Gerald M. Lawrie

Gerald Murray Lawrie, born on 15 October 1945 in Murwillumbah, New South Wales, is an American heart surgeon of Australian descent who is known as a pioneer in the surgical treatment of valvular heart disease. He grew up in Sydney, attended The Scots College and graduated from the University of Sydney Medical School in 1969, then completed residency training in thoracic and cardiovascular surgery in Sydney. In 1974 and 1975 he held a cardiovascular fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine under Michael E. DeBakey, who invited him onto his personal staff, and he worked with DeBakey almost daily for over twenty years on end-stage and complex cardiovascular disease. He also helped set up cardiovascular surgery programs in Saudi Arabia and Indonesia and took part in teaching students and residents.