文章基本信息

标题：Renowned surgeon joins Army Reserve, becomes oldest AMEDD officer training graduate - People
作者：Edward Rivera
期刊名称：Army Reserve Magazine
印刷版ISSN：0004-2579
出版年度：2002
卷号：Summer 2002
出版社：U.S. Army Reserve

Renowned surgeon joins Army Reserve, becomes oldest AMEDD officer training graduate - People

Edward Rivera

After a 30-year career as a distinguished cardiovascular surgeon, which included implanting the first permanent totally artificial heart, Dr. William C. DeVries decided to do something he had always wanted to do join the Army.

On Jan. 18, the 58-year-old DeVries became one of the oldest officers to graduate from the Army Medical Department Basic Officer Course.

"This country has given me so much, and now it was time for me to give back," said DeVries, who was commissioned into the Army Reserve as a lieutenant colonel on Dec. 31.

DeVries is the son of a Navy physician and a nurse. He had always been interested in serving in the Armed Forces, but schooling arid subsequent positions did not allow for his desire.

In the 1980s DeVries was instrumental in creating the Jarvik-7 artificial heart. He performed the first Jarvik-7 implantation in 1982 while on the faculty of the Utah School of Medicine. He moved to Louisville, Ky., and from 1982 through 1987 implanted the artificial heart in four patients, who collectively lived more than 1,300 days.

In 1988, DeVries returned to traditional cardiovascular surgery until his retirement in 1999. He currently serves as the academic coordinator for the cardiothoracic surgery service at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

"I have always considered myself a good team leader, but I have gained a better understanding and appreciation of camaraderie. It is incredible how soldiers pull together as a team to accomplish their missions," he said.

When DeVries decided to give back to his country by joining the Army, he didn't think twice about his age.

"I've always been very active and keep in good shape. I'm sure there were some skeptics, but I wasn't worried about the physical aspects of the training," he said.

Now that DeVries has graduated from the Basic Officer Course, he will use his new-found knowledge of the Army and how it operates to better his work at Walter Reed. He also plans to go on the road to help recruit others who may want to serve their country as they wind down their civilian careers.