Dr Baird obtained his medical degree from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He did residencies in general surgery and cardiovascular surgery at The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and completed his congenital heart surgery fellowship here at Boston Children’s Hospital. As the Director of the Congenital Heart Valve Program he takes a particular interest in patients with complex valve problems advocating for valve reconstruction rather than replacement. He also has interests in biventricular repair for DORV and complex AV canal defects and in complex neonatal surgery including low birth weight infants and those with high risk lesions. In addition, he has focused on developing novel and innovative techniques for other difficult lesions such as scimitar syndrome and pulmonary vein stenosis, patients with TOF-absent pulmonary valve and for severe tracheobronchomalacia.

Yin-Kai Chao is professor and chief of the department of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery in Chang Gung memorial hospital-Linkou, Taiwan. 

Dr Chao acquired his MD degree from Chang Gung University in 2001 and completed specialist training as thoracic surgeon in Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in 2006. In 2010, he received his PhD degree in Medical sciences at the Chang Gung University. 

Dr Chao is a board-certified surgeon pioneering in minimal invasive Thoracic Surgery. He is a very strong patient advocate and very dedicated to his specialty, his talent in minimal invasive surgery is outstanding, exemplary and of the highest quality. 

In addition to his work, Dr Chao is also a well-known researcher. His areas of scientific investigation include the esophageal cancer research, development of biodegradable medical devices, fluorescence-guided Thoracic Surgery in hybrid OR and robotic surgery. Being a recipient of numerous research awards since 2006, he has authored over 180 papers in peer-reviewed international journals. 

Dr Yin-Kai Chao is a well-respected doctor in the thoracic surgery field. His innovative surgical methods as well as his experienced techniques have gained him recognition and praise around the world.

Dr Anson Cheung is the Director of Cardiac Transplantation of B.C. and Clinical Professor of Surgery with the University of British Columbia (UBC), Department of Surgery, Division of Cardiovascular Surgery. Practicing since 2000, he is currently on staff at St Paul’s Hospital and Vancouver General Hospital. He is a graduate of the University of Manitoba with post-graduate work at Stanford University, University of Western Ontario and the University of Pittsburgh.

 He joined the academic staff at UBC in 2001 and St Paul’s Hospital in 2000. His specialties include cardiac transplant surgery, mechanical circulatory assist devices, transcatheter valve therapy and off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCABG). 

Dr Cheung has established the VAD (Ventricular Assist Device) Program at St Paul’s Hospital, which is the first VAD program in Western Canada. He is also a leader in transcatheter valve therapy. He is currently involved in numerous research projects along with other works in progress. He was also the recipient of the Department of Surgery Concept Awards in 2003 as well as the International Society of Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery President’s Award in 2010 and 2015. He continues to foster cardiac surgical education by participating in numerous symposiums and postgraduate courses worldwide.

Dr Amy Fiedler is an assistant professor of cardiac surgery with a focus on heart transplantation and mechanical circulatory support at UCSF.  Dr Fiedler earned her medical degree at the George Washington University School of Medicine where she graduated with the highest honors. She completed her general surgery residency and cardiac surgery training at The Massachusetts General Hospital, an affiliate of Harvard Medical School. 

In 2020, Dr Fiedler was selected as one of 60 scholars to participate in the prestigious Presidential Leadership Scholars, a program offered through the collaboration of several former U.S. presidents’ centers which brings together young leaders to collaborate and make a difference in the world as they learn about leadership through the lens of past presidential experiences.  

Dr Fiedler currently serves as surgical director for Rwanda Team Heart, a nonprofit organization providing life saving Cardiac Surgery in addition to creating a sustainable surgical infrastructure for the people of Rwanda.

 

A Chartered Engineer, Member of the Energy Institute and the Royal Society of Chemistry with 44 years Research & Development experience in combustion and Air Pollution Control, 17 years at the National Coal Board’s Coal Research Establishment, including 3 years training as a patent agent, and 28 years a director of Environmental Development Technology Ltd running R&D projects in combustion and flue gas cleaning/Air Pollution Control.  

 

As a Marfan Syndrome patient with aortic dilation, Tal was unimpressed with the options of a Total Root Replacement (TRR or Bentall) or Valve Sparing Root Replacement (VSRR) so set about engineering an alternative. 20 years after receiving the first personalised external aortic root support (PEARS) himself, he is now working to extend this surgical option to a wider group of patients with aortic dilation.

 

With NICE IPAC approval, 40+ surgical centres up and running, 1100+ patients successfully treated, and a collective 3,000+ post operative patient years, PEARS continues to progress. 

 

March 2014 saw the TED talk on the PEARS project break 1,000,000 viewings.

 

In July 2015 saw Tal received one of the first Patient Innovation Awards in Lisbon. 

PEARS is now written up in 50+peer reviewed journal papers and has been presented at various major international conferences. (www.exstent.com)

 

Married for 43 years to Teresa, Tal has some time for clay pigeon shooting, deer stalking, music, and 20 century European history.

Dr Kendra J. Grubb, MD, MHA, FACC, Surgical Director Emory University Structural Heart and Valve Center, is dedicated to improving the lives of patients through innovation and building collaborative teams to promote patient-centered treatment of cardiovascular disease. Previously, she was Director of Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery and the Heart Valve Program at University of Louisville. 

Dr Grubb has led and participated in numerous clinical trials of innovative technologies, including studies of transcatheter aortic valve replacement, mitral valve percutaneous therapies, endovascular treatment of descending thoracic aortic aneurysms, and transcatheter heart failure devices.

Dr Grubb attended University of Southern California, where she received her medical degree from Keck School of Medicine and a Master of Health Administration. She completed general surgery residency at University of Illinois at Chicago (2010), fellowship in cardiothoracic surgery at University of Virginia (2012), and fellowship in interventional cardiology and transcatheter therapies at New York Presbyterian-Columbia University (2013). Currently, Dr Grubb is completing a Master of Science in Clinical Trials at the University of Oxford with anticipated graduation in 2024.

Professor Thorsten Hanke is a distinguished cardiac surgeon with extensive experience in both clinical practice and academic medicine. Born on July 12, 1966, in Hamburg, Germany, he has dedicated his career to advancing the field of cardiac surgery through innovative techniques and comprehensive patient care.

Currently, Prof. Hanke serves as the Chief Physician at the Asklepios Klinikum Harburg’s Clinic for Cardiac Surgery in Hamburg, a position he has held since January 2023. Prior to this role, he was the Senior Consultant and Deputy Chief Physician at the same institution, where he played a pivotal role in establishing an independent Clinic for Cardiac Surgery.

His career also includes significant tenures at the University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Lübeck, where he served as Managing Senior Consultant and Senior Consultant. His early career saw him as an Assistant Physician at both the University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein and the Municipal Hospital Fulda.

Prof. Hanke’s academic journey is marked by numerous accolades. He was appointed as an Extraordinary Professor for Cardiac Surgery at the University of Lübeck in March 2017. He earned his Venia Legendi and completed his Habilitation in Cardiac Surgery at the same university in 2011. His medical education includes a Doctorate in Human Medicine from the University of Marburg and a degree in Human Medicine from the Free University of Berlin.

A respected member of several professional societies, Prof. Hanke is affiliated with the German Society for Thoracic, Cardiac and Vascular Surgery (DGTHG), the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS), the German Society for Cardiology (DGK), and the European Society of Cardiology (ESC). He has co-authored the 2024 Guidelines for the Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation and leads the Task Force on Arrhythmias for the EACTS.

Prof. Hanke has been instrumental in developing and expanding various minimally invasive cardiac surgery programs, including the “360°” antero-axillary heart and aortic valve program, the ROSS operation program for young patients, and several endoscopic and catheter-based interventions. His work with the Da Vinci robot for standalone atrial fibrillation treatment and his leadership in national cardiac surgery outpatient services highlight his commitment to cutting-edge medical advancements.

In addition to his clinical and academic roles, Prof. Hanke serves as a consultant for several international medical companies. He is also an expert reviewer for prestigious medical journals such as JAMA, BMJ, and the Annals of Thoracic Surgery.

Dr Paula Ugalde Figueroa has established herself as a thoracic dedicated to research. With a focus on innovative uniportal VATS approaches for lung cancer, she boasts an impressive portfolio of publications. Notably, Dr Ugalde spearheaded the establishment of the lung cancer database at Laval University, elevating it to the world's leading contributor to the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer's prospective database.

Since 2021, Dr Ugalde has served on the Board of Directors of the IASLC, alongside her memberships in prestigious organizations such as the American Association of Thoracic Surgery and the Society of Thoracic Surgeons. As the acting Chair of International Affairs for the Women in Thoracic Surgery society, she actively advocates for gender equity in her field.

In 2021, Dr Ugalde transitioned to Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, where she is an Associate Surgeon within the Division of Thoracic Surgery. Emphasizing her academic prowess, she also serves as an Associate Professor of Surgery at Harvard Medical School and is affiliated with the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Dr Ugalde's influence extends beyond the operating room; she has played a pivotal role in introducing minimally invasive thoracic surgery techniques to Brazil and Latin America. Through her mentorship of hundreds of thoracic surgeons and her annual instruction of a Latin American fellow in Québec, she facilitates the dissemination of expertise throughout the region. Dr Ugalde's commitment to empowering the next generation of female thoracic surgeons, particularly in developing countries, underscores her dedication to advancing the field on a global scale.