On Saturday 25 November, the Saturday Dispatch reported a decline in heart transplants in the public sector. Speaking at a conference to mark the 50th anniversary of the first human heart transplant in East London, Groote Schuur Hospital cardiothoracic surgeon Dr Tim Pennel reported that only five heart transplants [...]

In the months leading to the commemoration of the first heart transplant performed by Dr Chris Barnard at Groote Schuur Hospital 50 years ago, there has been intense engagement with the media. Against the background of the transplant, news included stories about the iconic event, about the progress in [...]

On Wednesday 8 November 2017, 330 guests attended a celebratory dinner hosted by the Groote Schuur Hospital Facility Board commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the 1st heart transplant. Upon arrival, guests were shuttled to the Heart of Cape Town Museum for a personal tour. This was followed by a [...]

From 2 – 4 December 2017, the “50 Years of Heart Transplantation: Courage and Innovation” Conference is set to be convened by the Christiaan Barnard Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery at  Groote Schuur Hospital where the first heart transplant was performed. The conference will host more than 300 delegates from [...]