Children’s Hospital with heart surgeon Robert E. Gross, MD and in the early 1960s facilitated his deep interest in cardiovascular research by forming Boston Children’s Hospital Cardiovascular Research Laboratory. Bernhard is a Professor of Surgery, Emeritus at Harvard Medical School, and conducted many of his breakthrough surgeries for implantation of the Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) in other Harvard affiliated hospitals. During his career Bernhard also served as an attending surgeon thoracic cardiovascular surgery at the VA Hospital, West Roxbury and a consultant in cardiothoracic surgery at Beth Israel Hospital, Boston, 1986.
Professional work
In the mid to late 1970s numerous cardiovascular programs were competing to find a way to extend life for those with inoperable end-stage cardiovascular disease. Bernhard began his breakthrough work at Boston Children's Hospital as one of the principal clinical investigators of the development of temporary heart assist devices.
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