An Excerpt From the Show

What's This Scene All About?

Dr. Thomas Starzl (1926-2017), the “Father of Transplantation,” served as the chief of transplantation services at UPMC from 1981-1991. In this scene, med students have stumbled upon a “fantasy” version of Dr. Starzl, known as Dr. Frankenstarzl. It’s difficult to place this fantasy doctor in a specific time period, but we can draw many parallels between this imaginary doctor and Dr. Starzl’s actual life history. 

At the beginning of this scene, Dr. Frankenstarzl is attempting to transplant organs from the dead into living bodies. Similarly, the actual Dr. Starzl pioneered kidney transplantations from cadavers. Later in the scene, the medical student Sam suggests that Dr. Frakenstarzl try harvesting organs from baboons. Dr. Starzl did indeed perform a handful of baboon-to-human kidney transplants in the 1960s in an attempt to address the shortage of human organs. Finally, as is portrayed in the scene, Dr. Starzl also helped to develop the immunosuppressant FK506 later in his career. 

The Show's Playbill

Learn More About This Show

A complete recording of this performance will be available to those with a valid University computing account soon.

More information about this and other Scope and Scalpel performances can also be found on our finding aid. Please contact us to view the Scope and Scalpel materials in person or to talk to our History of Medicine librarian.