Doctor Terry Dean King, M.D.
Pediatric Cardiologist and Senior Physician, Ochsner Children’s Hospital, Louisiana,
United States of America
Dr. Terry Dean King is a distinguished physician and scientist specializing in cardiology. He received a medical degree from the University of Texas, USA, and completed his internship and residency in Pediatrics at Duke University, USA. He subsequently undertook fellowship training in pediatric cardiology and has since been practicing as a Senior Staff Physician at the Ochsner Children’s Hospital in West Monroe, Louisiana, USA. Dr. King developed a profound interest in minimally invasive treatments, particularly in non-surgical approaches to correct heart defects. His research and clinical experience have laid a foundation for advancing safer, more effective cardiac treatment.
In 1975, Dr. King and his team successfully performed the first non-surgical closure of an atrial septal defect (ASD), using a newly developed small umbrella-shaped device, later known as the King–Mills Cardiac Umbrella. This innovation represented a groundbreaking step in cardiac care, allowing the repair of heart defects without open-chest surgery by inserting the device through a venous catheter. The device significantly reduced the need for major surgery, shortened hospital stays, minimized complications, and allowed faster patient recovery. This achievement marked a major milestone in the history of cardiology, bridging the gap between engineering innovation and clinical application. It laid the groundwork for the development of minimally invasive cardiac technologies. Moreover, Dr. King was also a pioneer in knowledge-transfer and promoting equitable access to advanced cardiac care technologies in low- and middle-income countries.
His outstanding achievements in pioneering medical innovations and advancing the quality of life for patients with congenital heart diseases worldwide through the development of minimally invasive treatment technologies have benefited the health and well-being of hundreds of millions of people around the globe.