Bill Hall is justifiably renowned for his contributions to the development of some of the original concepts and the development of one of the earliest successful cardiopulmonary bypass devices and totally implantable replacement hearts. He worked at this from 1963 until he left Baylor University in 1970. Exerting extraordinary efforts in this area he drifted more and more into the consideration of the vascular interface where he made some of his most striking contributions at a very practical level since he had to solve the actual problems of performance characteristics of pumps through which blood flowed continuously for many thousands of heartbeats a day.
This led to the development of materials such as fabrics and was followed by problem solving in terms of treatment of burns and other lesions in man, preventing of infection on surfaces that communicate with the environment through the skin etc. What is not known about Bill is that looking at the future way back in the early 60's he (with Adam Wesolowski and a few other associates) aggressively planned the development of the Society for Biomaterials. Simultaneously he proselytized the most effective workers in the field to serve key roles in the fledgling organization. Its present position as the most outstanding learned Society concerned with the evaluation of materials for tooth implants, bone reconstruction, artificial hips, vascular prosthetic surfaces, artificial hearts and all of the other established and developing materials and device research for which our Society is so well known.
Dr. Hall has now turned his attention to the area of Surgica! Research as an area which required his unique attention. Realizing the need for creating a common forum for research surgeons of varying disciplines, he established the Academy of Surgical Research three years ago with Andreas von Recum. It is still embryonic but Bill Hall's intellectual ability will establish this new group as a valued organization within a very short time.
This Festschrift is testimony to his wisdom, perspicacity, maturity, and ability to communicate. We wish him continued success and a healthy life. We owe him a debt of gratitude for his contributions to the development of the Society for Biomaterials, the Academy of Surgical Research and those many other areas of interest which have given Bill Hall his justifiable reputation, PHILLIP N. SAWYER, M.D.