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  In September 10th, 1896 Ludwig Rehn performed the first successful caridiac surgery.
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  In 1953 the first open heart surgery was possible thanks to Gibbons heart lung machine.
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  John Gibbon created a machine to pass oxygen and circulation of blood through the body while the surgery was in process.
The Mayo Clinic and Gibbon created a heart lung machine. - 
  
  South African Christiaan Barnard performed the first human heart transplant.
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  By 1959 in Texas Children's Hospital 120 infants with congenital defects, particularly those with cardiovascular diseases, were successfully operated on.
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  A degree in Medicine
Residencies and fellowships in cardiac surgery
Medical license required; board certification by the American Board of Thoracic Surgery - 
  
  $335,699 for cardiothoracic surgeons according to study.com
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  Denton Cooley, MD, Cardiovascular Surgery. For nearly sixty years Cooley was one of the best names known in Texas cardiovascular surgeries.