Profiles in Giving

Dr. Alan Gazzaniga DC '58, DMS '59: Ensuring Success

Dr. Gazzaniga, a pioneer in the development of adult and pediatric heart surgery in Orange County, California, and DMS grad, has supported his alma mater in many ways. He has participated in the alumni mentor program, served as chair for his 40th class reunion, and he's a faithful contributor to the Fund for DMS.

Dr. Gazzaniga's primary inspiration for supporting the Fund is his high regard for the education that DMS students receive. "Both of my sons (David, DC '89, DMS '94 and Michael, DMS '96) graduated from DMS and are excellent clinicians," he notes.

After his own schooling at DMS, Dr. Gazzaniga completed his medical degree at Harvard Medical School in 1961. He did his internship and residency in general surgery and cardiac and thoracic surgery at Peter Bent Brigham Hospital in 1964. Following service in the Navy, he joined the University of California at Irvine (UCI) Department of Surgery as a cardiac and thoracic surgeon - the start of a long and distinguished career at UCI.

It was during his tenure as chief of cardiac surgery that the first heart transplant in Orange County was performed. In 1975, Dr. Gazzaniga and his partner Dr. Robert H. Bartlett reported the first successful clinical use of neonatal ExtraCorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO), which is now used worldwide to save patients with cardiorespiratory failure. In 2000, he was honored as Orange County's Physician of the Year. Shortly thereafter, he retired from St. Joseph's as Chief of Thoracic Surgery and from UCI as professor of surgery, emeritus after 30 years at both institutions. In his retirement, Dr. Gazzaniga has authored two medical thrillers, "Seeds for All Seasons" and its sequel, "The Seeds We Sow."

Throughout his successful career, Dr. Gazzaniga has never forgotten his DMS roots. He explains, "The medical school and the hospital remain in the forefront of academia and are expanding their research capabilities - that's why I am partial to the school and why I am proud to see it succeeding." (329)

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