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Raymond Heimbecker

1922 – 2014

Canadian surgeon

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About Raymond Heimbecker

Lived 1922 – 2014 (aged 91). Raymond Heimbecker was a Canadian surgeon.

Raymond O. Heimbecker, (November 29, 1922 – February 13, 2014) was a Canadian cardiovascular surgeon who performed the world’s first complete heart valve transplant in 1962, and Canada’s first modern heart transplant in 1981 with anti-rejection drugs to prolong the patient's survival.

Born in Calgary, Alberta, he received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Saskatchewan in 1944. He received his Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Toronto in 1947. He also received a Master of Arts in physiology and a Master of Science in surgery. He worked with Wilfred Bigelow and Alfred Blalock.

In 1955, he joined the Department of Surgery at the University of Toronto and was a research associate at the Ontario Heart Foundation. In 1962, he became a cardiovascular consultant to the Wellesley Hospital. He was a professor at the University of Western Ontario.

In 1997, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada for being "at the forefront of his specialty, developing advanced techniques for heart surgery and assisting in the first human heart valve transplant". In 2002, he was awarded the Order of Ontario.

He has received an honorary degree from the University of Saskatchewan.

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Important facts

Birth century
Occupation
Nationality
Education
University of Saskatchewan, University of Toronto
Employers
University of Toronto
Awards
Officer of the Order of Canada; Order of Ontario; Order of Canada

People in Raymond Heimbecker's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Raymond Heimbecker's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Raymond Heimbecker?

Canadian surgeon

When was Raymond Heimbecker born?

Raymond Heimbecker was born on 29 November 1922 in Calgary.

When did Raymond Heimbecker die?

Raymond Heimbecker died on 13 February 2014 in Collingwood.

What was Raymond Heimbecker's occupation?

Raymond Heimbecker was a surgeon.

What nationality was Raymond Heimbecker?

Raymond Heimbecker was Canadian.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Raymond Heimbecker

· Wikidata: Q7298845

· DBpedia: Raymond Heimbecker

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Raymond Heimbecker. https://biography.guide/raymond-heimbecker/

MLA: "Raymond Heimbecker." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/raymond-heimbecker/.

Chicago: "Raymond Heimbecker." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/raymond-heimbecker/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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