[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 169 (Monday, November 16, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2773]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




HONORING THE LIFE OF DR. JULIAN K. QUATTLEBAUM, JR.: BELOVED PHYSICIAN, 
                    HUSBAND, FATHER AND GRANDFATHER

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                           HON. JACK KINGSTON

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, November 16, 2009

  Mr. KINGSTON. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Dr. 
Julian Killen Quattlebaum, Jr. who died today at Candler Hospital in 
Savannah, Georgia.
  Dr. Quattlebaum was born in Savannah on January 16, 1926, attended 
Charles Ellis School, Richard Arnold Jr. High School, Savannah High 
School, and graduated cum laude from the Taft School in Watertown, 
Connecticut. He entered the University of Georgia in September 1943 and 
was accepted as a member of Phi Eta Sigma freshman honor society and 
Sigma Chi social fraternity.
  His formal education was interrupted when Dr. Quattlebaum was drafted 
into the Army during World War II. He served as an infantryman in the 
Western Pacific Theater, and as a surgical tech in the medical 
department after the surrender of Japan, where he was stationed in the 
Philippines.
  In 1947, Dr. Quattlebaum returned to the University of Georgia, 
graduating as a member of the Phi Beta Kappa honorary scholastic 
society in 1948. He was also a member of the Gridiron Society.
  Dr. Quattlebaum graduated summa cum laude from the Medical College of 
Georgia in 1951 and was president of the Alpha Omega Alpha honorary 
scholastic society chapter there. He then pursued six years of surgical 
training at the Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. In 
addition to general surgery, Dr. Quattlebaum's residency provided 
valuable experience in a wide variety of fields including plastic, head 
and neck, and cardiothoracic surgery. Johns Hopkins was known for its 
pyramid residencies in which a number of physicians began their 
training but only one or two progressed to the level of chief resident 
and completed the program. Dr. Quattlebaum became one of those 
prestigious few during his residency, serving as Chief Resident Surgeon 
from July 1956 to July 1957.
  Dr. Quattlebaum next completed a one-year surgical fellowship at the 
Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota--educating himself always with a 
vision of bringing the benefits of that gained knowledge home to 
Savannah. He returned to that city in July 1957 and practiced general, 
cardiothoracic and laparoscopic surgery here until his retirement in 
July 2001.
  While practicing initially in all nine hospitals in Savannah, Dr. 
Quattlebaum dedicated himself especially to the creation of the 
surgical training program at Memorial Hospital. As one of the premiere 
cardiac surgeons at Memorial, he trained at the National Heart 
Institute and then raised money in order to establish Savannah's first 
Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory there. He served as Chief of Surgery 
at Memorial from 1965 to 1967. He served also in that same capacity at 
Candler Hospital concurrently and for a total of ten years, as well as 
the State Board of Health on behalf of Governor Carl Sanders. A massive 
heart attack in 1967 forced a reduction in Dr. Quattlebaum's schedule; 
however, he continued to host a monthly Journal Club for the surgical 
house staff at Memorial for many years.
  Among the countless innovations he oversaw, and which advanced the 
practice of medicine in Savannah, Dr. Quattlebaum introduced the 
technique of surgery under hypothermia (to allow surgical interruption 
of blood flow during surgery), this prior to the availability of 
cardiopulmonary bypass. In January 1990, he performed Savannah's first 
laparoscopic cholecystectomy, and he was active in advancing use of the 
laparoscopic technique in numerous procedures of general surgery. 
Shortly thereafter, he performed the world's first laparoscopic removal 
of a common bile duct stone.
  Dr. Quattlebaum was active also as an administrator: he served on the 
Board of Trustees of Candler Hospital, was a member of the Candler 
Foundation Board, and served as the Chairman of Candler's Institutional 
Review Board for ten years. As well, he was a member of the Georgia 
Medical Society and the Medical Association of Georgia, serving on its 
Professional Standards Review Organization Committee's founding 
committee; and he was a member of the Johns Hopkins Medical and 
Surgical Society, the First District Medical Society, the Georgia 
Surgical Society and the Southern Surgical Association.
  On October 20, 2009, Dr. Quattlebaum received the Physician Legends 
of St. Joseph's/Candler Health System award for innovations defining 
new frontiers and greatly enhancing the quality of patient care. In his 
acceptance speech before the assembled medical staff, he shared 
highlights from his career, which began during his teenage years when 
he regularly assisted his father in surgery.
  Outside of the academic world, Dr. Quattlebaum was active in sports 
car racing. He was an enthusiast, hobbyist and historian, being 
Regional Executive (President) of the Savannah Region of the Sports Car 
Club of America. He held Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) national and 
Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) international 
competition licenses and raced throughout the area, including at 
Daytona. He qualified twice for the interdivisional races in California 
and was an instructor for SCCA driving schools. He was steward for SCCA 
and FIA races, and he organized and participated with the medical team 
in several such events.
  Dr. Quattlebaum was also a charter member of both the Savannah Sports 
Fishing Club and the German Heritage Society, of which he was a past 
President. He served as President of the Cotillion Club and was a 
member of the Savannah Yacht Club and the Oglethorpe Club. He was a 
member of the Isle of Hope United Methodist Church and the Seekers 
Sunday School class, as well as a devoted member of the Rotary Club of 
Savannah South.
  Before and during his retirement, Dr. Quattlebaum spent time 
gardening and growing fruits and vegetables, including an abundance of 
raspberries, on his farm in Springfield, Georgia. He particularly 
enjoyed harvest time, when he shared his fruits and vegetables and 
visited with family and friends throughout the community.
  Dr. Julian K. Quattlebaum, Jr. was predeceased by his parents, Dr. 
Julian Killen Quattlebaum and Helen Burkhalter Quattlebaum; a sister, 
Helen Quattlebaum Artley; and a daughter, Christie Elaine Quattlebaum.
  He is survived by his loving wife of 38 years, Ruth Allen 
Quattlebaum; by three sons, Julian Killen Quattlebaum III (Kanittha), 
David Martin Quattlebaum (Adrian) and John Thomas Quattlebaum (Louise); 
three daughters, Tracey Quattlebaum McMillan (Gregory), Laura 
Quattlebaum Gower (Austin) and Katherine Quattlebaum Harper (Benjamin); 
a sister, Barbara Quattlebaum Parr; and eleven grandchildren.

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