Memoriam and tribute to Willem J. 'Pim' Kolff, founder of Artificial Organs.

摘要

Preparing a memoriam and tribute for Willem J. "Pirn Kolff" is a truly daunting task. His lifetime covered almost a century during which some of the most astounding advances in human existence occurred, not the least of which were Kolff's artificial kidney and artificial heart, and his work with Dobelle to create artificial vision. We begin with part of his opening speech as the founding President of American Society for Artificial Internal Organs (ASA1O) during the inaugural meeting at Atlantic City, NJ in 1954, which gives us the first glimpse of this truly remarkable person.