Heart to Heart: Cardiac Surgeons Fine Tune Their Skills

One of the largest and most experienced cardiac surgery units in the world, the Cleveland Clinic Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, offers nearly every type of cardiac surgery for patients from all around the world and all 50 US states. Cardiac surgery has also been carried out at the Medical University of Vienna since 1962, an outstanding, international center that focuses on patient care and teaching. Cardiac surgeons at the Medical University of Vienna continually strive to improve the prognosis and quality of life of patients through applied research. The OMI is pleased to have these phenomenal institutions as academic partners, both of which provide leadership for the Salzburg Cleveland Clinic Seminar in Cardiac Surgery, which took place this week from November 5 to 11, 2023.

Dr. Edward G. Soltesz, Donna and Ken Lewis Endowed Chair in Cardiothoracic Surgery at the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery at Cleveland Clinic, served as the course director. Dr. Nikolaos J. Skubas, Chair of Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology at Cleveland Clinic, and Dr. Guenther Laufer, Director of the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery at the Medical University of Vienna, served as the co-course directors. Alongside the course directors was a dynamic, skilled group of faculty members, comprising of both American and European physicians.

30 fellows from 23 countries gathered in Salzburg to hear 21 lectures from top-of-the-line cardiac surgeons. Focal points during this year’s course included Foundations of CV Diseases, Acute Aortic Syndromes, Aortic Arch Surgery, Cardiovascular Monitoring, Myocardial Protection Techniques, Aortic Root Surgery, and more.

Fellows had a fantastic opportunity to partake in an exciting heart dissection workshop that took a hands-on look at the structure and function of the mammalian heart. Participants carried out a step-by-step porcine heart dissection to study the intricacies of the cardiac anatomy and place devices, while simultaneously learning about echocardiographic images. Thanks to Dr. Edward G. Soltesz, Dr. Nikolaos J. Skubas (both Cleveland Clinic), Dr. Alfred Kocher (Medical University of Vienna), and the Medtronic vendors, Boris Filar, Lukasz Maslerz, and Zuzanna Mikrut, for making this hands-on training happen!

Additionally, fellows presented cases from their personal work experience, which enabled fellows to not only hear about cases that may be specific to certain parts of the world, but provided fellows the chance to receive feedback and guidance from the expert faculty members, which is truly an inspiring interaction for all!