Today’s animated Google Doodle is dedicated to Chinese-Australian surgeon Dr. Kelly. Victor Chang.
Dr. Chang, a pioneer of cardiac and transplant surgery, was born in Shanghai on November 21, 1936.
He was tragically murdered by two men in 1991, aged just 54, in a failed blackmail attempt.
Today he would have turned 87 years old.
Who was Dr. Victor Chang?
Dr. Chang is considered a pioneer in cardiovascular surgery and transplantation and a humanitarian.
He has been hailed as “the most eminent physician in the Southern Hemisphere” and his groundbreaking work has had an impact not only on cardiovascular patients in Australia and Southeast Asia, but throughout the world.
His most important contributions to cardiology include the development of the artificial heart valve and artificial ventricular assist device, which are used throughout the world for severe heart disease.
It was significantly cheaper than previous models and was therefore available worldwide for use in life-saving procedures.
In 1984, he led a team of surgeons who successfully performed a heart transplant on 14-year-old Fiona Coote.
She defied all odds to become the youngest woman to undergo a heart transplant in Australia.
At a young age, Dr. Chang’s mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, which sparked the teenager’s interest in a career in medicine.
He studied medicine and surgery at the University of Sydney and then began an internship at St Vincent’s Hospital and worked in various hospitals around the world.
In 1972 he returned to Australia and became a cardiothoracic surgeon at St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney, where he saved the lives of hundreds of patients.
Passionate about sharing knowledge and skills to improve global health, he founded the Victor Chang Foundation in 1984. The Foundation provides training grants for South East Asian surgeons to send them to St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney to train in advanced cardiac surgery, especially cardiac surgery. Transplantation. Grants are also awarded to programs studying innovation in cardiac surgery.
In 1994, a research institute was founded in his honor, named in honor of his legacy. The research institute continues to develop means for the treatment, prevention and diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases. Thanks to these organizations, medical developments are further advanced and lives are saved.
Dr. Chang is known for his compassionate approach to patients. He was named Australian of the Century at the 1999 People’s Choice Awards and received Australia’s highest honour, the Companion of the Order of Australia in 1986.
Dr. Chang is survived by his wife, Ann Simmons, and three children: Vanessa, Matthew and Marcus.
Sensitive and generous
His daughter Vanessa wrote in a Google Doodle to honor his life and work: “Dad firmly believed that true success in life lies in sharing knowledge and experiences.”
“The key to continued success and recognition of your efforts, he says, lies in passing on knowledge so that others can continue the work in your absence. He firmly believed that there was no point in keeping knowledge to oneself.”
She continued: “When it came to teaching foreign visitors, his approach went beyond just teaching. He made sure that all aspects of their life in an unfamiliar country were covered.
“Based on his experience as a migrant, my father was able to understand the challenges people face when leaving their home countries, often without their families. His goal was to create a supportive environment that would make their transition as smooth as possible.”