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.
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 first heart-lung transplant in 1981. He also gave the first 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 first successful heart-lung transplant and in December 1986, alongside the late Professor Sir Roy Calne, they carried out the world’s first triple heart-lung and liver transplant, performed at Papworth.
John with Davina Thompson, the world's first heart-lung and liver transplant patient in 1986
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.
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.
John welcoming Queen Elizabeth II to our new hospital for its official opening in 2019
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.
John with staff from across the Trust at his special retirement afternoon tea earlier this week
“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.
John Wallwork is retiring after 42 years at Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Professor Wallwork timeline
1946: Born in Accrington, England
1970: Graduated from the University of Edinburgh with a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery
1974: Diploma of Fellow Royal College of Surgeons
1975 – 1981: Worked as a registrar in Glasgow, Scotland; Adelaide, Australia; Stanford, California; and St Bart’s, London.
1981: Part of the team who performed the world’s first heart-lung transplant in Stanford, California
1981 – 2011: Consultant cardiothoracic surgeon, Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, and associate lecturer, University of Cambridge
1984: Led the team who performed Europe’s first successful heart-lung transplant
1986: Alongside Professor Sir Roy Calne, performed the world’s first triple heart-lung and liver transplant
1989 – 2006: Director of transplant service, Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
1993 – 1996: Board Member of the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation
1993- 1995: Board Member of the European Society of Organ Transplantation
1994 – 2006: Chairman of the UK Transplant Cardiac Advisory Group
1994 – 1995: President of the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation
1997 – 2002: Medical director, Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
2002: Awarded an Honorary Chair in Cardiothoracic Surgery by the University of Cambridge
2007 – 2010: Director of research and development, Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
2012: Awarded a CBE for services to health in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours list
2018: Papworth Hospital granted its ‘Royal’ title
2019: After years of campaigning and planning, Royal Papworth Hospital’s move from Papworth Everard to the Cambridge Biomedical Campus
2019: Given a Lifetime Achievement Award by the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT)
2022: The new Victor Phillip Dahdaleh Heart and Lung Research Institute (HLRI) opens next door to Royal Papworth Hospital on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus
2023: Recognised by the Society for Cardiothoracic Surgery (SCTS) with a Lifetime Achievement Award
2023: Awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
2014 – 2024: Chairman of the Board, Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
A selection of photos from Professor Wallwork's time at Royal Papworth Hospital:
