Andrew Alan Conlan, M.D. Professor Emeritus

He was born in Wexford, Ireland to Michael and Anastasia Conlan. Following Christian Brothers College in Cork, he attended the National University of Ireland where he received his MB Bch BAO in 1966.

Dr Conlan completed his residency at Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa under Dr Christiaan Barnard, assisting with the first ever Heart Transplant. From 1973 to 1978 he pursued his Cardiothoracic Surgery training at the London School of Medicine, Mayo Clinic and New York University Medical Center. Returning to South Africa, he served 10 years as Chief Thoracic Surgeon in the Johannesburg teaching hospitals, establishing a new Thoracic Surgery Service and training programs at the University of the Witwatersrand. In 1988, he was offered the opportunity to serve as Head of Cardiothoracic Surgery and Professor at Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada. In 1994, he was appointed as Chief of Thoracic Surgery at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center and UMass Memorial Healthcare where he remained until 2006, retiring as Professor Emeritus.

Dr Conlan published extensively throughout his career and completed pioneering work in the treatment of Massive Haemoptysis, Inflammatory Lung Disease and Esophageal Cancer, performing the first ever Thoracoscopic Pneumonectomy in North America in 2003.

Along with his passion for healing and science, Dr Conlan was an avid reader with encyclopedic knowledge and an animated storyteller. He always loved a good adventure and was in his element when off-roading in the African bush.

He is affectionately remembered by his sisters Brenda Long, Nuala Brummitt, Madeline Johnston and his brother Michael Conlan; his life partner Christallo Conlan, his three children Anastasia Pucci (Paul), Michael Conlan (Kelly) and Dominic Conlan (Moira) and his eight grandchildren Nicolas, Dominic, Katie, Daniel, Benjamin, Andrew, Chloe and Michael.

Family and friends are invited to attend a Catholic Funeral Mass at 11am on Friday, May 6, 2022 at St Francis of Assisi Church, 11401 Leesville Rd, Raleigh, NC followed by a Celebration of Life Reception at 12:30pm, Brier Creek Country Club, 9400 Club Hill Drive, Raleigh, NC.

In lieu of customary remembrances, please consider making a tribute gift to the American Lung Association (link below) in memoriam of Dr Andrew Alan Conlan.