Today, The Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital hosted a special celebration to honour 40 years of groundbreaking innovation in cochlear implant technology.
The event brought together colleagues past and present, cochlear implant patients and their families, and the pioneering inventor of the multi-channel cochlear implant, Laureate Emeritus Professor Graeme Clark AC.
Marking the anniversary of the world’s first public Cochlear Implant Clinic and the very first child to receive an implant designed for young recipients, a global milestone in hearing health, we also celebrated Professor Clark’s 90th birthday and the 5000th Victorian Cochlear Implant Program patient to receive a cochlear implant.
In honour of this event and these achievements, a special presentation was arranged where guests heard from Head of the Cochlear Implant Clinic, Professor Rob Briggs, cochlear implant recipient, Sean Kelleher, and the guest of honour, Professor Clark himself.
Professor Clark’s life changed in 1978, when his patient, Rod Saunders, regained his hearing after 2 years of silence, after the successful implantation of the multi-channel cochlear implant. Seven years later, its ongoing success led to the creation of a dedicated Cochlear Implant Clinic at the Eye and Ear which continues to be a world leader in research and cochlear innovation to this day.
Reflecting on the transformative impact of his life’s work and the enduring legacy of the cochlear implant, Professor Clark’s lecture ranged from archival footage from the early days of device development to the numerous achievements that followed once the device was approved for the community.
Speaking to a room filled with his family, colleagues, Cochlear Implant Clinic staff past and present, colleagues at the University of Melbourne, Cochlear, and cochlear recipients and their families, guests witnessed not only the incredible advancements in hearing technology but also the personal journeys of individuals whose lives have been profoundly changed by technological innovation.
The event was a celebration of the connections and was followed by an opportunity for colleagues past and present to meet, share memories, renew connections and celebrate this momentous day.
Brendon Gardner, CEO of the Eye and Ear, said of the celebration:
“These milestones are not just numbers or dates—they represent lives changed and the enduring power of the cochlear implant, an Australian medical innovation.”
