Specialist fields (in extracts)
- Full range of heart surgeries (valve surgery with a focus on valve-sparing and reconstructive techniques, bypass surgery, aortic surgery)
- Minimally invasive surgery techniques
Curriculum vitae (in extracts)
| Academic Appointments: |
| Jun 2017 – present — Professor of Cardiac Surgery, University of Leipzig, Germany |
| Jan 2015 – May 2017 — Professor of Surgery, Columbia University, New York |
| Aug 2014 – Jan 2015 — Assistant Professor, Columbia University, New York |
| Jul 2006 – Jul 2014 — Associate Professor, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario |
| Mar 2005 – 2006 — Associate Faculty, Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario |
| Nov 2002 – 2006 — Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario
|
| Hospital Appointments: |
| Jun 2017 – present — Director Department of Cardiac Surgery, Leipzig Heart Center, Leipzig, Germany |
| Oct 2015 – May 2017 — Co-Director, The Aortic Center, Columbia University Medical Center / New York Presbyterian, New York |
| Aug 2014 – May 2017 — Attending Surgeon, New York Presbyterian Columbia, New York |
| Aug 2014 – May 2017 — Director of Aortic Surgery Program, New York Presbyterian Columbia, New York |
| Aug 2014 – May 2017 — Director of Cardiovascular Institute, New York Presbyterian Columbia, New York |
| Jan 2009 – Jul 2014 — Assistant Director, Department of Cardiac Surgery, Leipzig Heart Center, Leipzig, Germany |
| Aug 2006 – Jul 2014 — Staff Surgeon, Leipzig Heart Center, Leipzig, Germany |
| Nov 2002 – Jul 2006 — Staff Cardiac Surgeon, Toronto General Hospital, Toronto, Ontario
|
| Education: |
| Jul 1, 1996 – Apr 20, 2001 — Ph.D., Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada, Subject: Cerebral protection during cardiac surgery |
| Jul 1, 1996 – Jun 30, 2001 — Certificate, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada, Subject: Clinician Investigator Program, FRCSC(C) |
| Jul 1, 1991 – Jun 30, 2001 — Fellow, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons (Canada), University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada, Subject: Cardiac Surgery |
| Sep 1, 1987 – May 31, 1991 — M.D., University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada |
| Sep 1, 1985 – Apr 30, 1989 — B. Sc. (Med), University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
|
Certification
| Licensure and Board Certifications |
| Jun 1, 2017 – present — Medical License, State of Saxony, Germany |
| Aug 25, 2014 – present — Medicine and Surgery License, State of New York (number 227016) |
| Aug 22, 2014 – present — Independent Practice Medical License (Cardiac Surgery), Province of Ontario, Canada (number 69301) |
| Apr 7, 2014 – present — Board Certificate in Cardiac Surgery, Germany |
| Aug 1, 2006 – Aug 1, 2014 — Medical License, State of Saxony, Germany |
| Jul 1, 2001 – Dec 31, 2006 — Independent Practice Medical License, Province of Ontario, Canada (number 69301) |
| Jun 30, 2001 – present — Fellow, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons (Canada), Specialty Certificate: Cardiac Surgery |
| Jul 1, 1993 – Dec 31, 1994 — Independent Practice Medical License, Province of Alberta (number 010881)
|
| Honors and Awards |
| 2015 — George H. Humphries II Professor of Surgery Chair, Columbia University |
| 2006 — Dr. Subhash C. Verma Award, Heart & Stroke / Richard Lewar Centre of Excellence |
| 2004 — Roscoe Reid Graham Department of Surgery Award, University of Toronto |
| 2002 — Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons Detweiler Travelling Fellowship |
| 2001 — First Prize, Gallie-Bateman Department of Surgery Research Day, University of Toronto |
| 2000 — Wilfred G. Bigelow Book Prize |
| 1999 — Canadian Cardiovascular Society Student Award for Clinical Research |
| 1999 — Medical Research Council of Canada / CSCI Award for Excellence in Resident Research |
| 1999 — First Prize, Terrence Donnelly Canadian Cardiac Surgery Resident Research Day |
| 1999 — J.C. Laidlaw Award of Excellence, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Toronto |
| 1998 — PSI Resident Research Award |
| 1996 – 98: Research Fellow, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada |
| 1992 — T.R. Clarke Award for Obstetrics and Gynecology University of Alberta |
| 1989 — First Class Standing, Faculty of Medicine University of Alberta |
Academic activities
| Academic Service |
| Jun 15, 2017 – present — University of Leipzig, Germany - Professor of Cardiac Surgery |
| Jun 1, 2017 – present — Leipzig Heart Center, Germany - Director of Cardiac Surgery
|
| Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons Committees |
| Sept 1, 2014 – Dec 31, 2015 — Department of Surgery Research Committee, CUMC, Member |
| Jan 1, 2016 – May 31, 2017 — Education Committee, Member
|
| Columbia University Medical Center / New York Presbyterian Hospital Committees |
| Sept 1, 2014 – May 31, 2017 — Cardiovascular Institute, Director |
| Aug 1, 2014 – May 31, 2017 — Department of Surgery Leadership Committee, Member
|
| University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine Committees |
| Jul 1, 2005 – Jul 1, 2006 — Clinical Research Advisory Committee, Member |
| Apr 15, 2005 – Jul 1, 2006 — Institute of Medical Science, School of Graduate Studies, Associate Member |
| Jul 1, 2003 – Jul 1, 2006 — Cardiac Surgery Residency Program Committee, Member |
| Jul 1, 2003 – Jul 1, 2006 — Medical Student Surgical Wet Lab, Cardiac Surgery Director |
| Jan 1, 2004 – Jul 1, 2006 — Cardiac Surgery Resident Wet Lab, Director |
| May 15, 2004 – Jul 1, 2006 — Clinical Epidemiology Committee, Member |
| Jul 1, 2005 – Jul 1, 2006 — Cardiovascular Sciences Collaborative Program Committee
|
| University of Toronto, Hospital Committees |
| Jul 1, 2003 – Jul 1, 2006 — Health Informatics Platform Task Force, University Health Network, Toronto, Member |
| Jul 1, 2003 – Jul 1, 2006 — Heart and Circulation Program Research Committee, University Health Network, Toronto, Member |
| Jul 1, 2005 – Jul 1, 2006 — Regenerative Medicine Committee, University Health Network, Toronto, Member |
Contributions
| Educational Contributions |
| a) Direct Teaching / Precepting / Supervising |
| 2017 – present — Medical school lectures for final year students at the University of Leipzig |
| 2009 – 14 — Medical school lectures for final year students on: 1) aortic aneurysm disease, and 2) aortic valve surgery at the University of Leipzig (approximately 200 medical students, 1 hour for each lecture, twice per year
|
| b) Advising and Mentorship |
| 1. Anna Kaeding, Medical Thesis: «Minimal invasive mitral valve surgery for Barlows disease». Defended March, 2016, University of Leipzig. |
| 2. Constanze Trommer, Medical Thesis: «Early and long-term results of the David operation». Defended April, 2014. University of Leipzig. |
| 3. Grzegorz Hirnle, Medical Thesis: «Impact of postoperative renal failure on early and late survival of patients after coronary artery bypass grafting». Defended November, 2013. University of Leipzig. |
| 4. Jan Schaarschmidt, Masters Thesis in Cardiovascular Technology: «Clinical evaluation of the new BMU 40 in-line blood analysis monitor». Defended May, 2009. University of Leipzig. |
| 5. Felix Hahg, Medical Thesis: «Proper patient selection for the Frozen Elephant Trunk operation». In progress. University of Leipzig. |
| 6. Joana Pinto, Masters Thesis. «Retrospective analysis of results for minimal invasive aortic surgery». In progress. University of Leipzig.
|
| c) Educational Administration and Leadership |
| Jan, 2016 – May, 2017 — Member of Columbia University Education Subcommittee |
| 2015 – 16 — Cardiac Surgery Resident Wet Lab, Columbia University |
| 2014 – 15 — Masters in Minimal Invasive Cardiac Surgery Course, University of Pisa, Italy |
| 2010 – 14 — Medical School Final State Examiner, University of Leipzig |
| 2009 – 14 — Undergraduate Cardiac Surgery Lectures («Aortic aneurysm», «Aortic valve disease»), Faculty of Medicine, University of Leipzig |
| 2003 – 06 — Surgical OSCE Examiner, University of Toronto |
| 2004 – 06 — Cardiac Surgery Resident Wet Lab Instructor, University of Toronto |
| 2003 – 06 — Cardiac Surgery Resident / Fellow Teaching Rounds, University of Toronto
|
Memberships
| - Member, German Society of Thorax, Heart and Vascular Surgery |
| - Member, German Society of Cardiology |
| - Member, American Association of Thoracic Surgery |
| - Member, European Association of Cardiothoracic Surgeons |
| - Member, European Society of Cardiology |
| - Member, Association for Academic Surgery |
| - Member, Society of Thoracic Surgeons |
| - Member and Past President, Heart Valve Society |
| - Member, Canadian Cardiovascular Society |
| - Member, American Heart Association |
| - Licentiate, Medical Council of Canada |
| - Fellow, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada |
| - Fellow, American College of Surgeons |
| - Member, International Society of Heart and Lung Transplantation
|
| Notable Positions within Societies: |
| American College of Cardiology |
| March 1, 2015 – present — Surgeons’ Section Leadership Council, Member |
| European Association of Cardiothoracic Surgery: |
| Oct 1, 2011 – Aug 1, 2014 — TechnoCollege Organizing Committee, Member |
| Jan 1, 2012 – Aug 1, 2014 — Vascular Domain, Member |
| European Society of Cardiology: |
| Oct 1, 2008 – Aug 1, 2014 — Nucleus Committee of Working Group on Cardiovascular Surgery, Member |
| Aug 31, 2010 – Aug 1, 2012 — ESC Guidelines Writing Committee for the Management of AMI-STEMI, Member |
| Aug 31, 2010 – Aug 1, 2012 — ESC / EACTS Guidelines Writing Committee for the Management of Valvular Heart Disease, Subsection Editor |
| Aug 31, 2012 – Aug 1, 2014 — Nucleus Committee of Working Group for Cardiovascular Surgery, Vice-Chairman |
| Aug 31, 2012 – Aug 1, 2014 — ESC Guidelines Writing Committee on Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, Member |
| Dec 17, 2013 – Aug 1, 2015 — ESC Guidelines Writing Committee on Acute Coronary Syndrome / NSTEMI, Member |
| Heart Valve Society (formed from the union of the Society of Heart Valve Disease and the Heart Valve Society of America): |
| Sept, 2014 – May, 2015 — President |
| Sept, 2014 – present — Program Committee Member |
| May, 2015 – present — Past-President |
| Society of Heart Valve Disease: |
| Aug, 2009 – May, 2015 — Executive Council, Councilor |
| Jun, 2011 – May, 2014 — Biennial Meeting Program Committee, Chair |
Send Request
We speak Arabic, English, French, German and Russian