Partners of the Heart: Vivien Thomas and His Work with Alfred Blalock: An Autobiography

by Vivien T. Thomas

Visitors to the Blalock Building at the Johns Hopkins University Medical Center are greeted by portraits of two great men. One, of renowned heart surgeon Alfred Blalock, speaks for itself. The other, of highschool graduate Vivien Thomas, is testimony to the incredible genius and determination of the first black man to hold a professional position at one of America's premier medical institutions.

Thomas's dreams of attending medical school were dashed when the Depression hit. After spending some time as a carpenter's apprentice, Thomas took what he expected to be a temporary job as a technician in Blalock's lab. The two men soon became partners and together invented the field of cardiac surgery.

Partners of the Heart is Thomas's extraordinary autobiography. Trained in laboratory techniques by Alfred Blalock and Joseph W. Beard, Thomas remained Blalock's principal technician and laboratory chief for the rest of Blalock's distinguished career. Thomas very rapidly learned to perform surgery, to do chemical determinations, and to carry out physiologic studies. He became a phenomenal technician and was able to carry out complicated experimental cardiac operations totally unassisted and to devise new ones.

In addition to telling Thomas's life story, Partners of the Heart traces the beginnings of modern cardiac surgery, crucial investigations into the nature of shock, and Blalock's methods of training surgeons.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, Science, Medical, Medicine, History, Biography Memoir

264 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1985

Reviews

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

A challenging read because of medical terminology, but eye-opening regarding open heart surgery and the part Vivien Thomas played in developing groundbreaking surgical techniques; without a medical degree!

[Greg]

Vivien Thomas was a pioneer at a time when there was little opportunity for African-Americans in the field of medicine. This is his autobiography. I hesitate to rate this, as I read Thomas’s account purely for historical interest. I have to confess eventually I began to skim through several paragraphs which often provided detailed and lengthy descriptions of surgery, and names of people. Clearly, Thomas was a man who was meticulous and dedicated to detail—undoubtedly traits which were invaluable in his success during the pioneer days of congenital heart disease and cardiac surgery. His work has saved thousands of lives. One wonders what else he may have been able to accomplish, had he lived in a different era.

[Gpritchard · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really interesting read. Lots of technical information that I couldn’t follow and not a lot of personal anecdotes of Vivien Thomas’ life beyond the laboratory, but just an absolutely inspiring account of how Dr. Thomas melded dedication, talent, respect, experience, and opportunity into a distinguished life of contributions to cardiology advancements, all when so many doors weren’t available to African Americans. I appreciated the recognition that finally came his way and am glad I read this autobiography.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book in class with my Medical Skills students. It’s a bit heavy in Medical Terminology but so worth it. The story is an inspiring true story of two men who build a yin and yang relationship and because of who they are, and how they work together, change how medicine understands and cares for heart conditions.

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This isn't a story book and the prose is a bit sparse but this is still one of my favourite true stories and bits of it get told every few months to a new batch of registrars so they too can wonder for a short while at the grit and genius of Vivien Thomas.

[Don Nemaire · Rating 4 out of 5]

found the book heavy with medical terms but inspiring all the same.

[Lily Mathe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible story - sucks you in.

[Claudia Verleg · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5*
Interesting story but too many detailed medical procedures for my liking

[Marilyn Mahabee-Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book is good, but there are alot of medical details most non medical folks need. The movie Something the Lord made gives a great story to amplify this book

[Jessi · Rating 4 out of 5]

HEAVY on the medical terms, this book actually held my interest a lot more than I thought it would. Honestly, this would have been a 3.5 for me but it was surprisingly not as dry as I thought so I rounded up. Disclaimer: I did start skimming through the medical parts.

Vivien Thomas had graduate high school and was getting ready to enter college and hoped to continue to med school. But fate, and the Great Depression, intervened. He got on with Alfred Blalock in a school in Nashville and moved with him to Johns Hopkins. Blalock obviously recognized the work Thomas was doing and made sure that they were a package deal, even passing up jobs when Thomas wouldn't be able to come with him

While Thomas glosses over racism, you know he had to have experienced more more than he lets on. His account of this history, of being part of the team that helped develop cardiac surgery and save millions of "blue babies" is matter-of-fact and, I think, not as brag-gy as it could have been. Thomas was finally honored for his work with an honorary degree from Johns Hopkins in the 70s though I think he deserved so much more. I was so excited whenever he wrote that he stood up and asked for more money to be doing the work that he was doing. Good for him to recognize, and to force others to recognize, the importance of the work that he was doing.

[Beckie L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vivien Thomas basically represents how hands-on learning and practice lead to new procedures and tools in surgery. Learn by doing. Dr. Bialock instructs Vivien Thomas at first but they eventually become interdependent partners. We owe a lot of the advances in cardiac surgery to these surgeons' experiments on dogs.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book, but they shouldn't use the still from the HBO movie Something the Lord Made. This book is an anatomy term-laden retrospective of the studies Vivien Thomas did with a few personal stories/anecdotes, not a touching story like the movie.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a little technical for me but overall a good book.