Victor Chang, a Chinese-Australian surgeon, is being honoured by Google on the occasion of his birth anniversary for his groundbreaking contribution in the field of modern heart transplantation technology.
Google honoured Chang with a Doodle on Tuesday, which included a sketch of the talented cardiac surgeon with an animated pulse rate in the background. The Doodle was created in his honour.
Who is Dr Victor Chang, pioneering surgeon being honoured by Google Doodle
Chang, one of the most influential figures in the history of cardiovascular surgery and transplantation, is known as a pioneer.
The development of an artificial heart valve and an artificial heart assist device, both of which are used all over the world in the treatment of serious cardiac diseases, is one of the most important contributions that he has made to the field of cardiology.
When compared to earlier versions, Chang’s artificial heart valve offered a significant cost benefit, which increased its accessibility on a global scale for usage in life-saving surgeries.
A teenage girl named Fiona Coote, who was just 14 years old at the time, became Australia’s youngest heart transplant survivor when she underwent a successful heart transplant in 1984. The doctor led a team of surgeons that successfully completed the procedure.
In the same year, Chang established the National Heart Transplant Programme at St. Vincent’s Hospital, which has continued to carry out surgical procedures ever since it was established.
His birth took place on November 21st, 1936, in Shanghai, China; however, he spent the majority of his life in Australia. However, he passed away under terrible circumstances, as he was shot to death on July 4, 1991, at the age of 55, in an attempt to extort money from him.
According to a large number of people in Australia, Chang’s contributions to the field of medicine merit recognition.
In 1986, he was presented with the Companion of the Order of Australia, which is the highest honour that can be conferred in the country.
In the year 1999, he was selected as the “Australian of the Century” by the people who participated in the People’s Choice Awards in that country.
In recognition of the legacy that Victor Chang left behind, the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute was founded in 1994 and gave its name to the institution.
Since its inception, the institute has maintained its dedication to the pursuit of identifying remedies, preventative measures, and diagnostic tools for cardiovascular illnesses.
On the website of the organisation, it is stated that Chang was a compassionate surgeon and humanitarian who was enthusiastic about the potential of discovery.
“He had a bold vision to establish a medical research institute of world-class calibre, knowing that while he could save hundreds of lives through surgery, he could save thousands more through research,” the author writes.
The terrible passing of Chang had caused shockwaves to travel through the medical world as well as the general population.
As a way of paying tribute to the talented physician, the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute has stated that he was aware of the fact that “while he could save hundreds of lives through surgery, he could save thousands more through research.”
After completing his education and gaining experience in several countries, he eventually settled back in Australia.
After receiving his Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery degrees from Sydney University, he went on to receive training in cardiothoracic surgery at the Mayo Clinic and in the United Kingdom.
Over the course of over twenty years, he worked alongside his colleagues, Dr. Harry Windsor and Dr. Mark Shanahan, who were responsible for the very first heart transplant ever performed in Australia as early as 1968.
His mother had passed away from breast cancer when victor was young, and it was around this time that he established a passion for the medical field.