Joseph Murray
Early Life and Education
Joseph Edward Murray was born on April 1, 1919, in Milford, Massachusetts, USA. He was the only child of William A. Murray and Mary DePasquale Murray. His father was a lawyer, and his mother was a school teacher. Murray attended the local public schools in Milford and showed an early interest in biology and medicine.
After graduating from high school, Murray attended the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy in 1940. He then went on to attend Harvard Medical School, where he received his Doctor of Medicine degree in 1943.
Medical Career
After graduating from Harvard, Murray served as a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army Medical Corps during World War II. He was stationed at Valley Forge General Hospital in Pennsylvania, where he treated soldiers who had been burned in combat. This experience sparked his interest in plastic surgery and transplantation.
After the war, Murray returned to Harvard and began his residency in plastic surgery at Peter Bent Brigham Hospital (now Brigham and Women's Hospital). He became interested in the possibility of organ transplantation and began conducting experiments on dogs. In 1954, he performed the first successful human kidney transplant between identical twins.
Murray continued his work in transplantation, developing techniques to prevent organ rejection. In 1962, he performed the first successful kidney transplant using a kidney from a deceased donor. This breakthrough opened the door for transplants from unrelated donors.
Contributions to Medicine
Murray's work in transplantation revolutionized the field of medicine. His techniques for preventing organ rejection have saved countless lives and have made transplants a common medical procedure. In addition to his work in transplantation, Murray also made significant contributions to plastic surgery. He developed new techniques for treating severe burns and for reconstructing the face and hands.
In recognition of his contributions to medicine, Murray received numerous awards and honors. In 1990, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his work in organ transplantation. He was also awarded the Lasker Award for Clinical Medical Research in 1964 and the National Medal of Science in 1990.
Later Life and Legacy
After retiring from surgery in 1986, Murray continued to teach at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital. He also served as the president of the American Society of Transplant Surgeons and the American Association of Plastic Surgeons.
Murray passed away on November 26, 2012, at the age of 93. His contributions to medicine continue to save lives and have had a profound impact on the field of transplantation and plastic surgery.