George J. Magovern, MD
Dr. George Magovern '45 attended Manhattan College and Union University in his home state of New York and completed his medical education at Marquette University. He did his surgical residency at St. Vincent's Hospital in New York and at New York Medical Center (Downstate), followed by his residency in thoracic and cardiovascular surgery at George Washington University.
Magovern joined the Allegheny General Hospital staff in 1959 and quickly earned a reputation as an innovator in medicine. Although retired as chairman of the department of surgery, a position he held for 25 years, he continues his association with Allegheny General Hospital and the Drexel University School of Medicine, as a professor of surgery.
In 1961, Magovern made medical history by performing the first heart valve replacement in Pittsburgh. He followed that milestone with many others, including working together with a local engineer to develop a sutureless heart valve to reduce the time needed for heart valve replacement. In 1962 he performed the world's second lung transplant and during the 1970s collaborated in the development of a high-volume, low-pressure endotracheal tube called the Lanz Device. In 1980, he successfully pioneered the clinical use of small centrifugal pumps as left/right ventricular assist devices, and made headlines in that same year by performing the nation's first cardiomyoplasty procedure, in which back muscle is wrapped around the heart and trained to beat for it.
A dedicated researcher, he collaborated in the development of a prototype nuclear-powered artificial heart and a saphenous vein holder for use in heart surgery. Under his leadership, research and development of a nuclear-powered pacemaker and perfection of reverse myocardial perfusion were also achieved.
Magovern has also served as a dedicated educator and mentor. For 25 years he taught and advised thoracic surgery residents, fellows and medical students, serving as program director for Allegheny General's thoracic surgery residency program.
Testimony to his strong commitment to scholarly activity, Magovern served on the editorial board of the Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery ; served as a member of the American Board of Thoracic Surgery; as well as the Residency Review Committees for Thoracic Surgery and Vascular Surgery. In 1984 he was elected president of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons and chose “How Shall We Then Practice” as the topic of his presidential address. This address gave pioneering insights into the moral issues confronting physicians in treating patients in a managed care environment. Magovern is also an author or co-author of more than 200 articles, has presented an almost equal number of lectures, and has received more than two dozen academic appointments.
Through the years Magovern has been the recipient of numerous honors, including most recently being named by Pittsburgh Magazine as one of the “100 Most Influential Pittsburghers of the Century”; receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Pittsburgh Business Times; the first recipient of the American Heart Association's “Pulse of Pittsburgh” award and receipt of the 2004 AAMI Foundation Laufman-Greatbatch Award. In April 2008, Magovern was a recipient of the Senator John Heinz History Center's Medal of Innovation, signifying his personal milestones and contributions to Pittsburgh's collective heritage.
Magovern resides in Fox Chapel, PA with his wife, Ann.
