Barnard was not a Pioneer in cardiac Transplants,I have actually met him and talked with him.
Norman Shumway was the pioneer (who I worked for.
for 5 yrs)
Barnard came to stanford (when I was there) and learned how transplants were done.
Went back to africa and did the first one because in africa they had no legal issues with donors,we did.
We were ready to do the first human Transplant long before Barnard but the county coroner shut us down because there was no definition of braindead at that time.Been there, done that.