Dr. Victor Peter Chang AC (Chang Yam Him 張任謙; pinyin: Zhāng Rènqiān; 21 November, 1936–4 July, 1991) was an Australian heart surgeon, and one of the pioneers of modern heart transplantation.

Born in Shanghai to Australian-born Chinese parents, he spent his childhood in Hong Kong, before coming to Australia in 1953 and completing his secondary schooling at Christian Brothers College, Lewisham. He studied medicine at the University of Sydney, graduating with a Bachelor of Medical Science with first class honours in 1960, and a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery in 1962, then worked for two years as an intern at St. Vincent's Hospital before leaving for further training in England. Chang apparently chose to study medicine because of his mothers death from breast cancer when he was 12 yeas old.

After becoming a Fellow of both the Royal College of Surgeons and American College of Surgeons, he returned to St. Vincent's Hospital in 1972 to join the cardiothoracic team there, which already included top surgeons Dr. Harry Windsor (who had performed Australia's first heart transplant in 1968) and Dr. Mark Shanahan . The advent of anti-rejection drugs in 1980 made heart transplants more feasible, and Chang lobbied politicians and businessmen to raise funds to establish a heart transplant programme at St. Vincent's. The first transplant under the programme was performed on the 14-year old Fiona Coote on 24 February, 1984.

Between 1984 and 1990 Dr. Chang's unit performed over 197 heart transplants and 14 heart-lung transplants. The unit had a high rate of success with 90% of those receiving transplants from the unit surviving beyond the first year. Concerned about a shortage of organ donors, he developed an artifical heart valve called the St. Vincent's Heart Valve, and he also worked on designing an artificial heart. In 1986, Victor Chang was awarded a Companion of the Order of Australia for his work.

Chang was murdered on 4 July, 1991, following an extortion attempt on his family. he was shot twice in the head with a .32 calibre pistol in Mosman after a heated argument with his attackers on his way to work. After a 10 day investigation, 15 police raids, and the questioning of over 30 people, Chiew Seng Liew was charged with the murder, and Jimmy Tan was charged as an accessory. The entire incident was allegedly related to issues surrounding transplant waiting lists.

On 15 February, 1994 the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, a body intended to focus on research into "the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of heart muscle diseases," was launched by Prime Minister Paul Keating, funded by the Federal Government, as well as public donations (including $3 million from patron Kerry Packer). Professor Robert M. Graham was named as the Executive Director of the Institute following an international search.

External links

• Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute

References

• Australia Through Time (1999) 7^th Edition, Edited by Olds M, Random House, Sydney, ISBN 0-091-83815-0
• Achievers Against the Odds, Victor Chang, Snippets of life