Victor Chang | |
|---|---|
 Chang in 1987 | |
| Born | Chang Yam Him 21 November 1936 Shanghai, China |
| Died | 4 July 1991 (aged 54) Sydney, Australia |
| Cause of death | Murder (ballistic trauma) |
| Nationality | Chinese and Australian |
| Other names | Victor Peter Chang |
| Education | University of Sydney |
| Years active | 1960–1991 |
| Known for | Pioneer of heart transplantation |
| Medical career | |
| Profession | Heart surgeon |
| Institutions | St Vincent's Hospital |
| Sub-specialties | Cardiothoracic surgery Heart transplant |
| Research | Development of an artificial heart valve with the formation of Pacific Biomedical Enterprises in Singapore. |
| Awards | Companion of the Order of Australia |
| Victor Chang | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional Chinese | 張任謙 | ||||||||||
| Hanyu Pinyin | Zhāng Rènqiān | ||||||||||
| |||||||||||
Victor Peter Chang AC (born Chang Yam Him; 21 November 1936 – 4 July 1991) was a Chinese-born Australian cardiac surgeon and a pioneer of modern heart transplantation in Australia.
His murder in 1991 stunned Australia and is considered one of the most notorious in the country's history.[1][2] Chang was given a state funeral, and in 1999 he was voted Australian of the Century at the People's Choice Awards.[3][4][5]
After completing his medical studies at the University of Sydney and working in St Vincent's Hospital, he trained in the United Kingdom and the United States as a surgeon before returning to Australia. At St Vincent's Hospital, he helped establish the National Cardiac Transplant Unit, the country's leading centre for heart and lung transplants. Chang's team had a high success rate in performing heart transplants, and he pioneered the development of an artificial heart valve.[6] In 1986, he was appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia for his "service to international relations between Australia and China and to medical science".[3]
In 1991, Chang was murdered by two young men in a failed extortion attempt.[3] His legacy includes setting up the Victor Chang Foundation. Additionally, after his death, the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute was created, and the Dr. Victor Chang Lowy Packer Building at St Vincent's Hospital was established.
- ^ Usher, Anna (3 July 2020). "Mosman History: The Murder of Heart Surgeon Dr. Victor Chang, the man named as "Australian of the Century"". Mosman Collective. Archived from the original on 11 October 2022. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
- ^ Bath, Gemma (4 July 2022). "Dr. Victor Chang saved hundreds of lives. 31 years ago today, he was murdered". Mamamia. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
- ^ a b c Doyle, Grant. "THE HEART OF THE MATTER". DIGITAL DONE WRITE. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
:0was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Verghis, Sharon (29 October 2009). "TIME: 50 Years in the South Pacific". Time. Archived from the original on 6 November 2009. Retrieved 9 November 2009.
- ^ "Dr. Victor Chang's artificial heart valve Archived 24 March 2019 at the Wayback Machine". National Archives of Australia. Accessed 17 August 2009,.