--- title: The 1950s image: https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/hubfs/CC%20Magazine/Centennial/1950s/Decade%20Page/1950-Social.jpg --- [![Cleveland Clinic Magazine - Giving Does Good | Centennial](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/hs-fs/hubfs/CC%20Magazine%20Template%20Assets/img/logo-cc-magazine-centennial-mb-inverse.png?noresize&width=224&height=38&name=logo-cc-magazine-centennial-mb-inverse.png) ![Cleveland Clinic Magazine - Giving Does Good | Centennial](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/hs-fs/hubfs/CC%20Magazine%20Template%20Assets/img/logo-cc-magazine-centennial-inverse.png?noresize&width=552&height=65&name=logo-cc-magazine-centennial-inverse.png)](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/2021-centennial?hsLang=en) [Donate](https://give.ccf.org/CCMAG) # The 1950s ![Willem Kolff, MD, PhD, holding a can](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/hubfs/CC%20Magazine/Centennial/1950s/Decade%20Page/1950.jpg) Enlarge 1950 Willem Kolff, MD, PhD, joins Cleveland Clinic, where he establishes a **dialysis program** and develops... Willem Kolff, MD, PhD, joins Cleveland Clinic, where he establishes a **dialysis program** and develops a **membrane oxygenator for bypass surgery** as well as the **first artificial heart.** Read More 1951 George Phalen, MD, creates a **diagnostic test for carpal tunnel syndrome.** George Phalen, MD, creates a **diagnostic test for carpal tunnel syndrome.** ![New hospital building](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/hubfs/CC%20Magazine/Centennial/1950s/Decade%20Page/1954.jpg) Enlarge 1954 A **new hospital wing** doubles the number of beds. A **new hospital wing** doubles the number of beds. ![a group of medical professionals around a table looking at a book](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/hubfs/CC%20Magazine/Centennial/1950s/Decade%20Page/1955-1.jpg) Enlarge 1955 The **Board of Governors,** composed of elected physicians and scientists, ushers in a new era of... The **Board of Governors,** composed of elected physicians and scientists, ushers in a new era of leadership. Pictured (from left) are James Gardner, MD; E. Perry McCullagh, MD; Walter J. Zeiter, MD; Irvine Page, MD; Fay LeFevre, MD; George “Barney” Crile Jr., MD; A. Carlton Ernstene, MD; and William Engel, MD. Dr. LeFevre serves as Chairman from 1955 to 1968. Read More ![full-color image of a surgical room](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/hubfs/CC%20Magazine/Centennial/1950s/Decade%20Page/1955-2.jpg) Enlarge 1955 A **new surgical pavilion** opens on the second floor of the hospital, including 21 operating rooms and... A **new surgical pavilion** opens on the second floor of the hospital, including 21 operating rooms and one large setup room. Read More ![Image of a red book with Cancer printed on the cover in white](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/hubfs/CC%20Magazine/Centennial/1950s/Decade%20Page/1955-3.jpg) Enlarge 1955 Dr. Crile, who pioneers alternatives to radical mastectomy for treating breast cancer, publishes *...* Dr. Crile, who pioneers alternatives to radical mastectomy for treating breast cancer, publishes *Cancer and Common Sense*. The book makes a case for **conservative treatments for cancer.** Read More ![Surgical team](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/hubfs/CC%20Magazine/Centennial/1950s/Decade%20Page/1956.jpg) Enlarge 1956 Cleveland Clinic performs its first **stopped-heart surgery.** Pictured: the surgical team. Cleveland Clinic performs its first **stopped-heart surgery.** Pictured: the surgical team. 1957 Cleveland Clinic researchers synthesize **angiotensin II**, a hormone that regulates blood pressure,... Cleveland Clinic researchers synthesize **angiotensin II**, a hormone that regulates blood pressure, leading to the development of hypertension drugs. Read More ![F. Mason Sones, MD using a cine-coronary angiography](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/hubfs/CC%20Magazine/Centennial/1950s/Decade%20Page/1958.jpg) Enlarge 1958 F. Mason Sones, MD, pioneers **moving cine coronary angiography,** a method for viewing the heart and... F. Mason Sones, MD, pioneers **moving cine coronary angiography,** a method for viewing the heart and its vessels.  Read More ![Irvine Page, MD and Helen Brown, PhD talking at a lab table.](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/hubfs/CC%20Magazine/Centennial/1950s/Decade%20Page/1958-2.jpg) Enlarge 1958 Irvine Page, MD, and Helen Brown, PhD, demonstrate the **relationship between animal fats and...** Irvine Page, MD, and Helen Brown, PhD, demonstrate the **relationship between animal fats and cardiovascular disease.** Read More Previous Next Scroll down for additional stories Scroll down ### [![Dr. Fay LeFevre wearing a medical coat, a dress shirt and stripped tie, looking out of frame](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/hs-fs/hubfs/CC%20Magazine/Centennial/1950s/Everyones%20Father%20Figure/Centennial-FatherFigure-LargeThumbnail.jpg?width=610&height=316&name=Centennial-FatherFigure-LargeThumbnail.jpg) THE 1950s ‘Everyone’s Father Figure’](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/2021-centennial/everyones-father-figure?hsLang=en) ### [![black and white image of multiple doctors in a surgery wearing surgical scrubs](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/hs-fs/hubfs/CC%20Magazine/Centennial/1950s/A%20Real%20Heart%20Stopper/Centennial-RealHeartStopper-LargeThumbnail.jpg?width=610&height=316&name=Centennial-RealHeartStopper-LargeThumbnail.jpg) ![black and white image of multiple doctors in a surgery wearing surgical scrubs](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/hs-fs/hubfs/CC%20Magazine/Centennial/1950s/A%20Real%20Heart%20Stopper/Centennial-RealHeartStopper-MediumThumbnail.jpg?width=360&height=316&name=Centennial-RealHeartStopper-MediumThumbnail.jpg) THE 1950s A Real Heart-Stopper](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/2021-centennial/a-real-heart-stopper?hsLang=en) ### [![Helen Brown, PhD standing in a grocery store, holding two packages of red meat, looking out of frame](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/hs-fs/hubfs/CC%20Magazine/Centennial/1950s/The%20Diet%20Heart%20Connection/Centennial-DietHeart-LargeThumbnail.jpg?width=610&height=316&name=Centennial-DietHeart-LargeThumbnail.jpg) ![Helen Brown, PhD standing in a grocery store, holding two packages of red meat, looking out of frame](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/hs-fs/hubfs/CC%20Magazine/Centennial/1950s/The%20Diet%20Heart%20Connection/Centennial-DietHeart-MediumThumbnail.jpg?width=360&height=316&name=Centennial-DietHeart-MediumThumbnail.jpg) THE 1950s The Diet-Heart Connection](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/2021-centennial/the-diet-heart-connection?hsLang=en) ### [![Dr. F. Mason Sones sitting at a desk with his hand on his chin, looking out of frame.](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/hs-fs/hubfs/CC%20Magazine/Centennial/1950s/Dye%20Catheter%20Action/Centennial-DyeCatheterAction-LargeThumbnail.jpg?width=610&height=316&name=Centennial-DyeCatheterAction-LargeThumbnail.jpg) THE 1950s Dye! Catheter! Action!](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/2021-centennial/dye-catheter-action?hsLang=en) ### [![black and white image of an older man and a younger man looking at medical equipment](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/hs-fs/hubfs/CC%20Magazine/Centennial/1950s/Artificial%20Intelligence/Centennial-ArtificialIntelligence-LargeThumbnail.jpg?width=610&height=316&name=Centennial-ArtificialIntelligence-LargeThumbnail.jpg) THE 1950s Artificial Intelligence](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/2021-centennial/artificial-intelligence?hsLang=en) ### [![Image of 4 woman with telephones to their ears, sitting at desks](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/hs-fs/hubfs/CC%20Magazine/Centennial/1950s/For%20Whom%20the%20Phones%20Toll/Centennial-PhonesToll-LargeThumbail.jpg?width=610&height=316&name=Centennial-PhonesToll-LargeThumbail.jpg) ![Image of 4 woman with telephones to their ears, sitting at desks](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/hs-fs/hubfs/CC%20Magazine/Centennial/1950s/For%20Whom%20the%20Phones%20Toll/Centennial-PhonesToll-MediumThumbail.jpg?width=360&height=316&name=Centennial-PhonesToll-MediumThumbail.jpg) THE 1950s For Whom the Phones Toll](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/2021-centennial/for-whom-the-phones-toll?hsLang=en) ### [![image of multiple women wearing white lab coats, working in a laboratory, analyzing blood.](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/hs-fs/hubfs/CC%20Magazine/Centennial/1950s/Lab%20Work/Centennial-LabWork-LargeThumbnail.jpg?width=610&height=316&name=Centennial-LabWork-LargeThumbnail.jpg) ![image of multiple women wearing white lab coats, working in a laboratory, analyzing blood.](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/hs-fs/hubfs/CC%20Magazine/Centennial/1950s/Lab%20Work/Centennial-LabWork-MediumThumbnail.jpg?width=360&height=316&name=Centennial-LabWork-MediumThumbnail.jpg) THE 1950s Lab Work](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/2021-centennial/lab-work?hsLang=en) ## Explore the Decades ### [![Polaroid of forest](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/hs-fs/hubfs/CC%20Magazine/Centennial/Origins/War%20Story/Centennial-WarStory-SmallThumbnail.jpg?width=242&height=214&name=Centennial-WarStory-SmallThumbnail.jpg) Origins](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/2021-centennial/origins?hsLang=en) ### [![Cleveland Clinic Building](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/hs-fs/hubfs/CC%20Magazine/Centennial/1920s/Decade%20Page/1920-Small.jpg?width=242&height=214&name=1920-Small.jpg) The 1920s](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/2021-centennial/1920s?hsLang=en) ### [![Clinic Building](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/hs-fs/hubfs/CC%20Magazine/Centennial/1930s/Decade%20Page/1930-Small.jpg?width=242&height=214&name=1930-Small.jpg) The 1930s](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/2021-centennial/1930s?hsLang=en) ### [![George Crile Sr.](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/hs-fs/hubfs/CC%20Magazine/Centennial/1940s/Decade%20Page/1940-Small.jpg?width=242&height=214&name=1940-Small.jpg) The 1940s](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/2021-centennial/1940s?hsLang=en) ### [![Willem Kolff, MD, PhD, holding a can](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/hs-fs/hubfs/CC%20Magazine/Centennial/1950s/Decade%20Page/1950-Small.jpg?width=242&height=214&name=1950-Small.jpg) The 1950s](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/2021-centennial/1950s) ### [![Dr. Rupert Turnball, MD with 3 women](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/hs-fs/hubfs/CC%20Magazine/Centennial/1960s/Decade%20Page/1960-Small.jpg?width=242&height=214&name=1960-Small.jpg) The 1960s](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/2021-centennial/1960s?hsLang=en) ### [![Floyd Loop, MD](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/hs-fs/hubfs/CC%20Magazine/Centennial/1970s/Decade%20Page/1970-Small.jpg?width=242&height=214&name=1970-Small.jpg) The 1970s](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/2021-centennial/1970s?hsLang=en) ### [![Joseph Hahn, MD operating on a patient](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/hs-fs/hubfs/CC%20Magazine/Centennial/1980s/Decade%20Page/1980-Small.jpg?width=242&height=214&name=1980-Small.jpg) The 1980s](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/2021-centennial/1980s?hsLang=en) ### [![Sherwin building](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/hs-fs/hubfs/CC%20Magazine/Centennial/1990s/Decade%20Page/1990-Small.jpg?width=242&height=214&name=1990-Small.jpg) The 1990s](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/2021-centennial/1990s?hsLang=en) ### [![Taussig Cancer Institute](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/hs-fs/hubfs/CC%20Magazine/Centennial/2000s/Decade/2000-Small.jpg?width=242&height=214&name=2000-Small.jpg) The 2000s](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/2021-centennial/2000s?hsLang=en) ### [![Stewart Kohl and Larry Pollock](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/hs-fs/hubfs/CC%20Magazine/Centennial/2010s/Decade%20Page/2010-Small.jpg?width=242&height=214&name=2010-Small.jpg) The 2010s](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/2021-centennial/2010s?hsLang=en) ### [![Lara K. Kalafatis](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/hs-fs/hubfs/CC%20Magazine/Centennial/Top%20Stories/Letter%20from%20Lara/Centennial-Lara-SmallThumbnail.jpg?width=242&height=214&name=Centennial-Lara-SmallThumbnail.jpg) Top Stories](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/2021-centennial/top-stories?hsLang=en) - [Archive](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/archive?hsLang=en) - [Contact](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/2021-centennial/contact-us?hsLang=en) - [Subscribe](https://donate.clevelandclinic.org/sign-up?hsLang=en) - [Purchase](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/2021-centennial/get-your-copy-today?hsLang=en) [Donate](https://give.ccf.org/CCMAG) [![Cleveland Clinic](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/hs-fs/hubfs/CC%20Magazine%20Template%20Assets/img/logo-cc.png?width=300&name=logo-cc.png "Cleveland Clinic")](https://my.clevelandclinic.org/) © 2026 Cleveland Clinic. All rights reserved. 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