Pioneering Paulines

Born in Shanghai, Victor Chang studied at St. Paul’s College between 1950 and 1952. A Chinese-born Australian heart and lung (cardiothoracic) surgeon, Chang moved to Australia in 1953 and dedicated his life to advancing heart surgery across the Asia-Pacific.

Graduating from the University of Sydney, Chang trained across the UK and at the USA’s Mayo Clinic, though it was his work at Sydney’s St. Vincent’s Hospital that remains the most remembered. In 1984, he founded the National Heart Transplant Programme, an Australian first. Until his death, Chang’s team performed over 250 heart transplants. Recognising the need to reduce reliance on donors, Chang researched and developed low-cost artificial heart valves and artificial hearts.

Chang also knew the importance of international medical exchange. From 1978, he worked closely with Chinese doctors, sponsoring them to train in Australia. He has additionally advised Indonesia and Japan on setting up their heart transplant programmes. He was appointed to the Australia–China Council in 1982, improving Sino-Australian ties. In 1986, he was appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia.

Chang was murdered in 1991, the victim of a failed extortion attempt. He was given a state funeral from the New South Wales government and remains a household name in Australia today.

張任謙生於上海，在一九五〇至五二年間就讀聖保羅書院，於一九五三年移居澳洲，爲心肺外科醫生，致一生推動亞太地區心臟手術發展。

由悉尼大學畢業後，張氏先後於英美受訓，後返悉尼聖文森特醫院行醫。在一九八四年，張氏成立澳洲首個心臟移植中心，至去世時張氏團隊已完成超過二百五十次心臟移植手術。見及心臟捐贈者不敷，張氏致力硏發低成本人工心瓣膜與人工心臟。

張氏同時淸楚國際醫術交流之重要，在一九七八年起頻與中國醫生合作，贊助中國醫生赴澳訓練。張氏曾為設立印尼及日本國家心臟手術中心擔任顧問。於一九八二年，張氏獲委澳中理事會成員，致力促進兩國外交關係，在一九八六年獲澳洲政府頒授ＡＣ（澳洲同伴）勛章。

一九九一年，張氏被匪徒意圖綁架勒索，期間不幸遇害。新南威爾士州爲他擧行州葬，至今洋名Victor Chang仍於澳洲家傳戶曉。