Alfred Blalock, MD (1899–1964)

Dr. Blalock was the first chief resident in Surgery at Vanderbilt University. He was born in Culloden, Georgia, earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Georgia and his MD from Johns Hopkins University in 1922. He remained at Hopkins and completed an internship in urology, and then a residency general surgery, followed by a fellowship in otolaryngology.

In September 1925, coinciding with the opening of the “new” Vanderbilt Hospital (now Medical Center North), Dr. Blalock arrived at Vanderbilt as a resident surgeon and afterward was placed in charge of the surgical research laboratory.

Dr. Blalock is known for his pioneering research on the nature and treatment of hemorrhagic and traumatic shock and is credited with saving the lives of many casualties during World War II, and with the first open heart operation for tetralogy of Fallot (blue baby). Dr. Blalock's experimental work was immeasurably aided by the expertise of lab technician Vivien Thomas, who worked alongside Dr. Blalock at Vanderbilt.

Dr. Blalock and Vivien Thomas moved together to Johns Hopkins when Dr. Blalock became professor and chair of Surgery there in 1941.

The Alfred Blalock Surgical Resident Award is given annually to the principal investigator and author of the best laboratory or clinical research report made during residency.