Correspondence, Owen H. Wangensteen to J.H. Louw regarding Christiaan Barnard's work as a surgical fellow

Correspondence, Owen H. Wangensteen to J.H. Louw regarding Christiaan Barnard's work as a surgical fellow

Open Heart Surgery

Dr. Christaan Barnard of the Department of Surgery at the University of Capetown in South Africa came to the University of Minnesota as a surgical resident in January of 1956. From 1956-1958 he was trained on the pump oxygenator system for open heart surgery, conducted research on the development of an artificial heart valve for aortic insufficiency, and completed a PhD in surgery. A portion of his study was funded through a grant from the Dazian Foundation. Owen H. Wangensteen, Chief of the Department of Surgery at the University of Minnesota Medical School, regularly corresponded with Professor J.H. Louw of the Department of Surgery at the University of Capetown regarding Barnard's progress in Minnesota. Barnard returned to the University of Capetown in June of 1958. He performed the first successful open heart surgery in South Africa (August 1958), and became well-known for performing the first successful heart transplantation in the world (December 1967).

Owen H. Wangensteen

"Barnard, Christiaan N., 1956-1967," Box 5, Folder 142, Department of Surgery records, uarc1007, University of Minnesota Archives

University of Minnesota

14-Feb-56

University of Minnesota

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Open Heart Surgery

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