Koop, called ‘Chick’ (1916– )

US surgeon and public health official. Surgeon-in-chief of Children's Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he also taught at the University of Pennsylvania (1948–81). Regarded as a superb paediatric surgeon, his operation separating the Dominican Siamese twins in 1974 received international attention. Appointed by President Ronald Reagan as Surgeon General of the USA (1981–89), he was at first assumed to be conservative in his views, but proved to be an independent and gradually surprised everyone by his views on such matters as smoking and AIDS. On leaving public office he joined the faculty of Dartmouth College and continued to be much in demand as a speaker on issues of public health. Koop was born in New York City.