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SALT LAKE CITY — President Russell M. Nelson, leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, will be awarded an honorary doctoral degree by the University of Utah for his innovative work in the medical field.
President Nelson, who dedicated his career to cardiothoracic surgery, helped Utah become the third state in the nation where a successful open-heart surgery was performed decades ago. He was the first surgeon to perform the surgery in Utah, and used the heart-lung bypass machine he and a team created, which was inspired with the help of his wife, Dantzel.
During his tenure as a heart surgeon, the global faith leader trained surgeons in China to perform open-heart surgeries and authored or coauthored over 100 research articles. He has been honored with several awards for his contributions to the medical field. President Nelson has been recognized for his pioneering work in cardiac surgery several times over the years, including in 2018 when he was given the lifetime achievement award in science and technology.
This won't be the first time a top leader for the church has received an honorary degree from the university. In 2015, President Henry B. Eyring, second counselor in the First Presidency of the church, received an honorary doctor of humane letters for his work in academics. Both President Nelson and President Eyring hold bachelor's degrees from the University of Utah.
President Nelson will be honored alongside two other university alumni — C. Hope Eccles and William J. Rutter.
Eccles, who serves on the university's health community board of directors and budget and finance committee, is being awarded the honorary degree for her "commitment to education and educational reform," according to the school. Her legal career began after she completed her Juris Doctor at the S.J. Quinney College of Law.
Rutter, known for his expertise in biotechnology, has authored or coauthored more than 381 scientific articles and holds 26 patents, according to a news release.
The degrees are given to individuals who "have achieved distinction in academic pursuits, the arts, professions, business, government, civic affairs or in service to the university," according to a news release. The school's honorary degree committee reviews nominations and presents a list of finalists to the university president, who then chooses the recipients.
"Our honorary degree recipients have exemplified courage, vision and service in their professional careers and their personal lives," said Kim Brunisholz, chair of the Board of Trustees' honors committee, in a news release. "They have modeled excellence in character and lived up to the highest ideals of the University of Utah. We are delighted to show our appreciation with an honorary degree."
