How Dr. DeBakey’s Legacy Is Inspiring a New Era of Surgical Excellence  

Michael E. DeBakey, M.D., looms large in the minds of surgeons across the globe. He represents, in many ways, the classical archetype of the surgeon—a master in the operating room, a stunningly creative engineer of medical equipment, a compassionate counselor at the bedside, a demanding taskmaster during clinical rounds and an egalitarian medical statesman.  

He also was an ardent educator and mentor, one who spent most of his long career at Baylor College of Medicine. In 1961, he created the DeBakey Medical Foundation with the singular goal of establishing Baylor as the preeminent College of Medicine in the nation. 

For Todd Rosengart, M.D., FACS, MBA, the image of Dr. DeBakey is of a leader who understood that he wasn’t the only star, and his job wasn’t just about being a great surgeon; he needed to empower others so that they could be great as well.  

It is the same ethos Dr. Rosengart brought with him when he became Chair of the Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery at Baylor. The best way to keep alive Dr. DeBakey’s legacy of excellence is to be the best, and being the best means having an impact. 

“When someone asks me what I want them to do, I tell them, there is so much that you can do, and there are many different ways you can make a difference,” he said. “We will work with you to make your efforts as impactful as possible to help as many as we can. It is my job to apply resources to help people be the most impactful they can be.” 

To uphold Dr. DeBakey’s legacy and to partner in Dr. Rosengart’s vision, the DeBakey Medical Foundation pledged $10 million in April 2024 to establish the Michael E. DeBakey, M.D., Endowed Fund in Surgery. The Fund will provide the Department’s chair—currently Dr. Rosengart—with financial support to facilitate the Department’s growth both by adapting to new advancements in the field and by investing in the innovative pursuits of its faculty and trainees. 

The great surgical triumphs of Dr. DeBakey’s day included inventing new operating procedures, developing flawless graft techniques and fabricating artificial hearts. Today’s surgeons are focused on incorporating biologic therapies and surgery, perfecting minimally invasive operations and identifying ways to harness artificial intelligence to maximize surgeons’ ability to care for their patients. And while no one knows for certain what the future will bring for the field of surgery, Dr. Rosengart is confident that the Department will be ready to face it.  

“Having the bandwidth and flexibility to anticipate the unknowable is going to be a great opportunity to use the DeBakey funds,” Dr. Rosengart said.