Advancing cardiothoracic surgery in the Asean region
Teams from IJN and the American Association for Thoracic Surgery alongside workshop participants, comprising cardiothoracic doctors from all over the world, on May 12. (Muhammad Rabbani Jamian @ FMT Lifestyle)
KUALA LUMPUR : Institut Jantung Negara (IJN) recently partnered with the American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS) and the Malaysian Association for Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgery to organise the AATS Foundation Cardiothoracic Workshop.
Held on May 11-13, the event was aimed at facilitating cross-border knowledge exchange in cardiothoracic surgery – a field of medicine focusing on procedures involving the thorax or chest, especially the heart, lung and oesophagus.
It also provided valuable networking opportunities, with participants spending the first two days at IJN and the final day at Serdang Hospital.
'As a healthcare provider, IJN is proud to host this event because it reflects our commitment towards the Asean chairmanship of the country,' IJN CEO Dr Ezani Taib said in his opening speech.
Malaysia assumed the role of Asean chair on Jan 1, following an annual rotation system based on the alphabetical order of the English names of member states.
A total of 52 cardiothoracic doctors participated in the workshop, representing several countries: Indonesia (9), Vietnam (4), Philippines (1), Thailand (3), Myanmar (3), Malaysia (30), Brunei (1) and Bangladesh (1).
Four live surgeries – three adult and one paediatric – were performed at IJN during the workshop. (Muhammad Rabbani Jamian @ FMT Lifestyle)
During the session at IJN, four live surgeries were successfully performed – three adult cases and one paediatric.
The procedures, carried out by surgeons from AATS and IJN, included mitral valve repair, coronary artery bypass graft, aortic valve replacement, and the Ross-Konno procedure – a surgical technique used to treat aortic valve disease, especially in children and young adults.
The surgeries were broadcast live to the participants, allowing for real-time observation, interactive discussions, and in-depth knowledge sharing.
Speaking with FMT Lifestyle, Dr Nazeri Nordin, head of cardiothoracic and vascular surgery and senior consultant cardiothoracic surgeon at IJN, explained that the participants had received grants from the AATS Foundation to attend the workshop.
Established in 1917, AATS and its philanthropic arm, the AATS Foundation, are dedicated to advancing the field of cardiothoracic surgery.
'At the AATS Foundation, we're very dedicated to global education and training. We strongly believe the obligation of those with knowledge is to teach others and, therefore, spread the knowledge for the benefit of patients all around the world,' Dr Joseph Woo, chair of cardiothoracic surgery at Stanford University, told FMT Lifestyle.
Woo is also president-elect of AATS and secretary of the AATS Foundation.
(From left) Dr Ezani Taib and Dr Nazeri Nordin from IJN, and Dr Joseph Woo, chair of cardiothoracic surgery at Stanford University.
Explaining why IJN was selected, Woo said: 'IJN represents the gold standard of heart and thoracic care in Southeast Asia. The level of clinical expertise, institutional commitment to training, and strong leadership make it an ideal partner for this regional collaboration.'
When he first visited IJN nearly 15 years ago, Woo recalled seeing technology that had not yet been adopted in the United States. 'So, this is a good example of us learning from each other and teaching each other – bi-directional learning throughout the world,' he said.
IJN, the largest heart hospital in Malaysia, has internationally recognised clinical accreditation, comprehensive training programmes, and a long-standing commitment to innovation in cardiovascular care.
In 2023, it was selected as one of the four finalists for the Flagship Medical Tourism Hospital Programme. The initiative, slated to conclude this year, aims to raise Malaysia's global healthcare profile and elevate the country's private healthcare services.
'This event reflects our commitment towards that goal, by bringing international doctors – not just from the Asean region, but also from the US – to share their experiences. With that, we'll be able to deliver better patient care across the region,' Ezani shared.
Live broadcasts of the surgeries enabled real-time observation, interactive discussions, and in-depth knowledge sharing. (Muhammad Rabbani Jamian @ FMT Lifestyle)
The collaboration, he added, is a testament to IJN's standing as a centre of excellence not only in Malaysia but throughout the region.
'As we continue our journey with AATS, we are proud to position IJN as a regional hub for cardiothoracic training and care for Asean. It reflects our role in shaping the future of heart surgery, not just for Malaysians but for the broader Southeast Asian community,' Ezani said.
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