denton arthur cooley (august 22, 1920 – november 18, 2016) was an american heart surgeon. he was known for doing the first implantation of a complete artificial heart. cooley was also the founder and surgeon in-chief of the texas heart institute, chief of cardiovascular surgery at st. luke's episcopal hospital, consultant in cardiovascular surgery at texas children's hospital, and a clinical professor of surgery at the university of texas medical school at houston.