James West (physician)

James Ward West (March 29, 1914 – July 24, 2012) was an American physician, psychiatrist, surgeon, and pioneer in the fields of organ transplantation and addiction treatment.[1][2] He was part of a team of surgeons who performed the world's first kidney transplant in 1950.[3] West practiced as a surgeon from 1948 to 1981.[1] He then focused on psychiatry during his later career.[1][3] He co-founded the Betty Ford Center in Rancho Mirage, California, in 1982.[3] West served as the founding medical director of the Betty Ford Center from 1982 until 1989.[1][3]

West was born in Chicago, Illinois, on March 29, 1914.[1] He was the oldest of his parents' four children.[1] West attending a Wisconsin boarding school run by the Jesuits, where he decided to become a doctor as a high school sophomore.[1] West graduated from the Stritch School of Medicine at Loyola University Chicago.[3] Another student as Loyola Chicago first gave him amphetamines and he became an alcoholic as an undergraduate student.[1]

He was a member of the surgical team, led by Richard Lawler, who carried out the world's first kidney transplant in 1950 at the Little Company of Mary Hospital in Evergreen Park, Illinois.[1][3] The surgery was performed on a 44-year-old female patient who suffered from polycystic kidney disease.[3] He practiced surgery from 1942 until 1981.[1]

A recovering alcoholic, West successfully remained sober for 54 years, from the late 1950s until his death in 2012.[3] West carried a sobriety chip in his pocket everyday during all of those years.[3] He gave up surgery after forty years to specialize and study psychiatry, specifically focusing on substance abuse and related issues.[3]

He taught at Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center, now called the Rush University Medical Center, as an assistant professor. He also taught psychiatry at the University of Chicago.[3] West also founded Haymarket Center, a detox center located in Chicago, in 1975.[3]

West joined with former First Lady of the United States Betty Ford to help launch the Betty Ford Center.[3] The facility opened on October 4, 1982.[1] He served as the Center's first medical director from 1982 until 1989.[3] West mandated that physicians served as full members of the center's treatment teams.[1]

In 1989, West became the director of the Betty Ford Center's outpatient programs.[3] He remained with the Betty Ford Center until 2007, when he retired at 93 years old.[3]

West also contributed a weekly column called "Sober Days" to The Desert Sun, addressing questions about alcoholism and alcohol abuse sent in by newspaper readers. His last column was published on July 26, 2012.[3]

His health began to decline in April 2012. James West died at his home in Palm Desert, California, on July 24, 2012, at the age of 98.[1][3] His memorial service was held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Palm Desert.[3]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Nelson, Valerie J. (2012-08-04). "Pioneer in surgery, addiction treatment". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2012-08-20.
  2. ↑ Yardley, William (2012-08-08). "Dr. James West, a Pioneer in Addiction Study and Care, Dies at 98". New York Times. Retrieved 2012-08-20.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Brambila, Nicole C. (2012-08-01). "Kidney transplant pioneer James West dies in Palm Desert". The Desert Sun. Retrieved 2012-08-20.
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