[1] On 17 December 1966, Lillehei assisted William Kelly in transplanting part of a pancreas and a whole kidney into a 28-year-old woman with type I diabetes and renal disease.

Postoperative problems led to a decision to remove the graft, and she died soon after.

On New Year's Eve 1966, Lillehei led the world's first successful simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplant.

[2] His other fields of research included shock treatment, organ procurement, open-heart surgery and kidney transplantation.

[5] Every two years an award is given to the most outstanding clinician in the field of pancreas transplantation.