Vivien Thomas
A surgical technician who developed the procedures used to treat blue baby syndrome, despite lacking formal medical education.
Most quoted
"Death is a part of life, but our efforts can sometimes postpone its arrival and improve the quality of the time given."
— from Reflections
"In the face of adversity, one must find strength not only within oneself, but also in the purpose of their work."
— from Reflections
"We are all connected, and the suffering of one affects us all. Therefore, the healing of one benefits us all."
— from Speech
All quotes by Vivien Thomas (405)
You don't have to be a doctor to save a life.
The greatest satisfaction comes from knowing you've made a difference.
Prejudice is a disease, and it's curable.
I learned by doing, not by reading.
The operating room is no place for ego.
Sometimes, the best solutions come from the most unexpected places.
I never let what I couldn't do interfere with what I could do.
The heart doesn't care about your skin color.
My education was in the lab, not in a classroom.
We were doing things no one thought possible.
The biggest challenge was not the surgery, but the skepticism.
I just wanted to fix what was broken.
My work spoke for itself.
You have to be willing to take risks to make progress.
The greatest teachers are often those who don't have a degree.
I saw no difference between myself and the doctors, except for the title.
The pursuit of knowledge knows no boundaries.
My laboratory was my university.
We were not just operating on hearts, we were operating on hope.
The best way to predict the future is to create it.
Contemporaries of Vivien Thomas
Other Medicines born within 50 years of Vivien Thomas (1910–1985).