Julius H. Jacobson, MD, FACS, a legend in the field of vascular surgery and a longtime proponent of rewarding innovation in surgery at the ACS, passed away December 4 at age 95.
After serving in the US Navy during World War II, he was initially rejected by 23 medical schools and chose to work in the research lab at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.
He later reapplied, completing his medical degree at The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore, MD, and his residency at Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital in New York, NY. Dr. Jacobson subsequently practiced vascular surgery for 54 years at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, NY, where he served as chief of vascular surgery for 35 years before his retirement in 2018.
Among his greatest contributions to surgery was the creation and evolution of vascular microsurgery, which started from his research in cell microbiology at the University of Pennsylvania—something that may not have happened had he been accepted to medical school the first time he applied.
Microsurgery had previously been used on other bodily structures, but Dr. Jacobson believed that operating on the smallest vascular structures would require improved magnification and visualization of the operative field. While serving as associate professor and director of surgical research at the University of Vermont in Burlington, Dr. Jacobson adopted operative microscopes from otolaryngologist colleagues to anastomose arteries with a 100% success rate. In 1962, Dr. Jacobson and colleagues applied his microsurgical techniques on humans for the first time, performing a middle cerebral artery embolectomy.
Afterwards, Dr. Jacobson worked with partners to build the diploscope—a two-person surgical microscope. This tool allowed surgeons to create effective treatments for “blue babies,” severed limbs, and other conditions. The first diploscope currently resides in the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History in Washington, DC.
Dr. Jacobson played a key part in creating or adapting instruments and techniques for the field, including working with industry to create miniature suture materials, adapting vascular clamps for microsurgery, and more. These breakthroughs fostered advances in several areas of surgery such as cardiac bypass, organ transplant, neurosurgery, skin grafting, and plastic surgery.
Recognizing Innovation at the ACS
Later in his career, Dr. Jacobson and his wife, Joan, became dedicated to helping surgeons innovate for improving patient care and outcomes. From this philanthropic spirit came both the ACS Jacobson Innovation Award and the ACS Jacobson Promising Investigator Award (JPIA).
The prestigious Jacobson Innovation Award honors living surgeons who have been innovators of a transformative development or technique in any field of surgery; it has been presented to 28 surgeons to date. Regent Anthony Atala, MD, FACS, an innovator in regenerative medicine and urology, received the latest award in June. See a complete list of recipients.
The JPIA recognizes outstanding surgeons who are engaged in research to advance the art and science of surgery and who demonstrate early promise of significant contribution to the practice of surgery and the safety of surgical patients. Idelberto Raul Badell, MD, received the 2022 award for his research focusing on transplantation immunology and clinical kidney transplantation.
The ACS will share more on Dr. Jacobson’s life and career in an upcoming issue of the Bulletin.
