J. Willis Hurst | |
---|---|
Born |
Cooper, Kentucky, US | October 21, 1920
Died | October 1, 2011
Atlanta, Georgia, US | (aged 90)
Alma mater |
West Georgia College University of Georgia Medical College of Georgia |
Occupation | Cardiologist |
Spouse |
Nelie Hurst (
m. 1942) |
John Willis Hurst (October 21, 1920 – October 1, 2011) was an American physician who served as the cardiologist of former U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson. [1] He was the editor of Hurst's the Heart, one of the most widely used medical textbooks in the world. [1] He also served as a former president of the American Heart Association. [2]
Throughout his career, Hurst was recognized as a leader in cardiology. [3]
John Willis Hurst was the only child of John Hurst and Verna Bell Hurst. [4] He was born in Cooper, Kentucky, a community near Monticello, Kentucky, in Wayne County, Kentucky, on October 21, 1920. [5] [1] In Cooper, Hurst's father owned and operated a general store. [6]
Eleven months after he was born, Hurst's family moved to Carrollton, Georgia. [4] In Carrollton, Hurst's father served as the principal of a small, local school. [4] During this time, Hurst's family lived in dormitory style housing on the school's grounds with several other teachers, including his aunt. [7] In 1932, Hurst's father quit teaching in order to assist with the development of the Carrollton Federal Savings and Loan Association. [6] At this time, the family moved to a single family home on Cefar Street. [6]
Hurst graduated from Carrollton High School in 1937. [8] He then enrolled at West Georgia College in Carrollton. [4] At West Georgia College he met his future wife Nelie Wiley. [9] After two years, Hurst transferred to the University of Georgia. [4] There, he obtained a Bachelor of Science in zoology and a Bachelor of Science in chemistry. [4]
In 1941, Hurst began his studies at the Medical College of Georgia. [4] He graduated first in his class in 1944. [4] He then began his internship and residency at the University Hospital in Augusta, Georgia. [1]
In 1946, after completing his residency, Hurst was drafted into the army and was stationed at Fitzsimons General Hospital near Denver, Colorado. [10] During this time he obtained the rank of captain. [1] His tour of duty in Denver was cut short, however, as Hurst was allowed to return home following the news of an automobile accident that killed his mother-in-law and severely injured his sister-in-law. [9]
Then, in 1947 Hurst began working as a fellow at Massachusetts General Hospital. [1] There he met Dr. Paul Dudley White, the Father of American cardiology, who became one of Hurst's most influential mentors. [4] [6] Meeting White prompted Hurst to commit to specializing in cardiology. [9]
After completing his fellowship in Massachusetts, Hurst returned to Georgia in 1949 and briefly established a private practice in Atlanta. [4] Then, in 1950, he accepted a job offer at Emory University. [4]
In 1954, Hurst was drafted for the second time. [4] He was assigned to the Bethesda Naval Hospital, where he was appointed Chief of Cardiology. [1] On July 2, 1955, Lyndon B. Johnson, then majority leader of the senate, suffered a heart attack. [4] It was during this incident that Hurst took on the role of Johnson's personal cardiologist. [4] He continued to serve as Johnson's cardiologist until Johnson's death in 1973. [4] Hurst even traveled with Johnson to 15 countries when Johnson served as the vice president during the Kennedy administration. [1] Hurst declined the offer to serve as White House Physician during Johnson's presidency. [1]
Hurst was honorably discharged from the military in 1955 and returned to Emory University. [4] There, he resumed teaching and also practiced consultative cardiology. [4] In 1957, Hurst was named the Chairman of the Department of Medicine at Emory, a position he held until 1986. [4] Even after stepping down from the role of chairman, Hurst continued to teach at Emory. [4] In the early 1960s, Hurst assisted with the creation of both the continuing medical education program in cardiology at Emory and the Emory Clinic. [1] Then, in 1991, Hurst was named as a consultant to Emory's Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine. [4] He continued in this role until 2007. [4] During his time at Emory, Hurst taught more than 5,000 residents and 2,500 residents and fellows. [11]
Hurst served a term as the president of the American Heart Association and a term as the president of the Association of Professors of Medicine. [12] He was also a member of the National Heart, Lung and Blood Council. [12] He also served as Chairman for the Subspecialty Board of Cardiovascular Disease. [13]
Throughout his career, Hurst edited over 60 books and published over 350 scientific articles. [4] His works include a children's book and several novels. [12]
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: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (
link)On December 20, 1942, John Willis Hurst married Nelie Wiley Hurst. [16] Together, they had three sons: John W. Hurst Jr., J. Stephen Hurst, and Philip W. Hurst. [1] Nelie passed away on April 26, 2004. [16]
John W. Hurst Jr. followed in his father's footsteps and currently works as a cardiologist in Atlanta, GA. [17]