Hiram C. Polk Jr.[1] is native of Jackson, Mississippi and alumnus of Millsaps College and the Harvard Medical School.
In 1971, at the relatively young age of 35,[2] he was recruited to the University of Louisville as Chairman of Surgery and oversaw the development of the department into a well-respected center for research and surgical education.
Noted advances that occurred by the division under his chairmanship include the development and first implantation of the Abiocore artificial heart and the organization of one of the world's first hand transplant programs.
While Chairman at Louisville, Polk trained more than 230 surgical residents, all of whom hold board certification in general surgery.
On Tuesday, December 20, 2011, the University announced that Polk had been named an Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of England.