Harald Dalichau, pioneer of heart transplants in Göttingen, dies at 91

Professor Harald Dalichau, a prominent cardiac surgeon and former director of the Department of Thoracic, Cardiac, and Vascular Surgery at University Medicine Göttingen (UMG), has passed away at the age of 91.

Dalichau was a pioneer in his field, having initiated the heart transplantation program at UMG. On June 26, 1991, alongside colleague Professor Friedrich-Wilhelm Mohr, he performed the first successful heart transplant at the Göttingen University Hospital on a 48-year-old patient.

In addition to his work in transplantation, Dalichau is credited with establishing endoluminal vascular surgery at UMG, which involves the use of stents to keep narrowed blood vessels open. The UMG honored his legacy, describing him as a dedicated surgeon, an inspiring teacher, and a scientist respected both nationally and internationally.