Penn State
Adult Cardiac
Member Since: 2024
Biography:
I am an Attending Cardiac and Transplant Surgeon at the Penn State Milton S Hershey Medical Center and an Associate Professor of Surgery at Penn State University. I am a fellowship-trained cardiothoracic surgeon who specializes in all major heart surgery including total arterial coronary bypass grafting; mitral valve repair; tricuspid valve repair; aortic root replacement surgery; minimally invasive aortic and mitral valve surgery; surgery for atrial fibrillation; redo cardiac surgery; heart and lung transplantation, and implantation of ventricular assist devices. I am one of the first heart transplant surgeons in Pennsylvania to use the Paragonix SherpaPak®, a revolutionary device that transports donor hearts safely.
I have extensive experience and expertise in use of the Transmedics Organ Care system for heart procurement and transport, a continuous warm blood perfusion system that particularly facilitates use of Donor Circulatory Death hearts, and extends the use of marginal hearts for organ transplantation.
As the Director of Heart transplant and Mechanical Circulatory Support at Penn State Hershey Medical Center, I excel in performing conventional cardiac surgery on patients with failing hearts, by supporting them with a gamut of short-term and long-term ventricular assist devices.
I have amalgamated best practices across both sides of the Atlantic in that prior to this appointment in the USA, I was an Attending Cardiac and Transplant Surgeon at Harefield Hospital, London, UK, senior clinical lecturer at Imperial College London and the University of Glasgow, and surgical tutor with the Royal College of Surgeons, London. I received a Clinical Excellence Award with the National Health Service in the UK.
I have published extensively and presently enjoy research in antibody-mediated rejection following heart transplantation, and development of newer left ventricular assist devices.
What Does the AATS Mean to You:
It provides me with an opportunity for learning and improving constantly by interacting with Stalwarts in my profession, not only by attending their seminars workshops and lectures but also by face-to-face discussion with them. It gives me an opportunity also to train and teach future generations of surgeons, fellow's and medical students who are interested in pursuing a career in cardiothoracic surgery. It gives me an opportunity for leadership on committees, which enables me to bring my areas of expertise to the AATS community and family.
My First Experience with AATS:
My first experience with the AATS was when I witnessed my attending cardiac surgeon and mentor, Professor Gilles Dreyfus, being conferred the prestigious AATS membership at the primary session in Boston in 2003. I was truly overwhelmed by this amazing accolade and recognition that he received at the AATS for his enormous contribution to the community as an international surgeon. I then observed a good friend and mentor of mine, Professor Anyanwu, achieve a similar recognition. I resolved to follow their footsteps and contribute to teaching, training, research, and learning by becoming a member of the AATS.
The most impactful presentation I have seen at an AATS meeting:
A truly amazing and inspiring presentation by Dr. Yolonda L. Colson on the history of one of the most famous surgeons in our field. AATS 2023, Los Angeles
The first presentation I gave is:
Anti-vimentin antibodies accelerate rejection of cardiac allografts. British Transplantation Society Annual Meeting, Edinburgh, UK, March 2006
The first paper I had published is:
Failure of Low Molecular Weight Heparin in prevention of Prosthetic mitral valve thrombosis during pregnancy: case report & review of anticoagulation. Mahesh B, Evans S, Bryan AJ. Journal of Heart Valve Disease 2002; 11: 745-50
I plan on becoming more involved in the organization through:
Participate in committee meetings and committees, engage in leadership roles, mentoring, teaching and presenting
Advice for Trainees:
Not to cut short their training by attempting to become attendings too soon. There is something called surgical maturity that comes with age and watching and observing complex surgery performed by experts."
My career in CT Surgery was inspired by:
Having trained in the UK system, the achievements of Professors Dreyfus, Yacoub, and Anyanwu enormously inspired my career in CT surgery.
A significant case/patient interaction that impacted my career is:
A case of Prosthetic valve endocarditis, that I participated in the multi-D treatment process from the beginning to complete recovery, as a junior resident. made me embark upon a career in CT surgery and inspired me to write an article on Prosthetic valve endocarditis. Mahesh B, Angelini G, Caputo M, Jin XY, Bryan A. Annals of Thoracic Surgery 2005; 80:1151-8
The biggest impact my mentor had on my career is:
Professor Dreyfus: mitral valve surgery
Professor Yacoub: transplantation
Professor Anyanwu: research, presentations, goal directed achievement.
The topic most important to advancing the field of CT Surgery is:
Teaching and training future generations of CT surgeons to perform their clinical duties to the highest standards.
Performing high quality patient directed research to improve upon our surgical methods and results.
The most pressing issues impacting CT surgery are:
Constant pressure from cardiologists to excel in minimally invasive and catheter based surgical approaches. Aiming for perfection and low complication-rate in the face of ever-increasing complexity of patients.
Advice for Trainees:
Not to cut short their training by attempting to become attendings too soon. There is something called surgical maturity that comes with age and watching and observing complex surgery performed by experts.