Alan Wong is CTVS’ longest-standing employee and has been with us since 1966. We like to say he’s 77-years young, not old!
Alan works as a surgical technician assisting our board-certified cardiothoracic and vascular surgeons with complex procedures. He not only understands the delicate and serious nature of heart issues from the medical side, but he also knows firsthand what it is like to be a heart patient. Dr. Stephen Dewan, a CTVS cardiothoracic surgeon, performed bypass surgery on him in 1999.
When not caring for our patients, Alan can also be found underwater as an active volunteer with the Eels on Wheels Adaptive Scuba Program. Eels on Wheels is a local Austin nonprofit that provides people the opportunity to dive at their own ability and become certified through the Handicapped Scuba Association (HSA).
Alan has worked with Eels on Wheels for more than 10 years and is passionate about helping those who dream of scuba diving, despite whatever physical challenges they may have. He works with people who are blind, paralyzed, or in wheelchairs to gain their diving certification, and then often travels to places like Bonaire with them to assist on dive trips.
He recently returned from a trip there along with our board-certified vascular surgeon Dr. Mark Stewart who also volunteers with Eels on Wheels.
Alan says he loves seeing the sheer joy and excitement on Eels members’ faces after they’ve completed a dive.
Alan is a humble man who is selfless in his service to others, and we are honored to count on him as such a valued staff member at CTVS. Alan said his love of helping others — whether heart patients or those with Eels on Wheels — is what keeps him going each day.
And he says he has no plans to stop working or volunteering anytime soon.
Lucky for us and Eels on Wheels to have Alan Wong on our side!
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