Biography of Doctor Victor Chang (Essay Sample)

Australia is proud of many of its people who have become world-famous, due to their dedicated effort in many fields. Doctor Victor Chang is an Australian cardiac surgeon and a pioneer of modern heart transplantation. This essay will outline his early life, his education, his career, achievements and later life.

His childhood was full of challenges. He was born in 21 November 1936 in Shanghai to an Australian-Chinese parents. He grew up in Hong Kong. His father sent him with his sister to Sydney in 1951 to stay with his extended family. 

In 1948 Victor's mother died from breast cancer at the age of 33, and because he was very close to his mom, her death had a significant impact to prompted him to consider a career in medicine at the age of 12. That’s why his early life was disruptive and unsettled.

He has studied in several countries. Firstly, he completed his primary education in Hong Kong in China. Secondly, completed secondary school in Australia, when He attended Belmore Boy's High School and Cristian Brothers High School. After that he received his higher education at the University of Sydney, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Medical Science with First Class Honours, Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery degree in 1962. After completing his medical education, Chang worked at Saint Vincent Hospital under the tutelage of cardiac surgeon Mark Shanahan, and then he trained in the UK and the US as a surgeon before returning to Australia. In fact, Chang moved in several countries in order to obtain a distinguished level of education and training experience.

Dr. Victor Chang had a successful surgical career and lots of achievements. Firstly, he lobbied politicians and businessmen to raise money to set up a heart transplant program in St. Vincent. In addition, On April 8, 1984, a team of doctors led by Him operated on Fiona Cote (14 years old) who became the youngest heart transplant patient in Australia. Plus, Chang's team had a high success rate in performing heart transplantations, his unit had a high success rate as 90% of those who received transplants from the unit survived after the first year, it has performed more than 197 heart transplants and 14 heart-lung transplants. And he pioneered the development of an artificial heart valve. He had Many great achievements, some of them were not completed due to his death.

Dr. Chang continued to share his knowledge and developing up until his tragic death. Chang died after being shot On 4 July 1991, he was shot twice in the head in a failed extortion attempt by two Malaysian men. Chang was given a state funeral at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Darlinghurst and a state funeral service at Mary’s Cathedral, Sydney. In addition, after his death, the Victor Chang Heart Research Institute was established, and he is remembered by Victor Chang Science Building at Christian Brothers High School. But, his achievements did not end after his death. Firstly, he made great efforts in educating others, as he  was appointed Companion of the Order of Australia for his service in international relations between Australia and China and the medical sciences. Also, he organised sponsorship to teach East Asian students, so they can learn in developed countries and return to improve in their home countries. Finally, Dr. Chang made significant progress on the design of an artificial heart, but he didn’t finish working on his research projects because of his death.

Doctor Victor Chang is a famous doctor because he saved many patients lives during his years of work. Also, his contribution to society still continuing until now through the doctors who learned from his researches. In fact, successful doctors are a treasure of pride for their countries, so Australia are lucky to had one such a person, Dr. Victor Chang.