Mario Feola

Dr. Feola graduated Summa Cum Laude with medical degree from Naples University, Naples Italy in 1950. He came to the United States in 1956 for a residency in general surgery in Cleveland, Ohio. He met and married Arleen Sabo in 1961 in Cleveland, Ohio. He also became a U.S citizen in 1965.

Dr. Feola left private practice in Cleveland, Ohio for Cardiovascular/Thoracic residence with Drs. DeBakey and Cooley in 1967 in Houston, Texas. Dr. Feola practiced in Chicago, IL at Michael Reese Hospital, then, began an academic career in surgery over the years beginning at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, TX, then Lubbock, TX. He was also Chief of Surgery for the VA Hospital system Amarillo, TX. His fellowships and organizations included: Fellow American College of Surgeons, American Board of Surgery, American College of Cardiologist, American Board of Thoracic Surgeons. Some of his awards were: Outstanding Faculty Award, Students of Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, TX, 2002 and Who’s Who Education.

In 1969 at National Institutes of Health, he presented his work on the Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump that is still in use today for acute myocardial ischemia. He was one of the first to invent artificial blood substitute using bovine blood as the basis of the blood. This was successfully used in humans in Africa, 1993. The patent was obtained in 1995. Dr. Feola is known world-wide in the medical research field for his pioneer work in blood substitutes. He participated in numerous scientific conferences and meetings over the years as well as authoring more than 100 papers, books chapters and research abstracts not only on blood substitutes, but also in his field of cardiovascular thoracic surgery and research.

Dr. Feola is survived by his wife, Arleen; four children: Terrie Jenevein of Dallas, TX, Susi Mitchell of Lubbock, TX, G. Peter Feola MD of Salt Lake City, Utah, Helen DeLaCruz of Lubbock, TX and 13 grandchildren.

Online condolences may be offered on our website at www.resthavenfuneralhome.com. Arrangements under the direction of Resthaven Funeral Home & Memorial Park, Lubbock, TX.