Christiaan Barnard

NAME Christiaan Neethling Barnard (often called Chris Barnard)

WHAT FAMOUS FOR Christiaan Barnard is renowned for performing the world's first successful human-to-human heart transplant on December 3, 1967, at Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa. 

BIRTH Christiaan Neethling Barnard was born on November 8, 1922, in the small Karoo town of Beaufort West, Cape Province, South Africa. The town was located approximately 500 kilometers from Cape Town in South Africa's arid interior region called the Great Karoo.

FAMILY BACKGROUND Barnard was born into a modest family as the third of four surviving brothers. His father, Adam Hendrik Barnard, was a Dutch Reformed Church minister who served the "coloured" (mixed-race) community during a time of heightened racial segregation. This caused the family to be largely ostracized by their fellow Afrikaners. 

His mother, Maria Elisabeth Swart Barnard, was described as an austere, God-fearing woman who drove her sons to "always be first," threatening to whip them if they underperformed at school. The family lived a Spartan lifestyle due to their modest circumstances.

A pivotal family tragedy occurred when Barnard's younger brother Abraham died of congenital heart disease at the age of 18 months. This death haunted the family and may have influenced Barnard's later choice of a medical career, as a young Barnard confided to his brothers that he might want to become a doctor to help "others with poor hearts". (1)

His brother, Marius Barnard, also became a cardiac surgeon and was his main assistant.

Marius Barnard in 1968

CHILDHOOD Barnard's childhood was characterized as harsh, much like the semi-desert environment that surrounded Beaufort West. The family led a Spartan lifestyle, and despite intense financial challenges, his parents ensured their sons were well educated. His mother Maria's coldness was partly attributed to the loss of her second-born son Abraham, but she maintained high expectations for her remaining children. Young Christiaan excelled at school, learning music and playing sports, sometimes competing barefoot.

EDUCATION Barnard matriculated with a first-class degree in 1940. He then entered the University of Cape Town Medical School, where he graduated with an MBChB degree in 1946. By his own admission, he was not an outstanding student academically but worked hard and placed near the middle of his class. After completing his internship at Groote Schuur Hospital, he initially worked as a general practitioner in the small town of Ceres.

In 1951, Barnard returned to Cape Town where he completed both a Master's degree and a doctorate in medicine. In 1956, he received a scholarship for postgraduate training in cardiothoracic surgery at the University of Minnesota in the United States. There, he studied under legendary cardiovascular surgeon C. Walton Lillehei and learned about the emerging field of open-heart surgery. Barnard later described his two years in Minnesota as the most "fascinating" of his life.

CAREER RECORD 1946: Graduated from the University of Cape Town Medical School.

1946-1948: Internship at Groote Schuur Hospital, followed by work as a general practitioner in Ceres.

1951: Took a junior medical post at City Hospital.

1956-1958: Postgraduate training in cardiothoracic surgery at the University of Minnesota, USA.

1958: Returned to Cape Town to establish Groote Schuur Hospital's first heart unit and soon headed its Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery. He started the first open-heart surgery program on the African continent.

1961: Became head of heart and chest surgery at the University of Cape Town's hospitals.

1962: Promoted to Associate Professor in the Department of Surgery at the University of Cape Town.

1967: Successfully performed South Africa's first kidney transplant.

December 3, 1967: Led the surgical team that performed the world's first human-to-human orthotopic heart transplant on Louis Washkansky.

1968-1983: Continued to make major contributions to organ transplantation, including developing heterotopic ('piggy-back') heart transplants and advancing the concept of brain death and organ donation.

1972: Promoted to Professor of Surgical Science.

APPEARANCE Barnard was notably handsome and charismatic, often described as having good looks and a telegenic smile that made him a media magnet. He was called the "film star surgeon" due to his striking appearance and charm. His youthful, attractive appearance set him apart from the archetypal image of an eminent surgeon. Colleagues described him as having an unforgettable blend of vision, intelligence, charm, warmth and humour.

Christiaan Barnard in 1968

FASHION Barnard was known for being immaculately dressed and always punctual. His good appearance and fashionable presentation contributed to his celebrity status and media appeal. In his later years, he became involved in promoting fashion-related products and maintained a sophisticated image throughout his public life.

CHARACTER  Christiaan Barnard was a man of striking contradictions—a personality as complex as it was compelling. Colleagues described him as intense, assertive, fiercely determined, and relentlessly ambitious, with an unquenchable drive for success. But he was also known to be volatile, stubborn, and ruthless, with a short fuse both inside and outside the operating theatre.

He possessed a razor-sharp memory, a serious and focused demeanor, and extraordinary courage—qualities that helped him break medical ground. Yet his outspoken nature and unorthodox ideas could alienate those around him. Some admired his boldness; others found him abrasive.

SPEAKING VOICE Barnard was an articulate and an excellent public speaker. He handled even the most difficult interviewers expertly and became a popular speaker on luxury ocean cruises. His ability to communicate effectively with the media was a key factor in his celebrity status.

SENSE OF HUMOUR Barnard was described as having warmth and humour as part of his unforgettable personality blend. His sense of humor contributed to his charm and ability to entertain audiences through public lectures and television appearances. On heart transplantation, he remarked:

“It is infinitely better to transplant a heart than to bury it to be devoured by worms.”

RELATIONSHIPS Barnard's personal life was tumultuous, marked by three marriages and divorces. His relationship history included:

Barnard married Aletta Gertruida Louw (known as "Louwtjie") in 1948 a nurse he met at university while he was practising medicine in Ceres, a rural town in the Cape Province, South Africa.. They had two children, Deirdre (born 1950) and André (born 1951). The marriage suffered due to Barnard's career ambitions and celebrity status after the heart transplant. André tragically died in 1984.

He married fashion model Barbara Zoellner in 1970. Barbara was 19 years old at the time. The wedding received significant media attention, and news reports noted that journalists were barred from the ceremony in South Africa. After the wedding, Barnard and his new bride left Johannesburg for a round-the-world honeymoon. Barbara left him after 12 years, citing his moodiness.

Barnard married Karin Setzkorn,  a South African model young enough to be his granddaughter, with an age difference of 40-41 years in 1988. They had two children, Armin and Lara.

Barnard was also linked romantically with famous actresses including Gina Lollobrigida and Sophia Loren. His affair with Gina Lollobrigida reportedly contributed to the break-up of his first marriage. He was described as a serial womanizer who bedded famous European film stars.

MONEY AND FAME The heart transplant operation transformed Barnard from an unknown surgeon to a worldwide celebrity overnight. He famously said, "On Saturday, I was a surgeon in South Africa, very little known. On Monday, I was world renowned". His newfound fame gave him opportunities to mix with presidents, prime ministers, royalty, and popes.

Barnard embraced the high-life of the jet-set, becoming addicted to fame and the celebrity lifestyle. Later in life, he became involved in various business ventures including restaurants. He also lent his name to promoting anti-aging creams and advertising products ranging from breakfast cereals to engine oil. His controversial involvement with Glycel, an expensive anti-aging skin cream, damaged his reputation when the product's approval was withdrawn by the US Food and Drug Administration.

FOOD AND DRINK Christiaan Barnard authored a book titled 50 Ways to a Healthy Heart, which includes strategies for improving heart health through lifestyle choices. The book suggests "drinking red wine" as one of the tips for a healthy heart.

Barnard's jet-set lifestyle included dining at fine establishments and attending high-profile social events. His business ventures included ownership of several restaurants.

MUSIC AND ARTS As a child, Barnard learned music, indicating an early exposure to the arts. His sophisticated lifestyle and celebrity status brought him into contact with cultural figures and artistic circles.

LITERATURE  Barnard was a prolific writer who authored 18 books throughout his life. His literary works included his autobiographies: One Life (1969)  and The Second Life (1993) - his second autobiography

He also wrote popular health books for the public including Heart Attack - You Don't Have To Die in 1971 and 50 Ways to a Healthy Heart in 2001.

Barnard also contributed a weekly column to the Cape Times for many years

NATURE Barnard transformed a large sheep farm into a game reserve. His hometown, Beaufort West, is situated in the Great Karoo, an arid region, and the Christiaan Barnard Museum in Beaufort West is located near various natural attractions like the Karoo National Park, Swartberg Mountain Complex, Meiringspoort, and Cango Caves.

PETS Barnard worked extensively with laboratory animals, particularly dogs (performing nearly 50 animal heart transplants in preparation for the human procedure).

HOBBIES AND SPORTS Barnard's most notable hobby was training his daughter Deirdre to become a world-class water skier. He was particularly close to his firstborn Deirdre and invested significant time training her as a champion water skier. He even purchased a boat in 1961, which he christened "Louwtjie" after his first wife. However, he later realized he was using his daughter to satisfy his own ambitions and stopped pushing her competitive career.

SCIENCE AND MATHS Early in his career, he developed a remedy for intestinal atresia, a birth defect that was previously fatal. His technique saved the lives of ten babies in Cape Town and was adopted by surgeons in Britain and the United States.

His experimental work included extensive research with laboratory animals, particularly in heart transplantation techniques. He worked with gifted laboratory technician Hamilton Naki, conducting experiments that laid the groundwork for the first human heart transplant.

PHILOSOPHY & THEOLOGY Barnard was raised in a Christian household with his father being a Dutch Reformed Church minister. However, he later became an outspoken advocate for euthanasia, writing about the topic and arguing for the right to die with dignity. He viewed the heart pragmatically, explaining that it was "nothing more than a pump" rather than the romantic organ of emotion that the public perceived it to be.

His philosophical approach to medicine was evident in his famous quote: "For a dying man it is not a difficult decision because he knows he is at the end. If a lion chases you to the bank of a river filled with crocodiles, you will leap into the water convinced you have a chance to swim to the other side. But you would never accept such odds if there were no lion".

POLITICS Barnard's political views were complex, particularly regarding apartheid. While he opposed apartheid policies and refused to segregate his patients according to race, he also served as an unofficial ambassador for South Africa, which created controversy. The South African government asked him to act as an ambassador for the country, and as a patriot, he mostly obliged on the world stage.

However, at home he openly opposed apartheid, inserting his political views into public speeches and newspaper columns. This led to clashes with hospital authorities and reprimands from politicians, including a warning that he could no longer be protected. The government eventually withdrew his VIP privileges and access to private airport lounges.

Barnard initially passed over a possible black donor for Louis Washkansky to avoid international criticism of South Africa's apartheid policies. He worked with Hamilton Naki, a black South African laboratory technician, acknowledging Naki's significant contributions despite the racial segregation of the time.

His 1978 visit to Kenya as Attorney-General Charles Njonjo's guest caused a political controversy when he made statements that appeared to defend South Africa's policies.

SCANDAL Several scandals marked Barnard's later career:

His promotion of Glycel, an expensive anti-aging cream, became a major scandal when the US Food and Drug Administration withdrew its approval. This venture, along with his appearances in television commercials, tarnished his reputation as a serious scientist.

His numerous affairs and three divorces created ongoing scandal, particularly his relationship with Gina Lollobrigida which he publicized, contributing to his first marriage's breakdown.

Some colleagues and critics accused him of being a "surgical opportunist" who had benefited from work by others, particularly Dr. Norman Shumway. He was also criticized for excessive publicity and pandering to the press.

HEART TRANSPLANTS Christiaan Barnard, who managed to combine movie-star good looks with a surgeon’s steady hand, shot to international fame on December 3, 1967, when he performed the world’s first successful human-to-human heart transplant at Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town. One moment he was a relatively obscure South African cardiac surgeon; the next, he was fielding calls from Time magazine and dining with Sophia Loren. It was that kind of operation.

The procedure itself was a mix of medical brilliance, bold improvisation, and just a touch of nerve. The patient was Louis Washkansky, a 54-year-old grocer whose heart was giving out in a fairly determined fashion. The donor was Denise Darvall, a 25-year-old woman tragically killed in a car accident. Barnard, leading a team of 20 to 30 doctors, nurses, and assorted specialists (including his brother Marius), stitched Denise’s heart into Louis in an operation that took roughly five hours. There was a tense moment—or several—when the new heart refused to get with the program, but Barnard coaxed it into action, and it began beating on its own. Just like that, medical history changed.

Washkansky survived the operation and even sat up in bed chatting with his wife, which in 1967 was roughly equivalent to someone texting from Mars. Sadly, he died 18 days later—not from heart failure, but from pneumonia, a side effect of the heavy immunosuppressants used to prevent organ rejection. Still, it was a staggering achievement. 

Barnard’s second patient, Philip Blaiberg, lived for 19 months and even went home—an unthinkable outcome just weeks earlier. By the time Barnard was on his fifth and sixth heart transplants, the results were even more astonishing: one patient lived nearly 13 years, another an impressive 24. That’s a lot of borrowed time.

The impact of Barnard’s work was immense. His first transplant didn’t just save (some) lives—it shifted the boundaries of what medicine could imagine. Yes, early attempts were plagued by rejection and infection, but advances like cyclosporine eventually turned heart transplants from a miraculous gamble into a viable, even routine, medical option.

HEALTH AND PHYSICAL FITNESS Barnard suffered from rheumatoid arthritis throughout much of his adult life, first diagnosed in 1956 during his postgraduate training in Minneapolis. The condition progressively worsened, spreading from his feet to his hands, neck, hips, shoulders, knees, and wrists. By 1983, the arthritis in his hands had become so severe that it forced his retirement from surgery. (1)

He also suffered from asthma and carried an inhaler with him at all times, greatly fearing death from an asthmatic attack. Ironically, he died from an asthma-induced bronchial blockage in 2001. Despite his health challenges, his heart remained in excellent condition until his death.

HOMES Barnard lived primarily in Cape Town, South Africa, where he established his medical career. In his later years, he spent time in various locations including Austria, where he worked with the Christiaan Barnard Foundation. 

His childhood home in Beaufort West is now part of the Christiaan Barnard Museum.

TRAVEL Barnard's celebrity status after the heart transplant led to extensive international travel. He became part of the international jet-set, traveling the world and meeting with world leaders, royalty, and celebrities. His travels included audiences with the Pope, meetings with American presidents, and social encounters with European film stars. He was a popular speaker on luxury ocean cruises and maintained a globe-trotting lifestyle throughout his fame.

DEATH Christiaan Barnard died on September 2, 2001, at the age of 78 in Paphos, Cyprus. He collapsed in the morning while sitting by a swimming pool while on holiday at the Coral Bay Hotel after an evening swim. Contrary to initial reports suggesting a heart attack, he died from an asthma-induced bronchial blockage. His heart was found to be in excellent condition.

He was cremated and his ashes were buried in the garden of his childhood home in Beaufort West, where his tombstone bears the simple words "I came back home".

APPEARANCES IN MEDIA Barnard became one of the most media-savvy medical figures of his time. His charisma and telegenic appearance made him a frequent guest on television programs worldwide. Notable media appearances included:

The Dick Cavett Show (multiple appearances in 1970)

Numerous press conferences and interviews

Television commercials for various products

Documentary features and news programs

He appeared on the covers of major magazines including Time, Life, and Newsweek within weeks of the first heart transplant. His media presence was so significant that he became a household name globally.

ACHIEVEMENTS World's First Human-to-Human Heart Transplant : This is his most significant and widely recognized achievement.

Pioneering Open-Heart Surgery in Africa: Established the first open-heart surgery program on the African continent at Groote Schuur Hospital in 1958.

South Africa's First Kidney Transplant (1967): Successfully performed this procedure.

Development of Heterotopic ("Piggy-back") Heart Transplants: A major contribution to organ transplantation.

Advancing Concepts of Brain Death and Organ Donation: Played a role in the ethical and legal discussions surrounding these critical issues in transplantation.

Innovative Surgical Technique for Infant Intestinal Defects: Early in his career, he developed a method to correct a birth defect in babies' intestines, saving many lives.

Authored Health Books: Wrote 50 Ways to a Healthy Heart, contributing to public health education.

Source; (1) Heart of Cape Town Museum