Dwight Emary Harken

American surgeon

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June 29, 2026

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Dwight Harken was an American surgeon who made significant contributions to the field of heart surgery. During World War II, he achieved remarkable success by removing 134 missiles from the chest, including 13 from within the heart chambers, without any patient fatalities. This experience demonstrated the feasibility of operating on the heart, which had previously been considered too risky.1

Following the war, Harken's work paved the way for rapid advancements in cardiac procedures. While the first successful open-heart surgery using a heart-lung machine occurred in 1953, Harken's wartime achievements helped to overcome the medical community's skepticism towards heart interventions. His work was instrumental in the development of modern open-heart surgery, which allows for the repair of valvular disease and correction of congenital heart defects.21

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history of medicine
Heart surgery
…by the remarkable record of Dwight Harken, who removed 134 missiles from the chest—13 in the heart chambers—without the loss of one patient.
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…by the remarkable record of Dwight Harken, who removed 134 missiles from the chest—13 in the heart chambers—without the loss of one patient.
Read More