The Dr Sam Mellick collection consists of a number of significant historic, scientific objects relating to the origins and development of vascular surgery in Australia.
Pioneering vascular surgeon, Dr Selim Abraham (Sam) Mellick, CBE MBBS FRCS FRACS FACS FRCSI (Hon), who passed away in 2019 at the age of 93, performed his first aortic graft surgery in 1959 and was widely considered to be the 'father’ of Australian vascular surgery.

Donated by Dr Mellick to Queensland Museum in 2018, the collection is not only important in terms of its ability to document his remarkable life and pioneering achievments in the development of a life-saving medical technology, but substantially augments Queensland Museum’s small but growing collection of objects documenting the Mellick family’s history, achievements and contribution to Queensland since their arrival and settlement in 1900.

Born in 1926 to Lebanese immigrant, Abraham Selim Mellick and his wife, Leinda, Sam Mellick was raised and attended school, first in Innisfail and later, All Souls Church of England Boys School in Charters Towers. Excelling at his studies, Sam was awarded an open scholarship to study medicine at the University of Queensland where he graduated with first class honours in the university's first six-year medical class in 1948.

In 1956, Dr Mellick became one of the first surgeons employed at the Princess Alexandra Hospital where he commenced specialising in aortic vascular surgery on patients with aortic aneurysm - an abnormal bulge that occurs in the wall of the major blood vessel (aorta) that carries blood from the heart to your body. Synthetic vascular grafts are considered in peripheral, aortic, and vascular surgeries.

The purpose of a synthetic graft is to improve the blood flow to the heart and from the heart to other areas in patients with clogged or damaged arteries, veins, and capillaries. Dr Mellick’s early work coincided with a period when this type of surgery was little known in Australia and Government funding was not available to purchase arterial graft material which, at the time, was very expensive and only available in the United States.

Undeterred, Dr Mellick decided to make his own with help from his wife Patricia (Pat). Taking measurements from the arteries of cadavers in the autopsy room, Dr Mellick drew diagrams on brown pape, much like a sewing pattern, and made his first grafts from nylon shirting material purchased from well-known Brisbane shirt manufacturer, Harry Guinsberg.*

Included in this collection are four aortic vascular grafts made by Mrs Pat Mellick on her Singer sewing machine. Other items include a home-made vascular shunt; two samples of modern synthetic grafts; and a hand-knitted aortic vascular graft embroidered with Dr Mellick’s initials. Personal items include Dr Mellick’s staff identification badge and a handmade embroidered cloth presented to him by staff at the Princess Alexandra Hospital where he commenced work in 1956 in what is now the largest vascular unit in Australia, named in his honour.

During a 2018 interview, Dr Mellick explained that the grafts made by Pat in the kitchen of their Ascot home were the only remaining examples of his pioneering attempts to introduce vascular/aortic grafting technologies into his own practice and to other hospital staff. Likewise, Dr Mellick’s staff identification badge and hand-embroidered gift from a medical colleague are unique mementos of his lifelong connection and service to Princess Alexandra Hospital.

*Queensland Museum’s Social History collection includes nine shirts made by Harry Guinsberg which were among a large number of objects donated by Sam’s sister, Thelma.