Dr. Willem Johan Kolff was known as the “Father of Artificial Organs.” He became internationally known in 1957, when he began working on the total artificial heart at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, but his contributions to the field of artificial organs and to the betterment of the lives of millions of people began long before that time.
Lasker Foundation’s March 2023 newsletter includes a wonderful podcast highlighting the work of Willem Kolff. Listen here:
What was life like for Lasker Laureates while they were doing their Award-winning work?
Listen in as Award Winners share their personal stories. You will hear about starting off in research during a World War, learn how Laureates navigated family and career, and find out how their discoveries, now heralded as groundbreaking, were met by their peers. Whether you’re a history buff, a science enthusiast, or a history of science nerd, this podcast from the archives of the Lasker Foundation is for you.
The father of artificial organs
An interview with Willem Kolff
After meeting a young man dying of renal failure, Willem Kolff could not shake the thought that there was a simple solution: remove urea from the blood. This is the story of hemodialysis.