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David Milton Heimbach

1938 - 2017

BORN

1938

DIED

2017

About

Cornell University University of Washington

David Heimbach Obituary

David Milton Heimbach

Dr. David Milton Heimbach, formally of Seattle, WA died surrounded by his family on August 7, 2017 in his home on Maui where he and his wife moved after his retirement. He was 78 years old. He is survived by his wife, his sister, his 2 children and his four grandchildren.

Dr. Heimbach was born on September 29, 1938 in Doylestown, PA. He graduated with honors from Cornell University and then Cornell Medical School. In 1966 he served as a Captain in the USAMC for 2 years and then went on to have a successful and rewarding career as a surgeon and professor. He made great contributions to burn care and touched the hearts of thousands of patients. He was a gifted teacher and mentor during his 37 years as Professor of Surgery at the University of Washington. In 1977 he became the Director of the UW Burn Unit at Harborview Medical Center. He was also Past President of the American Burn Association, and the Past President of International Society for Burn Injury. Dr. Heimbach also led teams of doctors to 3rd world countries teaching burn care to those less fortunate. Throughout his career he received many special honors including the Harvey Stuart Allen Award for Distinguished Service, the President's Leadership Award for Lifetime Achievement in Burn Care and Leadership from the ABA, the Unsung Heroes of Compassion Award given personally by the Dali Lama every 4 years to World Wide leaders who have made a difference to medical care in developing countries, and the Tanner / Vanderput /Boswick Award for International Lifetime Achievement. Beyond his career, Dr. Heimbach was a compassionate and kind man and a great storyteller. He had a wonderful sense of humor and loved to share his jokes with others. He was loved by all who knew him.

Due to the move to Maui, there will not be a public memorial. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Harborview Burn Center in his name would be appreciated.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Seattle Times on Aug. 20, 2017.

Memories and Condolences
for David Heimbach

Sponsored by The Family.

15 Entries

Michael Kittle

February 5, 2025

I´m adding my email to my message for those that may want to contact me.

Michael Kittle
Vaison la Romaine
Francew

Michael Kittle

April 16, 2024

David was my brother in law for ten years during which time I developed enormous respect for his dedication to saving the lives of his burn patients.

The world needs more David Heimbachs.

Michael Kittle
Vaison la Romaine
France

Michael Waite

April 6, 2023

In 1986, Drs. Heimbach and Loren Engrav saved my life after suffering 3rd degree burns over 38% of my body in my town of Bellingham. As I approach 75 and have been having some issues, I have been explaining those times to other young Docs and ran into a young Dr, yesterday who had a family member suffer burns that were treated at Harborview and then led him to a life of medicine and an internship some years ago at Harborview.
All I want to say is competsnt and dedicated Drs. Like David Heimbach, Loren Engrav and now this young man are such a gift to the world they should forever be honored and thanked, no matter how much time has passed.

Christine Dhennin

August 14, 2022

Time is flying but I don't forget and often think very sincerely of you

Alma Sue Richmond

March 17, 2021

I am so sorry that I didn't stay in touch and follow Dr. Heimbach's career! I send condolences and regrets for your loss. It has been 51 years since I was at UTSW. He was one of my surgical residents when I was a medical student at Parkland, attending Southwestern Medical School. He was a dynamic, inspiring teacher who found ways to bring us together as his group of students. His knowledge then was extensive. He had come from NYC at that time to train at Parkland. I had not been to NYC and would never have gone except he gave me contacts there who would treat me like family and people I could call upon. He encouraged me to take an externship at Memorial Sloan Kettering since at the time, I was interested in Surgery. I was interested because he inspired that kind of passion in his own work. I learned that another field was for me and went into Internal Medicine and Infectious Disease. The way he taught inspired all of us to learn and appreciate the complexities of caring for patients with surgical problems. We lost touch after I went to NYC and he stayed at Parkland until Dr. G. Tom Shires moved to Seattle. I had meant to follow up one day and failed to do so. He was brilliant, full of optimism and energy and actually gathered us together and taught us how to sail also on a lake in Dallas. At that event, he taught us how how to recognize and enjoy fine wine. We learned how to find wine that was excellent on our own. He had so many talents - he probably could have taught dozens of courses on many, many subjects.
Also - my niece, Katherine Sanders works in Hospitality at the Four Seasons in Maui. I expect you would have had a chance together to meet her. She won't live anywhere else. It is a paradise. I am so glad he had the opportunity to enjoy such a magnificent place and that you could be together.

With fond memories and lifelong appreciation,
Alma Sue Richmond, MD
Email: [email protected]
1047 Route 9W S
Nyack, NY 10960

August 4, 2018

Sincerest condolences for your loss. May precious memories of your dear loved one, along with encouraging words such as those found at John 11: 25,26 be of comfort to your family.

Jimmy Chase

October 3, 2017

I am so saddened to learn of Dr. H's passing!! I owe Dr. Heimbach my life!!! I was burned as a 12 year old kid in December of 1977. I spent 3 months in the burn unit at Harborview, and he & I became close, even sharing the same birthday! He was an extremely kind, caring, and compassionate man!!

Will Dacus

September 25, 2017

The best 9 years of my nursing career were spent in the HMC burn unit. Semi retired now I still hold fond memories of that time and Dr. Heimbach was a huge part of that time.

Golfing on Maui

Maxine Edwards

August 25, 2017

Christine Dhennin

August 23, 2017

I already miss such a nice surgeon and friend enjoying life while devoted to his patients and team and also to his colleagues and their works all over the world

Nicole Gibran

August 22, 2017

Mentor, Colleague, Friend for 27 years; like losing a parent

Dana Nakamura

August 20, 2017

I worked with Dr Heimbach as an OT in the Burn Center for many years. I learned so much from Dr Heimbach, Dr Loren Engrav and Dr Nicole Gibran and appreciated the partnership between Burn and Plastic Surgery for optimal outcomes for our thousands of patients. His sense of humor with daily email quips and talk of Civil War in the OR, as well frustrations with learning how to play Sudoku, will always be remembered! I always loved when he returned to Seattle from his month in Maui--- we called him Jose because of his gorgeous tan! I'm glad that he found peace and tranquility in his Hawaiian paradise. Thank you for all your contributions to burn care --- including the many MDs (I lost count after 20 Burn Fellows), nurses, therapists and other staff you trained through the years and leave as your legacy to burn care! Rest In Peace Dr H.

Francine Taylor

August 20, 2017

I worked with Dr. Heimbach at Harborview for the first nine years of my nursing career. He was a strong nursing advocate and a wonderful, skilled physician. He helped save the lives of many people. Rest in peace David.

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