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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

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