Title:

Princess Liliane of Belgium observing Michael DeBakey performing surgery

Date:

[January 1962]

Description:

Princess Liliane is on the far left in this photo. Liliane had invited DeBakey to give a series of lectures and demonstrations to Belgian surgeons in 1961, with the aim of improving cardiac surgery in that country. The Princess, whose son Alexander had a congenital heart defect repaired by Boston surgeon Robert Gross in 1957, became committed to supporting the expansion of cardiovascular surgery. She established the Princess Liliane Cardiologic Foundation in 1958, and met DeBakey through their mutual friend, philanthropist Mary Lasker, soon after. Princess Liliane's interest in cardiac surgery extended to attending operations as an observer occasionally, as in this photo taken during her visit to Houston in 1962. Many years later (August 19, 1975), DeBakey repaired an aneurysm of the abdominal aorta for Liliane's husband, King Leopold.

Location:

Box: 29

Rights:

Reproduced with permission of the Baylor College of Medicine Archives.

Genre:

Photographic prints

Format:

Still Image

Extent:

1 pages

Legacy ID:

FJBBDD

NLM ID:

101743405X43

Profiles Collection:

The Michael E. DeBakey Papers

Shareable Link:

https://profiles.nlm.nih.gov/101743405X43

Story Section:

DeBakey as Medical Statesman