Dr. Husam H. Balkhy
The University of Chicago Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
Dr. Husam H. Balkhy is a pioneer in the field of minimally invasive and robotic cardiac surgery. He specializes in the treatment of coronary artery disease, heart valve disorders, atrial fibrillation and other cardiac diseases, using robotic and less invasive techniques in order to reduce pain, disability, and recovery time. Through education, he empowers his patients to take an active and informed role in their care. Dr. Balkhy is one of only a handful of surgeons in the world with extensive experience in performing robotic totally endoscopic beating heart coronary bypass grafting (TECAB). He also has a large experience with robotic mitral valve surgery, and robotic atrial fibrillation surgery as well as minimally invasive (port access) aortic valve surgery.
Dr. Balkhy has served as the primary investigator on several innovative studies designed to improve robotic assisted cardiac surgery. He has contributed to the development of coronary anastomotic connectors, and has the world's largest experience in the use of these devices that eliminate the need for large incisions and sutures during coronary surgery. He actively trains other physicians on how to use these devices.
An accomplished author, Dr. Balkhy has published numerous peer-reviewed articles, as well as several book chapters on robotic cardiothoracic surgery. He frequently is invited to speak at national and international conferences and scientific meetings and has proctored robotic cardiac surgical procedures all over the world. In addition, Dr. Balkhy is a founding member of the Robotic Revascularization Society.