Bill Gibson

Pioneering Bionic Ear Surgeon

Tina K Allen

• Publisher: NewSouth
• Year: 2017
• eBook ISBN:
  9781742248073
• Topic: Medicine
• Subtopic: Medicine Biographies

Discover the groundbreaking story of a medical pioneer. During his distinguished career as an ear, nose and throat surgeon, Professor Bill Gibson gained a reputation as a world-expert in Ménière's disease and cochlear implant surgery. In 1984, he restored the hearing of two young women who were some of the first to receive the bionic ear, developed by Professor Graeme Clark and his team in Melbourne. Three years later Gibson operated on four-year-old Holly McDonell, the first child in the world to receive the bionic ear.

This bold step enabled children around the world to receive the gift of hearing and speech. During the next few decades, Gibson performed more than 2,000 cochlear implant operations, making him one of the most prolific surgeons in his field. This is the story of a dedicated doctor, his innovative techniques, and the patients whose lives he transformed.

Bill Gibson: Pioneering Bionic Ear Surgeon is for medical professionals, students, and anyone interested in the history of medical innovation and the power of human dedication.

Table of contents

• Front Cover
• Title Page
• Dedication
• Half Title
• About the Author
• Copyright
• Contents
• Foreword
• Preface
• Abbreviations
• Gibson Family Tree
• 1. Memories of a father at war
• 2. Bill’s school days
• 3. A medical qualification
• 4. Fellow of the College of Surgeons
• 5. Taking a new direction
• 6. The London Triumvirate
• 7. A major decision
• 8. The new professor
• 9. Children making headlines
• 10. Storm clouds
• 11. Casting the net long and wide
• 12. A new centre and a new manager
• 13. The best use of the money
• 14. Dreams becoming a reality
• 15. Winds of change
• 16. Three score and ten
• Endnotes
• Select bibliography
• Glossary of terms
• Acknowledgments
• Index