In recognition of these and other achievements he was knighted in 1971 further confirming a national prominence comparable to that achieved by René Favaloro in Argentina and Christiaan Barnard in South Africa.
Since he was a heart surgeon and great friend and admirer of Dr. Christiaan Barnard, he became the first Spaniard to perform a heart transplant in September 1968.
He was first seen by Dr. Barry Kaplan, who in July 1966 had asked if Mr Christiaan Barnard would be willing to attend Washkansky.
alongside future fellow transplantation pioneer Christiaan Barnard, and was awarded a surgical doctorate in 1956.
Barnard College | Barnard's Star | Barnard Castle | Christiaan Huygens | Christiaan Barnard | Lance Barnard | Henry Barnard | John G. Barnard | George Grey Barnard | Christiaan Eijkman | Barnard Elliott Bee, Jr. | Barnard | Steve Barnard | Robert Barnard | Johannes Christiaan Schotel | Frederick Barnard | Francis Stillman Barnard | Edward George Barnard | Barnard Flower | Barnard 68 | William Barnard Rhodes-Moorhouse | Walter Barnard Hill | ''Prison Interior''. 42.9cm x 31.7cm, Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle | Mike Barnard | Mary Barnard | Lady Anne Barnard | Keppel Harcourt Barnard | John Barnard | George G. Barnard | Frederick Augustus Porter Barnard |
A dedicated educator, Lillehei trained more than 150 cardiac surgeons from 40 nations, including Norman Shumway and Christiaan Barnard, who formed half of the quartet which pioneered heart transplantation (the others being Richard Lower and Adrian Kantrowitz).