Heart valve recipient Yolanda Randlett tells her story

Yolanda Randlett, former patient of Albert Starr, M.D., received a groundbreaking heart valve as a young woman. Randlett spoke at the announcement of the historic $125 million gift from Phil and Penny Knight that established a new institute for cardiovascular research and care at OHSU. Originally arriving at OHSU in 1958, Starr performed Oregon's first open-heart surgeries and performed the state's first heart transplant. He is best known internationally for co-inventing and implanting the world's first artificial human heart valve in 1960. His innovation with engineer Lowell Edwards transformed the treatment of valvular heart disease. It also changed the landscape of the medical device industry, giving rise to an entirely new product niche for valve replacement products. OHSU Knight Cardiovascular Institute gift announcement, 9/17/2012, Oregon Health & Science University Center for Health & Healing.