About Leon Abrams
Lived 1923 – 2012 (aged 88–89). Leon Abrams was a surgeon.
Leon David Abrams FRCS (1923–2012) was a British cardiothoracic surgeon who developed and implanted the first variable rate heart pacemaker, together with Ray Lightwood, at the University of Birmingham.
Leon Abrams was born in Leeds. He graduated from Birmingham University with an MBChB degree in Medicine in 1945.
Abrams was a cardiothoracic surgeon at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham. With medical engineer Ray Lightwood, he developed and implanted the first variable rate pacemaker in 1960. The first variable rate pacemaker implant took place in March 1960. Two further implants took place in April 1960. Fifty-six patients had received implants by 1966. He set up a leading centre for lung and heart surgery at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham.
Leon Abrams was elected a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in 1951.
Don’t just read it —
keep it.
Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.
- E-book
- Audio
- Video
Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free
Important facts
People in Leon Abrams's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Related people
Same field, nearest in time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Leon Abrams's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Leon Abrams?
British surgeon
When was Leon Abrams born?
Leon Abrams was born in 1923.
When did Leon Abrams die?
Leon Abrams died in 2012.
What was Leon Abrams's occupation?
Leon Abrams was a surgeon.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Leon Abrams. https://biography.guide/leon-abrams/
MLA: "Leon Abrams." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/leon-abrams/.
Chicago: "Leon Abrams." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/leon-abrams/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
Page generated 2026-09-27 05:05 UTC