Memorial hospital's first heart surgery was performed in 1986. The surgical program has continued to evolve with the changing techniques and technologies that have made heart surgery a safe and effective procedure. The present surgical team started arriving in 1986 with Dr. James Kelly. The team has since grown to include Dr. Walter Halloran, Dr. Thomas Hughes, Dr. Charles Lamb and Dr. Paul Brown. The nursing team and perfusion teams have been in place since 1986 with additional staff being added and trained as the number of surgeries have increased.