The Operating Theatre Journal - Flipbook - Page 23
Professor John Wallwork retires
Our chairman retires after 42 years of
service, leaving behind him quite the
legacy for Royal Papworth Hospital
NHS Foundation Trust and the world of
transplantation.
After 42 years of service to Royal Papworth
Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, our Chairman,
Professor John Wallwork, has retired.
John certainly leaves with quite the legacy
and without doubt has helped put Papworth
Everard, Royal Papworth and also Cambridge
on the global map of medicine.
John welcoming Queen Elizabeth II to our new hospital for its of昀椀cial opening in 2019
In the mid-1980s he established, with Dr
David White, a research bio-tech company to
exploring xenotransplantation in an attempt
to alleviate the persistent donor organ
shortage.
Professor John Wallwork
Indeed, Professor Wallwork had already
started to play his part in transplantation
history prior to his arrival at Papworth, thanks
to his time in California as chief resident at
Stanford University Hospital.
It was here that he was part of the team
who performed the world’s 昀椀rst heart-lung
transplant in 1981. He also gave the 昀椀rst dose
of the transformative immunosuppressant
cyclosporine to a heart transplant patient.
From the moment he was appointed consultant
cardiothoracic
surgeon
at
then-called
Papworth Hospital in October 1981, he has
continued to play a major part in developing
heart and lung transplantation at the hospital
and globally.
In April 1984, he performed Europe’s 昀椀rst
successful heart-lung transplant and in
December 1986, alongside the late Professor
Sir Roy Calne, they carried out the world’s
昀椀rst triple heart-lung and liver transplant,
performed at Papworth.
John with Davina Thompson, the world’s
昀椀rst heart-lung and liver transplant patient
in 1986
He held both the medical director and
director of research and development roles at
Royal Papworth Hospital, as well as national
and international positions in transplantation,
before retiring from medical practice in 2010.
During his 10-year spell as Chair from 2014
to 2024 he oversaw the move of the hospital
to the Cambridge Biomedical Campus, its
renaming to ‘Royal’ Papworth Hospital NHS
Foundation Trust, an ‘outstanding’ rating by
the Care Quality Commission and the building
of the new Victor Phillip Dahdaleh Heart
and Lung Research Institute adjacent to the
hospital.
Recognised by the Queen with a CBE in 2012,
Professor Wallwork has been decorated with
lifetime achievement awards by a number of
organisations and was given an honorary chair
in cardiothoracic surgery by the University of
Cambridge.
Speaking ahead of his retirement, Professor
Wallwork (77) said: “Royal Papworth has been
a huge part of my life. I’ve probably spent
longer at the hospital then I’ve spent at home.
“It’s a small yet just the most wonderful place
and there’s still a real family feeling.
“As an organisation we’re very nimble and can
adapt to whatever the needs are. Indeed within
the wider healthcare system we have always
been concerned about helping out others and
collaborating with our many partners.
“We have always punched above our weight.
In my mind, Royal Papworth is like a village
cricket team that plays village cricket, county
cricket and Test cricket all at the same time on
the same pitch.
“I look back at my time here hoping I’ve left
it healthy and well and I’ll certainly miss a lot
of people.
“Our patient care is outstanding, our new
hospital on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus
is fantastic and our research will continue to
push boundaries, but it’s the people that truly
make Royal Papworth. It’s been a privilege to
work with so many amazing individuals.”
Thank you John. Everyone at Royal Papworth
Hospital NHS Foundation Trust wishes you the
very happiest of retirements.
We are pleased to welcome Dr Jag Ahluwalia
as our new Chair from 1 February 2024.
When responding to articles please quote ‘OTJ’
John with staff from across the Trust at his special retirement afternoon tea earlier this
week
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Issue 401
February
2024
23