--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Of the many 'firsts' with which I have…" description: "\"Of the many 'firsts' with which I have been involved at the Texas Heart Institute —including the first successful human heart transplant in the United ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddc/denton-cooley-33225_achievement_of-the-many-firsts-with-which-i-have-bee_356774.jpg" --- # Of the many 'firsts' with which I have been involved at… ![“Of the many 'firsts' with which I have been involved at the Texas Heart Institute —including the first successful human heart transplant in the United States and the first total artificial heart transplant in the world—the achievement that may have the greatest impact on health care did not occur…” quote by Denton Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddc/denton-cooley-33225_achievement_of-the-many-firsts-with-which-i-have-bee_356774.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddc/denton-cooley-33225_achievement_of-the-many-firsts-with-which-i-have-bee_356774.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddc/denton-cooley-33225_achievement_of-the-many-firsts-with-which-i-have-bee_356774.jpg) > “Of the many 'firsts' with which I have been involved at the Texas Heart Institute —including the first successful human heart transplant in the United States and the first total artificial heart transplant in the world—the achievement that may have the greatest impact on health care did not occur in the operating room or in the research laboratory. It happened on a piece of paper... when we created the first-ever packaged pricing plan for cardiovascular surgical procedures.” [Denton Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denton-cooley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Impactful health advances often arise from administrative innovations, not just clinical breakthroughs. **In simple terms:** Admin work can change health care. Key Takeaway Value strategic planning in medicine. Themes innovation healthcare administration Mood reflective pragmatic Type historical strategic When to use this quote - hospital budgeting - insurance negotiations - pricing strategy Key Concepts systems thinking economics policy Questions to Reflect On - What non‑clinical changes could improve patient outcomes? - How can clinicians influence policy? A Different Perspective Administrative changes may face resistance from clinicians. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Achievement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achievement/) [Care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/care/) [Health care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health-care/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Heart transplant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart-transplant/) [Human heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-heart/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Impact](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impact/) [Laboratory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laboratory/) [Operating room](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/operating-room/) [Research](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/research/) [Successful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successful/) [Texas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/texas/) [United states](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united-states/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [So much goes into doing a transplant operation. All the way from preparing the patient, to procuring the donor. It's like being an astronaut.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denton-cooley/so-much-goes-into-doing-a-transplant-operation-all-the-way-from/) [Denton Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denton-cooley/) > [“A brick could be used in a heart transplant operation. And for just $25,000 more dollars, that brick could be switched with a real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/a-brick-could-be-used-in-a-heart-transplant-operation-and-for-just-25/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [The artificial heart is very effective as a bridge to transplant, but the number of people that can be saved with human hearts is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jarvik/the-artificial-heart-is-very-effective-as-a-bridge-to-transplant-but/) [Robert Jarvik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jarvik/) > [I am overjoyed that I do not need a heart transplant at this time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lech-walesa/i-am-overjoyed-that-i-do-not-need-a-heart-transplant-at-this-time/) [Lech Walesa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lech-walesa/) > [A few years ago he had a big heart transplant in Chicago, a five-hour operation. It took the doctors four hours to get him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-hope/a-few-years-ago-he-had-a-big-heart-transplant-in-chicago-a-five-hour/) [Bob Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-hope/) > [An Israeli man's life was saved when he was given a Palestinian man's heart in a heart transplant operation. The guy is doing fine,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/an-israeli-man-s-life-was-saved-when-he-was-given-a-palestinian-man-s/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [In the Lord's Prayer, Jesus offers more than God's personal email or private cell number - He offers us a heart transplant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hart/in-the-lord-s-prayer-jesus-offers-more-than-god-s-personal-email-or/) [Mark Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hart/) > [You only have to bat 1.000 in two things-flying and heart transplants. Everything else, you can go four in five.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beano-cook/you-only-have-to-bat-1-000-in-two-things-flying-and-heart-transplants/) [Beano Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beano-cook/) > [I had a 23 per cent blockage in my micro-arteries. At first the doctors thought I needed a heart transplant, then they said I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-braxton/i-had-a-23-per-cent-blockage-in-my-micro-arteries-at-first-the/) [Toni Braxton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-braxton/) > [ For a dying man it is not a difficult decision \[to agree to become the world's first heart transplant\] ... because he knows he… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christiaan-barnard/for-a-dying-man-it-is-not-a-difficult-decision-to-agree-to-become-the/) [Christiaan Barnard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christiaan-barnard/) > [The benefits of medical research are real - but so are the potential horrors of genetic engineering and embryo manipulation. We devise heart transplants,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-ryle/the-benefits-of-medical-research-are-real-but-so-are-the-potential/) [Martin Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-ryle/) > [I was scared that no one would hire me. At that time, there was still a stigma attached to it. A big stigma. Actually,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-altman/i-was-scared-that-no-one-would-hire-me-at-that-time-there-was-still-a/) [Robert Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-altman/) > [The idea of a spiritual heart transplant is a vivid image to me; once you have the heart of somebody else inside you, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/the-idea-of-a-spiritual-heart-transplant-is-a-vivid-image-to-me-once/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [Here's the thing: If you're so far left you actually believe that somebody owes you a job, citizenship and a heart transplant, you're mentally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-titus/here-s-the-thing-if-you-re-so-far-left-you-actually-believe-that/) [Christopher Titus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-titus/) > [The Wright brothers' first flight was shorter than a Boeing 747's wing span. We've just begun with heart transplants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-walton-lillehei/the-wright-brothers-first-flight-was-shorter-than-a-boeing-747-s-wing/) C. Walton Lillehei ## More by Denton Cooley > [I think confidence is something you build gradually, with experience. I've always felt that maybe one of the reasons that I did well as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denton-cooley/i-think-confidence-is-something-you-build-gradually-with-experience-i/) [Denton Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denton-cooley/) > [Get a scalpel, and practice just, say, cutting a piece of meat or something like that. You sort of learn how you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denton-cooley/get-a-scalpel-and-practice-just-say-cutting-a-piece-of-meat-or/) [Denton Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denton-cooley/) > [I think work is a privilege. ... It keeps you alive, spiritually.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denton-cooley/i-think-work-is-a-privilege-it-keeps-you-alive-spiritually/) [Denton Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denton-cooley/) > [I've always thought that my exposure to competitive sports helped me a great deal in the operating room. It teaches you endurance, and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denton-cooley/i-ve-always-thought-that-my-exposure-to-competitive-sports-helped-me/) [Denton Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denton-cooley/) > [The spirit of Texas seems to pervade our everyday existence. Our desire is to be superlative, not only the largest, but also the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denton-cooley/the-spirit-of-texas-seems-to-pervade-our-everyday-existence-our/) [Denton Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denton-cooley/) > [The man who inspired me most, I think, was Dr. Alfred Blalock, who was professor of surgery at Johns Hopkins. He was a rather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denton-cooley/the-man-who-inspired-me-most-i-think-was-dr-alfred-blalock-who-was/) [Denton Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denton-cooley/) > [I've always felt that maybe one of the reasons that I did well as a student and made such good grades was because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denton-cooley/i-ve-always-felt-that-maybe-one-of-the-reasons-that-i-did-well-as-a/) [Denton Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denton-cooley/) > [ \[The heart is\] really a fascinating organ. It's about the only organ in the body that you can really witness its function. Doing things.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denton-cooley/the-heart-is-really-a-fascinating-organ-it-s-about-the-only-organ-in/) [Denton Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denton-cooley/) > [So much goes into doing a transplant operation. All the way from preparing the patient, to procuring the donor. It's like being an astronaut.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denton-cooley/so-much-goes-into-doing-a-transplant-operation-all-the-way-from/) [Denton Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denton-cooley/) > [I find I'm luckier when I work harder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denton-cooley/i-find-i-m-luckier-when-i-work-harder/) [Denton Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denton-cooley/) > [I've always felt that I did well as a student because I lacked confidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denton-cooley/i-ve-always-felt-that-i-did-well-as-a-student-because-i-lacked/) [Denton Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denton-cooley/) > [I still take failure very seriously, but I've found that the only way I could overcome the feeling is to keep on working, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denton-cooley/i-still-take-failure-very-seriously-but-i-ve-found-that-the-only-way/) [Denton Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denton-cooley/) > [A successful surgeon should be a man who, when asked to name the three best surgeons in the world, would have difficulty deciding on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denton-cooley/a-successful-surgeon-should-be-a-man-who-when-asked-to-name-the-three/) [Denton Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denton-cooley/) > [I've always felt that maybe one of the reasons that I did well as a student and made such good grades was because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denton-cooley/i-ve-always-felt-that-maybe-one-of-the-reasons-that-i-did-well-as-a-2/) [Denton Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denton-cooley/) [Explore all 15 Denton Cooley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denton-cooley/) ## More Achievement quotes > [You, of Canada, are building a magnificent record of achievement. My country rejoices in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/you-of-canada-are-building-a-magnificent-record-of-achievement-my/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [“If attempting to make the world a civilized one, makes you a bad woman in the eyes of the dumb patriarchal society, then, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/if-attempting-to-make-the-world-a-civilized-one-makes-you-a-bad-woman/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [One achieves true human dignity only when one serves. Only he is great who subjects himself to taking part in the achievement of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-antonio-primo-de-rivera/one-achieves-true-human-dignity-only-when-one-serves-only-he-is-great/) Jose Antonio Primo de Rivera > [Needs cause motivation. Deep-rooted desires for esteem, affection, belonging, achievement, self-actualization, power, and control motivate us to push for what we want and need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorii-myers/needs-cause-motivation-deep-rooted-desires-for-esteem-affection/) [Lorii Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorii-myers/) > [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [It's tragic what America has become because there is a great segment of society that now resents luxury and success and achievement by others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-leach/it-s-tragic-what-america-has-become-because-there-is-a-great-segment/) [Robin Leach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-leach/) > [To preserve an unclouded capacity for the enjoyment of life is an unusual moral and psychological achievement. Contrary to popular belief, it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/to-preserve-an-unclouded-capacity-for-the-enjoyment-of-life-is-an/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [Joel Lane documents a life we don’t quite live, in a city we can’t quite find: half glimpsed and half imagined, we know it’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chaz-brenchley/joel-lane-documents-a-life-we-don-t-quite-live-in-a-city-we-can-t/) Chaz Brenchley > [The main substantive achievement of neoliberalism has been to redistribute rather than to generate wealth and income.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-harvey/the-main-substantive-achievement-of-neoliberalism-has-been-to/) [David Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-harvey/) > [Every profession has an ideology and a drive for power that goes far beyond its achievements and it is the task of democracy to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feyerabend/every-profession-has-an-ideology-and-a-drive-for-power-that-goes-far/) [Paul Feyerabend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feyerabend/) > [We have Internet now and people are not stupid. But it seems that some people are trying to push the same agenda of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bassem-youssef/we-have-internet-now-and-people-are-not-stupid-but-it-seems-that-some/) [Bassem Youssef](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bassem-youssef/) > [“If you find a way where there seems to be no way, that’s what we call miracle, not personal achievement.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nkwachukwu-ogbuagu/if-you-find-a-way-where-there-seems-to-be-no-way-that-s-what-we-call/) [Nkwachukwu Ogbuagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nkwachukwu-ogbuagu/) > [The Baseball Hall of Fame is something every player dreams about, but being a member of God's Hall of Fame is the greatest achievement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-carter/the-baseball-hall-of-fame-is-something-every-player-dreams-about-but/) [Gary Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-carter/) > [Cease speaking of enemies when an achievement can kindle a great light. Solitude will transmit the message better than the murmurs of crowds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-roerich/cease-speaking-of-enemies-when-an-achievement-can-kindle-a-great/) Nicholas Roerich > [Every scene is a challenge. There are technical challenges, but often it's the simplest challenge where you feel a sense of achievement when you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-deakins/every-scene-is-a-challenge-there-are-technical-challenges-but-often/) [Roger Deakins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-deakins/) [Browse all 3,867 Achievement quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achievement/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Of the many 'firsts' with which I have been involved at the Texas Heart Institute —including the first successful human heart transplant in the United States and the first total artificial heart transplant in the world—the achievement that may have the greatest impact on health care did not occur in the operating room or in the research laboratory. 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