On December 3rd, 1967 at the Groote Schuur Hospital in South Africa, a team led by Dr. Christiaan Barnard pioneered the first human-to-human heart transplantation surgery. The patient, Mr. Louis Washkansky, only lived 18 days post-procedure but the cause of death was not the donor heart. We explore the layers of scientific foundation laid down that made this achievement possible, learn a bit about South Africa, and see what motivated Dr. Barnard.headcoldpodcast.comFacebook & IG @headcoldpodMajor sources:National Institutes of HealthThe EconomistMayo ClinicThe Dick Cavett ShowCongress.govSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/headcoldpod)