August 2017
57
Obituary:
Augustine (Gus) Tang
13/09/1966 (Hong Kong) – 30/01/2017 (Blackpool) FRCS Consultant Cardiac Surgeon
Franco Sogliani, Consultant Cardiac Surgeon
I
t is with great sadness that I am writing this obituary about my dear and lost friend, Gus, for the benefit of our members. A native of ‘The Colony’, he completed his studies at boarding school in Kent and went to Medical School in Nottingham where he also completed his Doctorate of Medicine. Following specialist training in Southampton and a one-year long fellowship in Toronto, he was competitively appointed as Consultant in Blackpool in 2004, where we first met. He and I could not have been more different in many respects, yet we became good friends and colleagues. Our surgical cooperation drew even closer when we both helped develop the TAVI programme at the Lancashire Cardiac Centre. He was a talented surgeon and a gifted trainer who was held in extremely high regard and with great affection by his trainees. He was regarded as an exceptionally knowledgeable clinician. He was also a very pleasant person to work with, who never lost his manners even in challenging circumstances both in theatre and ITU. Gus also became the Research and Development Lead for Cardiothoracic Surgery, and was instrumental in the development and expansion of the R & D programme. He was Secretary to the Medical Staff Committee and became a key member of the LNC. In addition, he was very well-liked and respected by his many non-surgical colleagues throughout the hospital.
His constant dignity and professionalism shone through during some of the most difficult and stressful experiences of his career; unfortunately, for the last five years of his life he was subjected to sustained attacks on his professional and personal credibility. Throughout this challenging period he conducted himself with characteristic good grace, dignity, and humour. He was repeatedly acquitted by internal and external reviews. Characteristically, he carried on working and performing often highly complex
“Gus was a talented surgeon and a gifted trainer who was held in extremely high regard and with great affection by his trainees. He was regarded as an exceptionally knowledgeable clinician.”
Pictured right: Gus Tang 1966-2017
surgery to the highest of standards – indeed in the last few months of his life, he was commended for this by an external review. However, by this stage, he knew that he only had a few months to live; late in September 2016 Gus was diagnosed with inoperable cholangiocarcinoma and after careful consideration he chose to make the very brave decision to let nature take its course, rather than prolong his agony. He bore his illness with considerable grace and good humour. He remained a true gentleman to the very end. Gus died peacefully on 30/01/2017, and leaves behind his family, friends and loving partner. I know he is in Heaven and will watch over the shoulders of his surgeon friends for many operations to come. n