Dr. Alan Dean Hilgenberg, age 64 of Boston, MA, Professor of Surgery at Harvard Medical School, cardiothoracic surgeon and co-director of the Thoracic-aortic Center at the Massachusetts General Hospital, died December 25th, 2008 of pancreatic cancer. Survived by his loving mother Ruth, devoted wife Dr. Anne Kolker, adoring children Mark, Matthew, Kate, Sarah, James Priest, wonderful grandson Bennett, and first wife, Joanna.
*******************************************************************************
Dr. Alan Dean Hilgenberg was an accomplished cardiac surgeon at Massachusetts General Hospital when he developed a keen interest in the surgical treatment of aneurysms of the thoracic aorta.
He began to focus his practice on the challenging procedure, and with his expertise and the collaboration of colleagues from the hospital's cardiology and vascular surgery departments, in 1999 cofounded and became co-director of the hospital's Thoracic Aortic Center.
"Very often, local doctors are very insecure about this surgery and the follow-up because it requires very focused care," said Dr. Cary Akins, a cardiac surgeon at MGH and a longtime friend. "The results were superb. He really devoted himself to it."
Dr. Hilgenberg, who in the last 10 years had become nationally recognized in thoracic aortic surgery, died Dec. 25 of pancreatic cancer at MGH. The Boston resident was 64.
Dr. Hilgenberg was born Sept. 29, 1944, in Parkston, S.D., to German Lutheran parents who loved music; his father was a music director and his mother, a church organist. They passed the passion on to their only child.He attended the University of South Dakota, but after three years left to enter the University of Michigan Medical School. He graduated with honors in 1969.
After graduating, Dr. Hilgenberg became a surgical intern at MGH, where a year later he met Akins, who was beginning his own surgical residency. With their Midwestern heritage and age in common, the young doctors bonded.
In 1971, Dr. Hilgenberg interrupted his residency to serve as a major in the Army Medical Corps at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. He returned to MGH in 1973 and completed his residency in 1976.
He spent four years as a thoracic surgeon in a cardiac and thoracic surgery group practice in Denver before being recruited back to MGH in 1981 to do general thoracic surgery. To maintain his skills in cardiac surgery, Dr. Hilgenberg took leadership of MGH's satellite practice at Mount Auburn Hospital in Cambridge, where he was named chief of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery in 1983.
Gradually, Dr. Hilgenberg withdrew from general thoracic surgery, and in 1996 he became a full-time cardiac surgeon at MGH.As a surgeon, Dr. Hilgenberg "combined native intelligence, excellent technical facility, a continuing desire to learn, mature clinical judgment, and meticulous surgical technique with true compassion for his patients, and an exemplary work ethic," Akins said. In his time at the Thoracic Aortic Center, he also taught residents the techniques of thoracic aortic aneurysm surgery.
In 2002, Dr. Hilgenberg married Dr. Anne Kolker, whom he met during the mid-1980s, when she was an anesthesia resident, before she was an attending physician in thoracic anesthesia at MGH. Kolker had moved to New York City to work at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Hospital in 1986, and the pair had fallen out of touch. After Dr. Hilgenberg's first marriage, to Joanna L. of Belmont, ended in the early 1990s, he contacted Kolker through a Christmas card, she said.
The card arrived about a month late, and by the time Kolker called, Dr. Hilgenberg had given up thinking he would hear from her.
The couple dated for about a decade before marrying. Throughout their relationship, they maintained their careers in Boston and New York, and spent weekends together in Boston, Connecticut, or New York, or sailing a boat they maintained in Buzzards Bay. Dr. Hilgenberg also was an avid cook and impressive connoisseur of wine, as well as a music lover, interests that were taken up by his sons, Mark, of Paso Robles, Calif., who is a vintner, and Matthew, a professional musician in New York City. His daughter, Dr. Sarah Hilgenberg of Seattle, is a recent graduate of Stanford Medical School.
The career choices of his children left him "as pleased as punch," according to his son-in-law, Dr. James Priest of Seattle.
On the weekend of his birthday, Dr. Hilgenberg finished what would be his last case on the Friday, gave a lecture on the Saturday, and on the Sunday was admitted to the hospital, where he received the news that doctors suspected he had pancreatic cancer. Doctors confirmed the diagnosis with additional tests on his birthday.
"It wasn't exactly how he'd planned on retiring," said his wife. However, he quickly accepted the news.
"Alan called me within an hour of his diagnosis and already had his acceptance," Akins said. "He faced it with incredible fortitude and equanimity."
Nearly as quickly, Kolker and Akins began to think about naming the Thoracic Aortic Center in Dr. Hilgenberg's honor. To do so, they are collecting donations earmarked to the center in his memory, Kolker said.
The funds also will help to continue research and database development at the center, Akins said.
In addition to his wife and children, Dr. Hilgenberg leaves his mother, Ruth of Mesa, Ariz.; and a grandson.-Globe Newspaper Company
*******************************************************************************
Dr. Alan Dean Hilgenberg was an accomplished cardiac surgeon at Massachusetts General Hospital when he developed a keen interest in the surgical treatment of aneurysms of the thoracic aorta.
He began to focus his practice on the challenging procedure, and with his expertise and the collaboration of colleagues from the hospital's cardiology and vascular surgery departments, in 1999 cofounded and became co-director of the hospital's Thoracic Aortic Center.
"Very often, local doctors are very insecure about this surgery and the follow-up because it requires very focused care," said Dr. Cary Akins, a cardiac surgeon at MGH and a longtime friend. "The results were superb. He really devoted himself to it."
Dr. Hilgenberg, who in the last 10 years had become nationally recognized in thoracic aortic surgery, died Dec. 25 of pancreatic cancer at MGH. The Boston resident was 64.
Dr. Hilgenberg was born Sept. 29, 1944, in Parkston, S.D., to German Lutheran parents who loved music; his father was a music director and his mother, a church organist. They passed the passion on to their only child.He attended the University of South Dakota, but after three years left to enter the University of Michigan Medical School. He graduated with honors in 1969.
After graduating, Dr. Hilgenberg became a surgical intern at MGH, where a year later he met Akins, who was beginning his own surgical residency. With their Midwestern heritage and age in common, the young doctors bonded.
In 1971, Dr. Hilgenberg interrupted his residency to serve as a major in the Army Medical Corps at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. He returned to MGH in 1973 and completed his residency in 1976.
He spent four years as a thoracic surgeon in a cardiac and thoracic surgery group practice in Denver before being recruited back to MGH in 1981 to do general thoracic surgery. To maintain his skills in cardiac surgery, Dr. Hilgenberg took leadership of MGH's satellite practice at Mount Auburn Hospital in Cambridge, where he was named chief of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery in 1983.
Gradually, Dr. Hilgenberg withdrew from general thoracic surgery, and in 1996 he became a full-time cardiac surgeon at MGH.As a surgeon, Dr. Hilgenberg "combined native intelligence, excellent technical facility, a continuing desire to learn, mature clinical judgment, and meticulous surgical technique with true compassion for his patients, and an exemplary work ethic," Akins said. In his time at the Thoracic Aortic Center, he also taught residents the techniques of thoracic aortic aneurysm surgery.
In 2002, Dr. Hilgenberg married Dr. Anne Kolker, whom he met during the mid-1980s, when she was an anesthesia resident, before she was an attending physician in thoracic anesthesia at MGH. Kolker had moved to New York City to work at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Hospital in 1986, and the pair had fallen out of touch. After Dr. Hilgenberg's first marriage, to Joanna L. of Belmont, ended in the early 1990s, he contacted Kolker through a Christmas card, she said.
The card arrived about a month late, and by the time Kolker called, Dr. Hilgenberg had given up thinking he would hear from her.
The couple dated for about a decade before marrying. Throughout their relationship, they maintained their careers in Boston and New York, and spent weekends together in Boston, Connecticut, or New York, or sailing a boat they maintained in Buzzards Bay. Dr. Hilgenberg also was an avid cook and impressive connoisseur of wine, as well as a music lover, interests that were taken up by his sons, Mark, of Paso Robles, Calif., who is a vintner, and Matthew, a professional musician in New York City. His daughter, Dr. Sarah Hilgenberg of Seattle, is a recent graduate of Stanford Medical School.
The career choices of his children left him "as pleased as punch," according to his son-in-law, Dr. James Priest of Seattle.
On the weekend of his birthday, Dr. Hilgenberg finished what would be his last case on the Friday, gave a lecture on the Saturday, and on the Sunday was admitted to the hospital, where he received the news that doctors suspected he had pancreatic cancer. Doctors confirmed the diagnosis with additional tests on his birthday.
"It wasn't exactly how he'd planned on retiring," said his wife. However, he quickly accepted the news.
"Alan called me within an hour of his diagnosis and already had his acceptance," Akins said. "He faced it with incredible fortitude and equanimity."
Nearly as quickly, Kolker and Akins began to think about naming the Thoracic Aortic Center in Dr. Hilgenberg's honor. To do so, they are collecting donations earmarked to the center in his memory, Kolker said.
The funds also will help to continue research and database development at the center, Akins said.
In addition to his wife and children, Dr. Hilgenberg leaves his mother, Ruth of Mesa, Ariz.; and a grandson.-Globe Newspaper Company
Dr. Alan Dean Hilgenberg, age 64 of Boston, MA, Professor of Surgery at Harvard Medical School, cardiothoracic surgeon and co-director of the Thoracic-aortic Center at the Massachusetts General Hospital, died December 25th, 2008 of pancreatic cancer. Survived by his loving mother Ruth, devoted wife Dr. Anne Kolker, adoring children Mark, Matthew, Kate, Sarah, James Priest, wonderful grandson Bennett, and first wife, Joanna.
*******************************************************************************
Dr. Alan Dean Hilgenberg was an accomplished cardiac surgeon at Massachusetts General Hospital when he developed a keen interest in the surgical treatment of aneurysms of the thoracic aorta.
He began to focus his practice on the challenging procedure, and with his expertise and the collaboration of colleagues from the hospital's cardiology and vascular surgery departments, in 1999 cofounded and became co-director of the hospital's Thoracic Aortic Center.
"Very often, local doctors are very insecure about this surgery and the follow-up because it requires very focused care," said Dr. Cary Akins, a cardiac surgeon at MGH and a longtime friend. "The results were superb. He really devoted himself to it."
Dr. Hilgenberg, who in the last 10 years had become nationally recognized in thoracic aortic surgery, died Dec. 25 of pancreatic cancer at MGH. The Boston resident was 64.
Dr. Hilgenberg was born Sept. 29, 1944, in Parkston, S.D., to German Lutheran parents who loved music; his father was a music director and his mother, a church organist. They passed the passion on to their only child.He attended the University of South Dakota, but after three years left to enter the University of Michigan Medical School. He graduated with honors in 1969.
After graduating, Dr. Hilgenberg became a surgical intern at MGH, where a year later he met Akins, who was beginning his own surgical residency. With their Midwestern heritage and age in common, the young doctors bonded.
In 1971, Dr. Hilgenberg interrupted his residency to serve as a major in the Army Medical Corps at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. He returned to MGH in 1973 and completed his residency in 1976.
He spent four years as a thoracic surgeon in a cardiac and thoracic surgery group practice in Denver before being recruited back to MGH in 1981 to do general thoracic surgery. To maintain his skills in cardiac surgery, Dr. Hilgenberg took leadership of MGH's satellite practice at Mount Auburn Hospital in Cambridge, where he was named chief of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery in 1983.
Gradually, Dr. Hilgenberg withdrew from general thoracic surgery, and in 1996 he became a full-time cardiac surgeon at MGH.As a surgeon, Dr. Hilgenberg "combined native intelligence, excellent technical facility, a continuing desire to learn, mature clinical judgment, and meticulous surgical technique with true compassion for his patients, and an exemplary work ethic," Akins said. In his time at the Thoracic Aortic Center, he also taught residents the techniques of thoracic aortic aneurysm surgery.
In 2002, Dr. Hilgenberg married Dr. Anne Kolker, whom he met during the mid-1980s, when she was an anesthesia resident, before she was an attending physician in thoracic anesthesia at MGH. Kolker had moved to New York City to work at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Hospital in 1986, and the pair had fallen out of touch. After Dr. Hilgenberg's first marriage, to Joanna L. of Belmont, ended in the early 1990s, he contacted Kolker through a Christmas card, she said.
The card arrived about a month late, and by the time Kolker called, Dr. Hilgenberg had given up thinking he would hear from her.
The couple dated for about a decade before marrying. Throughout their relationship, they maintained their careers in Boston and New York, and spent weekends together in Boston, Connecticut, or New York, or sailing a boat they maintained in Buzzards Bay. Dr. Hilgenberg also was an avid cook and impressive connoisseur of wine, as well as a music lover, interests that were taken up by his sons, Mark, of Paso Robles, Calif., who is a vintner, and Matthew, a professional musician in New York City. His daughter, Dr. Sarah Hilgenberg of Seattle, is a recent graduate of Stanford Medical School.
The career choices of his children left him "as pleased as punch," according to his son-in-law, Dr. James Priest of Seattle.
On the weekend of his birthday, Dr. Hilgenberg finished what would be his last case on the Friday, gave a lecture on the Saturday, and on the Sunday was admitted to the hospital, where he received the news that doctors suspected he had pancreatic cancer. Doctors confirmed the diagnosis with additional tests on his birthday.
"It wasn't exactly how he'd planned on retiring," said his wife. However, he quickly accepted the news.
"Alan called me within an hour of his diagnosis and already had his acceptance," Akins said. "He faced it with incredible fortitude and equanimity."
Nearly as quickly, Kolker and Akins began to think about naming the Thoracic Aortic Center in Dr. Hilgenberg's honor. To do so, they are collecting donations earmarked to the center in his memory, Kolker said.
The funds also will help to continue research and database development at the center, Akins said.
In addition to his wife and children, Dr. Hilgenberg leaves his mother, Ruth of Mesa, Ariz.; and a grandson.-Globe Newspaper Company
*******************************************************************************
Dr. Alan Dean Hilgenberg was an accomplished cardiac surgeon at Massachusetts General Hospital when he developed a keen interest in the surgical treatment of aneurysms of the thoracic aorta.
He began to focus his practice on the challenging procedure, and with his expertise and the collaboration of colleagues from the hospital's cardiology and vascular surgery departments, in 1999 cofounded and became co-director of the hospital's Thoracic Aortic Center.
"Very often, local doctors are very insecure about this surgery and the follow-up because it requires very focused care," said Dr. Cary Akins, a cardiac surgeon at MGH and a longtime friend. "The results were superb. He really devoted himself to it."
Dr. Hilgenberg, who in the last 10 years had become nationally recognized in thoracic aortic surgery, died Dec. 25 of pancreatic cancer at MGH. The Boston resident was 64.
Dr. Hilgenberg was born Sept. 29, 1944, in Parkston, S.D., to German Lutheran parents who loved music; his father was a music director and his mother, a church organist. They passed the passion on to their only child.He attended the University of South Dakota, but after three years left to enter the University of Michigan Medical School. He graduated with honors in 1969.
After graduating, Dr. Hilgenberg became a surgical intern at MGH, where a year later he met Akins, who was beginning his own surgical residency. With their Midwestern heritage and age in common, the young doctors bonded.
In 1971, Dr. Hilgenberg interrupted his residency to serve as a major in the Army Medical Corps at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. He returned to MGH in 1973 and completed his residency in 1976.
He spent four years as a thoracic surgeon in a cardiac and thoracic surgery group practice in Denver before being recruited back to MGH in 1981 to do general thoracic surgery. To maintain his skills in cardiac surgery, Dr. Hilgenberg took leadership of MGH's satellite practice at Mount Auburn Hospital in Cambridge, where he was named chief of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery in 1983.
Gradually, Dr. Hilgenberg withdrew from general thoracic surgery, and in 1996 he became a full-time cardiac surgeon at MGH.As a surgeon, Dr. Hilgenberg "combined native intelligence, excellent technical facility, a continuing desire to learn, mature clinical judgment, and meticulous surgical technique with true compassion for his patients, and an exemplary work ethic," Akins said. In his time at the Thoracic Aortic Center, he also taught residents the techniques of thoracic aortic aneurysm surgery.
In 2002, Dr. Hilgenberg married Dr. Anne Kolker, whom he met during the mid-1980s, when she was an anesthesia resident, before she was an attending physician in thoracic anesthesia at MGH. Kolker had moved to New York City to work at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Hospital in 1986, and the pair had fallen out of touch. After Dr. Hilgenberg's first marriage, to Joanna L. of Belmont, ended in the early 1990s, he contacted Kolker through a Christmas card, she said.
The card arrived about a month late, and by the time Kolker called, Dr. Hilgenberg had given up thinking he would hear from her.
The couple dated for about a decade before marrying. Throughout their relationship, they maintained their careers in Boston and New York, and spent weekends together in Boston, Connecticut, or New York, or sailing a boat they maintained in Buzzards Bay. Dr. Hilgenberg also was an avid cook and impressive connoisseur of wine, as well as a music lover, interests that were taken up by his sons, Mark, of Paso Robles, Calif., who is a vintner, and Matthew, a professional musician in New York City. His daughter, Dr. Sarah Hilgenberg of Seattle, is a recent graduate of Stanford Medical School.
The career choices of his children left him "as pleased as punch," according to his son-in-law, Dr. James Priest of Seattle.
On the weekend of his birthday, Dr. Hilgenberg finished what would be his last case on the Friday, gave a lecture on the Saturday, and on the Sunday was admitted to the hospital, where he received the news that doctors suspected he had pancreatic cancer. Doctors confirmed the diagnosis with additional tests on his birthday.
"It wasn't exactly how he'd planned on retiring," said his wife. However, he quickly accepted the news.
"Alan called me within an hour of his diagnosis and already had his acceptance," Akins said. "He faced it with incredible fortitude and equanimity."
Nearly as quickly, Kolker and Akins began to think about naming the Thoracic Aortic Center in Dr. Hilgenberg's honor. To do so, they are collecting donations earmarked to the center in his memory, Kolker said.
The funds also will help to continue research and database development at the center, Akins said.
In addition to his wife and children, Dr. Hilgenberg leaves his mother, Ruth of Mesa, Ariz.; and a grandson.-Globe Newspaper Company
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
