"Father of Phacoemulsification" Charles Kelman Signed FDC Dated 1952 Mueller COA

Description

Up for auction the
"Father of Phacoemulsification" Charles Kelman Hand Signed First Day Cover Dated 1952.
This item is certified authentic by
Todd Mueller Autographs
and comes with their Certificate of Authenticity.
ES-7225E
Charles David Kelman
(May 23, 1930 – June 1, 2004) was an American
ophthalmologist
, surgeon, inventor, jazz musician, entertainer, and
Broadway
producer. Known as the father of
phacoemulsification
,
[1]
[2]
he developed many of the medical devices, instruments, implant lenses and techniques used in
cataract surgery
. In the early 1960s, he began the use of
cryosurgery
to remove cataracts and repair retinal detachments. Cryosurgery for cataracts remained in heavy use until 1978, when phacoemulsification, a procedure Kelman also developed in 1967, became the modern standard treatment. Kelman was given the
National Medal of Technology
by President
George H. W. Bush
and recognized as the Ophthalmologist of the Century by the International Congress of Cataract and Refractive Surgery in
Montreal
, Canada. He was also inducted into the
National Inventors Hall of Fame
in
Akron
,
Ohio
, and received the 2004
Lasker Award
. Born in New York, Kelman graduated from
Tufts University
and earned his medical degree from
University of Geneva
before returning to New York to intern at
Kings County Hospital
and complete his
residency
at
Wills Eye Hospital
in Philadelphia. He was later an attending surgeon at the
Manhattan Eye, Ear & Throat Hospital
and the
New York Eye and Ear Infirmary
, and maintained a private practice. Kelman served as clinical professor of ophthalmology at
New York Medical College
and individually taught his techniques to many surgeons around the world. Kelman pursued a career as an entertainer alongside his medical career. He began playing the harmonica at a young age and performed on a radio show,
The Horn and Hardart Children's Hour
. He later learned to play the clarinet and saxophone. As a teenager, he formed a
big band
, began composing music, and played in his high school band and as first clarinet on the New York All-City Orchestra. While in medical school in Geneva, he appeared on two jazz radio shows and one on television. After returning to New York, he recorded a song, "Telephone Numbers", released by
Chancellor Records
to some success in national
billboard charts
. After inventing phacoemulsification, in part to promote the procedure, he began appearing regularly on television, first on
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
in 1975. He developed a musical comedy routine which he performed on television as well as in Atlantic City, Las Vegas, and
Carnegie Hall
in New York, alongside several notable jazz musicians and entertainers. He co-produced several Broadway musicals and wrote at least two
off-Broadway
musicals.