The University of Utah community is saddened by the death of medical pioneer and global faith leader Russell M. Nelson.
Nelson passed away on Saturday, Sept 27, 2025. At the time of his death, he was serving as the president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was the oldest leader in the institution’s history. A recognized trailblazer in heart surgery, Nelson was an alum of the U and led the school’s cardiothoracic program for nearly 20 years.
“On behalf of Janet and our family, I extend heartfelt condolences on the passing of President Russell M. Nelson,” said University of Utah President Taylor R. Randall. “President Nelson’s remarkable journey, from U alum to pioneering heart surgeon to global faith leader, reflects a life of innovation, compassion, and devotion. His influence and discipleship are woven into the history of our university, the lives of many of our students, and people across the globe.”
Randall continued, “My own life and actions are profoundly influenced by his teachings and example, particularly his focus on the inherent worth of every soul and our shared obligations to be peacemakers in the world. As a graduate of our School of Medicine, President Nelson advanced the frontiers of cardiothoracic surgery, trained generations of physicians, and established a legacy of healing that continues to save lives. His vision and generosity strengthened the University of Utah through his leadership, scholarship donations, and archival gifts that will inspire future generations. As a global faith leader, Nelson touched millions with his message of hope, service, and faith. We honor his extraordinary life and extend our sympathy to his family, loved ones, and the worldwide Church of Jesus Christ Latter-day Saints community he so faithfully served.”
In 2018, University of Utah Health honored Nelson’s medical career with the creation of the Dr. Russell M. Nelson and Dantzel W. Nelson Presidential Chair in Cardiothoracic Surgery, and in 2020 he received an honorary degree from the school. In 2009, Nelson donated manuscripts, publications, films of surgical procedures, operative records and other items related to his career as a cardiac surgeon to the J. Willard Marriott Library’s special collections, establishing the Russell Marion Nelson Collection. He built upon this gift of knowledge and history in 2023 when he donated his medical papers to the U.
“As an undergraduate student, I had the privilege of meeting President Russell M. Nelson, whose unwavering dedication to science in the service of patient care profoundly influenced my own journey in medicine,” said Bob Carter, M.D., Ph.D., executive vice president for health sciences and CEO of University of Utah Health. “Pursuing a PhD while training as a surgeon and pioneering open-heart surgery, he set a high standard of discovery, rigor, and compassion that continues to guide our medical school today. His exemplary commitment reminds us that medical education is about more than advancing knowledge; it is about forming physicians who serve with vision and humanity.”
Carter continued, “Beyond the operating room, President Nelson embodied the role of a healer, bringing clarity, hope, and purpose to the global faith communities he led. His exceptional surgical skill and heartfelt compassion as a church leader demonstrated his dedication to healing both the human heart and spirit. His enduring influence is evident in our school, in the lives of patients worldwide, and in the countless clinicians who continue to advance the frontiers he first opened.”
After graduating from the University of Utah in 1945 and then earning his medical degree from the school in 1947, Nelson went to the University of Minnesota to earn his PhD. It was there, during his post-doctoral studies in 1951, that he and his fellow researchers developed a heart-lung machine that supported the first-ever human open-heart surgery.
When he returned to Utah, Nelson became the first cardiothoracic surgeon to perform open-heart surgery in the state using this innovative technology. His desire to pioneer health drove him to work as a surgeon at LDS Hospital and serve as a faculty member in surgery and director of the Thoracic Surgery Residency Program at the University of Utah School of Medicine for almost two decades. During this time, he advanced the frontiers of cardiovascular surgery, trained generations of cardiac surgeons, and saved countless lives.
“Don’t be afraid to pursue your goals—even your dreams,” said Nelson in a 2013 address to young adults. “There is no shortcut to excellence and competence. Education is the difference between wishing you could help other people and being able to help them.”
Nelson was also a pioneer in the field of global health. In 1980, he traveled to Shandong, China, where he trained surgeons to perform open-heart surgery. Today, it is estimated that more than 2,000 heart operations are done annually at Shandong University’s affiliated hospitals by surgeons, some of whom were trained by Nelson.