Aurora St. Luke's celebrates 50th anniversary of the first heart transplant in the Midwest
![](/images/cbslogo_gray.png?x)
-
1:48
Man charged in Prince McCree’s murder sentenced to life in...
-
1:43
Onlookers enjoy Air and Water Show practice ahead of big weekend...
-
1:26
Brewers help fight hunger at Summer Sizzle event
-
2:07
’Justice, fairness, equity’: Milwaukee County leaders celebrate...
-
2:58
CBS 58 checks out Milwaukee’s 42nd annual German Fest
-
5:21
CBS 58’s Feel Good Fridays: Lakefront fun, German Fest and...
-
2:40
Meet CBS 58’s Pet of the Week: Esther
-
2:02
Pleasant start to a busy weekend in Milwaukee
-
2:10
Armed robbery attempt ends with gunfire exchange in Wauwatosa,...
-
3:08
Drew Burgoyne tastes treats in Tosa
-
3:06
Eduardo Galvan appointed MPS interim superintendent, despite...
-
2:13
Multiple festivals expected to draw thousands to Milwaukee’s...
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Aurora is celebrating a milestone in the health industry.
Wednesday marked 50 years since the first heart transplant was performed in the Midwest.
The first heart transplant in the world happened in 1967.
Aurora St. Luke's in Milwaukee performed the first one in the Midwest just nine months later.
Following a moratorium on transplants, St. Luke's re-opened their program in 1984.
Since then, they've performed 924 transplants.
"It's taking a patient who is on death's door or dying of heart failure, who thinks or has been told that they don't have any other options, and giving them options. What you want to provide for patients is options," said Dr. Frank Downey with Aurora St. Luke's.
Doctor Downey has been involved in over 360 heart transplants. He's been at St. Luke's for 700 of the 900 operations.