Christiaan Barnard
Born 1922 · Age 103
South African cardiothoracic surgeon who performed the world's first human-to-human heart transplant (3 Dec 1967). Professor and pioneer of clinical heart transplantation and heterotopic transplant techniques.
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Life & Career Timeline
Born in Beaufort West, Cape Province
Christiaan Neethling Barnard born to Adam Barnard (Dutch Reformed Church minister) and Maria Elisabeth de Swart in Beaufort West, Union of South Africa.
Matriculated from Beaufort West High School
Completed secondary education in Beaufort West.
Obtained MB ChB, University of Cape Town
Qualified in medicine (MB ChB) from the University of Cape Town Medical School.
Internship and residency at Groote Schuur Hospital
Completed house appointments and early surgical training at Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town.
Worked as general practitioner in Ceres
Served as a GP in the rural town of Ceres after initial hospital posts.
Married Aletta Gertruida Louw
First marriage to nurse Aletta Louw while practising in Ceres.
Returned to Cape Town; Senior Resident Medical Officer
Returned to Cape Town and worked at City Hospital as Senior Resident Medical Officer and registrar at Groote Schuur.
Research into intestinal atresia (canine experiments)
Experimental work reproducing intestinal atresia in fetal puppies and developing a surgical remedy; technique saved lives of 10 babies in Cape Town and was adopted internationally.
Master of Medicine and MD, University of Cape Town
Received Master of Medicine and an MD for dissertation 'The treatment of tuberculous meningitis'.
Travelled to University of Minnesota on scholarship
Accepted a two-year scholarship under Owen Wangensteen; assigned GI work and exposed to open-heart surgery environment under Walt Lillehei.
Diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis
Diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (noted he struggled with it since 1956 during postgraduate work in the USA).
Published canine intestinal atresia paper (Barnard & Louw)
1960s-era foundational experimental paper (journal citation Barnard & Louw 1956) on genesis of intestinal atresia.
First experience running a heart-lung machine
Helped run the heart-lung machine in Minneapolis (Gott/Lillehei lab) — pivotal exposure to open-heart surgery.
MSc in Surgery and PhD awarded (UCT)
Received Master of Science in Surgery for thesis on the aortic valve and a PhD for 'The aetiology of congenital intestinal atresia'.
Appointed Head of Department of Experimental Surgery, Groote Schuur
Returned to South Africa and appointed head of Experimental Surgery at Groote Schuur Hospital with a joint post at the University of Cape Town; initiated open-heart surgery program using an NIH-granted pump-oxygenator.
Travelled to Moscow to meet Vladimir Demikhov
Visited pioneering transplant surgeon Demikhov and credited him as a father of heart and lung transplantation.
Appointed Head of Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery (UCT teaching hospitals)
Elevated to lead cardiothoracic surgery at teaching hospitals associated with University of Cape Town.
Promoted to Associate Professor, Dept. of Surgery (UCT)
Academic promotion reflecting growing surgical and research contributions.
Designed and implanted prosthetic heart valve (UCT prosthesis)
Developed a prosthetic valve with Carl Goosen; had early clinical success and published results mid-1960s.
Had experimentally transplanted 48 canine hearts (by 1967)
Performed extensive dog-to-dog experimental heart transplants (48) to develop technique prior to human surgery.
Performed South Africa's second kidney transplant (Groote Schuur)
In October 1967 performed a successful kidney transplant; the patient lived for 20 years.
Donor Denise Darvall rendered brain-dead
25-year-old Denise Darvall injured in a traffic accident and declared brain-dead; her father consented to organ donation.
Performed first human-to-human heart transplant
Performed the world's first successful human-to-human orthotopic heart transplant at Groote Schuur Hospital; recipient Louis Washkansky temporarily recovered.
Death of transplant recipient Louis Washkansky
Washkansky died 18 days after transplant from pneumonia, likely related to immunosuppression.
Published interim report in South African Medical Journal
S. Afr. Med. J. published Barnard's interim report 'A human cardiac transplant: an interim report of a successful operation performed at Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town'.
Reported worldwide heart transplant activity in 1968
Approximately 100 heart transplants were performed worldwide during 1968 by various teams; only about a third survived more than three months.
Global publicity and rise to international fame
Intense global media attention; journalists and film crews covered Groote Schuur and Barnard's patients; famous worldwide.
One-night affair with Gina Lollobrigida and audience with Pope Paul VI
Reported extramarital affair (Jan 1968) with actress Gina Lollobrigida; during that Rome visit he had an audience with Pope Paul VI.
Second human heart transplant (Philip Blaiberg)
Performed second transplant; patient Philip Blaiberg discharged and lived for ~19 months (returned home, active life).
Published autobiography 'One Life'
First autobiography published; proceeds used to set up Chris Barnard Fund for research into heart disease and transplants.
Divorced first wife Aletta
Divorce following international fame and strains on family life.
Married Barbara Zoellner
Second marriage (Barbara Zoellner, an heiress); they had two children.
Promoted to Professor of Surgical Science (UCT)
Elevated to full professorship in the Department of Surgery at the University of Cape Town.
Birth of son Frederick
Child with Barbara Zoellner born (Frederick, 1972).
Performed first heterotopic ('piggy-back') heart transplant
Introduced heterotopic transplantation idea and performed first such transplant (donor heart auxiliary to native heart) — innovation for marginal donors/recipients with pulmonary hypertension.
Birth of son Christiaan Jr.
Child (Christiaan Jr.) born to Barnard and Barbara Zoellner (1974).
Start of major heterotopic transplant series at Groote Schuur
From Nov 1974 through Dec 1983 Groote Schuur performed 49 heterotopic heart transplants in 43 patients; one-year survival >60%, five-year >36%.
Worked with Jacques Losman on heterotopic techniques
Set junior colleague Jacques Losman to develop left ventricular bypass and heterotopic techniques; formalized auxiliary transplant approaches.
Founding member of the World Cultural Council
Named as one of founding members of interdisciplinary World Cultural Council.
Retired as Head of Dept. of Cardiothoracic Surgery
Retired at end of 1983 due to rheumatoid arthritis in his hands which ended his surgical career (age 61).
Named Professor Emeritus (UCT)
Honorary academic emeritus title awarded following retirement from active surgery.
Scientist-in-Residence at Oklahoma Transplantation Institute (approx. two years)
Spent ~two years advising and acting as consultant in Oklahoma City and other institutions after retirement.
Research advisor to Clinique La Prairie (Switzerland)
Served as research advisor for controversial rejuvenation therapy clinic in Switzerland.
Glycel promotion and FDA withdrawal controversy
Promoted Glycel 'anti-aging' cream; approval subsequently withdrawn by US FDA; reputational damage reported.
Established Christiaan Barnard Foundation (approx.)
Founded charitable foundation dedicated to helping underprivileged children worldwide (text indicates established during his remaining years; approximate timing late 1980s).
Married Karin Setzkorn (third marriage)
Third marriage to model Karin Setzkorn (married 1988; divorced 2000).
Birth of son Armin
Child Armin born to Christiaan Barnard and Karin Setzkorn.
Published autobiography 'The Second Life'
Second autobiography published in 1993, reflecting on career and life.
Birth of daughter Lara
Child Lara born (with Karin Setzkorn) in 1997.
Divorced third wife Karin Setzkorn
Divorce finalized in 2000 after marriage in 1988.
Died in Paphos, Cyprus (severe asthma attack)
Died suddenly while on holiday in Paphos; early reports of heart attack; autopsy confirmed death by severe asthma attack.
Posthumous allegation reported by US Congresswoman
In Oct 2016 Congresswoman Ann McLane Kuster publicly alleged Barnard sexually assaulted her decades earlier; allegation was reported in media posthumously.
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