Elder Nelson receives honor from American Heart Association
E-mail story
It's easy. Send a link to the story you were just reading to a friend. Just fill out the form on this page and we'll send it along.
Your name and e-mail address are transmitted to the recipient. Otherwise, it is considered private information; see Privacy policy.
Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve was recognized for his service in the medical field at Utah's 25th annual Heart Ball on Saturday, May 15, at the Marriott Hotel in Salt Lake City. Elder Nelson and more than two dozen other past award recipients were inducted to the American Heart Association's Heart Ball Hall of Fame.
"They have given countless hours, some giving countless years of support to the American Heart Association," said Don Hudson, anchor of Good Morning Utah ABC 4 and master of ceremonies for the evening. "They are extraordinary individuals."
Elder Nelson received the Heart of Gold award in 2002 for his involvement in the fight against heart disease and strokes. Elder Nelson, who was by profession a surgeon and medical researcher, is a former president of the Society for Vascular Surgery and former chairman of the Council on Cardiovascular Surgery for the American Heart Association. His efforts proved him to be a pioneer in open-heart surgery and helped to bring information and skills to Utah.
"Early in his career the American Heart Association grant enabled Elder Nelson to continue research in the development of artificial heart and lung machine," Brother Hudson said. "Elder Nelson says it has been his pleasure to be a volunteer and advocate for the AHA, and we certainly thank you as well."
During the award ceremony in 2002, in which Elder Nelson received the Heart of Gold award, President Gordon B. Hinckley said of Elder Nelson, "You are a man of great learning, recognized over the world for your medical skills. ... You have gone across the world imparting your skills to surgeons in many lands. ... You are a man of great faith. ... Through faith you have moved ever forward and upward in the remarkable course of your life."
Elder Nelson was on the team of physicians that built the heart-lung machine used in the first open heart surgery in Minneapolis in 1951. He went on to serve in the Korean War, and then continued his involvement in medical research. While working as an assistant professor of medicine at the University of Utah Medical School, Elder Nelson worked at the Salt Lake County Hospital and built his own twin pump heart-lung machine. His research helped Utah to become the third state in the nation where open heart surgery was performed.
Not only was he involved in much medical research, Elder Nelson's legacy continued as he trained others in his profession.
"You have doctors and professionals and researchers carve out time to help raise awareness of cardiovascular disease and stroke education," Brother Hudson said. "They have taken time away from their own families to help other families."
More than 300 people gathered in a ballroom at the Marriott Hotel downtown Salt Lake City to honor past recipients of the Heart of Gold, Heart of Utah and Heart of the Community awards.
The Heart Ball is a major fundraising event that benefits research, public education and community programs of the American Heart Association. The emphasis of this year's event was to raise awareness of congenital heart defects. Part of the program included a presentation about a young Utah girl who received a heart transplant at the age of 18 months.
Other hall of fame inductees include:
Dr. Jeffrey Anderson
Haven Barlow
Dr. Ivor J. & Carol Benjamin
Fred Lampropoulos
Dr. Roger Millar
Dr. Edward B. Clark
Crawford P. Cragun
Gary Crocker
Dr. Donald Doty
Jan Graham
Tom Guinney
Senator Orrin & Elaine Hatch
Richard Headlee
Dr. Kent Jones
Joyce & Stan Parrish
Robert Rice
Dr. Robert Shaddy
Pres. John L. Valentine
Dr. Jack Wahlen
Connie & Jim Wall
Joan Ware, M.S.P.H., R.N.
Dr. Richard White
Dr. Roger Williams
