Doctor Who Performed First Surgery at DeKalb Medical Dead at 91

Dr. Leslie "Buck" Buchanan, a well-known former chief of medical staff and early father to , died Wednesday, according to news reports. He was 91.

Buchanan, who performed the first surgery at the medical center after it opened in 1961, died of respiratory failure in Budd Terrace, Emory Healthcare, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Buchanan was deeply involved in the community. Among many duties, he taught at Emory University in the '90s and served in leadership positions at North Decatur Methodist Church. He was also a well-known Rotarian.

From the AJC story:

Dr. John S. Kennedy of Stone Mountain, who took over Dr. Buchanan’s 34-year surgical practice when the latter retired in 1987, said he quickly found his predecessor had two loyal groups of fans.

“His patients loved Dr. Buchanan, and referring doctors held him in high regard,” he said.

He also discovered Dr. Buchanan possessed a phenomenal memory.

Dr. Buchanan was able to give Dr. Kennedy a rundown off the top of his head on all his patients and the intricacies of their conditions.

If you have any memories about Dr. Buchanan, you can sign his Legacy.com guestbook, which already features a number of rememberances.

Were you a patient or friend of Dr. Buchanan? Tell us in the comments section below.