NELSON, Arthur (Bud) Ryden (M.D.)

Arthur Ryden Nelson, M.D. (Bud) passed away July 10, 2003. Born in the Swedish community of Ashtabula, Ohio, on June 15, 1925. Bud proved to be an outstanding high school athlete with letters in football, basketball, and track all four years. He excelled academically and was elected Class President. Oberlin College was completed in 3 years as a V-12 in the USNR. Here, with Bud playing center, the football team won 33 games. Giving up a promising pro-football career, he headed to Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa and Alpha Omega Alpha. His surgical residency was interrupted by 3 years of active duty with the CIA behind enemy lines during the Korean Conflict. Returning to Johns Hopkins, he completed his cardiac residency with his friend and mentor Dr. Alfred Blalock. Bud was part of the team that was instrumental in the development of the heart/lung machine and other revolutionary cardiac procedures, such as the Blalock-Taussig Shunt. With the assistance of his wife, Betty, some of the earliest Dacron aortic replacement grafts were developed. The Nelson family moved to Phoenix in 1958 where Bud had an outstanding surgical career. His medical service included: Chief of Surgery & Chief of Staff at Doctor's Hospital; Founding Member of the Phoenix Integrated Residency Program; Chief of Surgery & Chief of Staff of Good Samaritan Medical Center; and Member of the Board of Director's of Phoenix Surgical Foundation. He authored numerous medical articles, texts and journals. He remained active in the U.S Navy Reserve and rose to the rank of Captain. His true joy was sharing his knowledge with others around the world. An adventurer, soldier, pilot, sailor, husband and father, Bud will be missed deeply by his wife, three children and their spouses, four grandchildren, a brother and sister, and many dear friends. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Hospice of the Valley or Planned Parenthood of Northern Arizona. Published in the Arizona Republic from 7/13/2003 - 7/14/2003.