Dr. Michael Deeb joined the Department of Surgery 36 years ago. During this time, Dr. Deeb created the renaissance of the heart transplant program, initiated lung transplantation and made possible the heart/lung transplant program. As a part of the heart transplant program, the team he led implanted the first total artificial hearts. All these efforts made possible the evolution of the Center for Circulatory Support, the expanded heart transplant program, the LVAD program and the lung transplant program. Dr. Deeb is the epitome of the clinician-educator. He has taught a generation of cardiac surgeons the approaches to complex cardiac disease while advancing the U-M specialty in each one of these arenas. One colleague says, As is his nature, he exemplifies total commitment to patient care both inside and outside the operating rooms and sets the example for all our residents. his broad abilities and confidence allow him to advance residents' exposure in these challenging cases. In fact, throughout his career, Dr. Deeb has been an incredible role model to residents, other surgical faculty and nurses alike. With the growth of these programs, Dr. Deeb advanced U-M's operative approach to complex aortic disease involving the aortic valve and the aorta.