In nearly 20 years at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation’s Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, which you now serve as chair, you have pioneered efforts to reduce surgical and post-surgical risks and have invented devices and instruments resulting in no fewer than four medical patents. Your innovative techniques for conserving blood during heart surgery are now widely used and your practice of conducting mitral valve repair rather than surgery has been shown to reduce complications and improve heart function. Your continuing search for more effective treatment of heart patients has, of recent years, led to a new operation to repair leaking aortic valves, and you have gone on to develop new instruments used in mitral valve operations and a computerized system that automatically delivers medication to control high blood pressure following heart surgery. We are delighted to celebrate the technical and surgical creativity that has enabled you to improve the quality of countless lives and has earned you well-deserved recognition as a world leader in your field. In recognition of your distinguished achievement in the field of heart surgery, Williams College is proud to present you with its Bicentennial Medal.