Education
Major degree in Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) Medical School University of Perugia, Italy. (2000-2006)
Internship at the Department of Cardiac Surgery, “S. Maria della Misericordia” University Hospital, Perugia, Italy. (2005 – 2006)
Clinical registration for Medicine and Surgery, “S. Maria della Misericordia” University Hospital, Perugia, Italy. (2006 – 2007)
Completion of the Italian Board Exams for the Medical and Surgical profession (Esame di Stato). Marks 262.5 / 270. Medical School University of Perugia, Italy. (June 2007)
Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) in Cardiac Surgery. Marks 50/50. Thesis: “Trans-catheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) – A single centre experience”. Department of Cardio-thoracic Surgery “San Matteo” University Hospital, Pavia, Italy. (July 2014)
Training and Professional Experience
Junior Clinical Fellow in Cardiac Surgery, Department of Cardiac Surgery, “S. Maria della Misericordia” University Hospital, Perugia, Italy. (2007 – 2008)
Clinical Fellow in Cardiac Surgery, Department of Cardiac Surgery, “S. Maria della Misericordia” University Hospital, Perugia, Italy. (2008 – 2009)
Resident in Cardiac Surgery (CTh), Department of Cardio-thoracic Surgery, “San Matteo” University Hospital, Pavia, Italy. (2009 – 2014)
Cardiac Surgery Trainees Representative and Member of the Board of the School of Cardiac Surgery. “San Matteo” University Hospital, Pavia, Italy. (2011 – 2014)
Fellowship in Heart Transplant, Department of Cardio-thoracic Surgery “San Matteo” University Hospital, Pavia, Italy. (2011 – 2012)
Fellowship in Trans-catheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI), Department of Cardio-thoracic Surgery “San Matteo” University Hospital, Pavia, Italy. (2013 – 2014)
Chief Resident in Cardiac Surgery, Department of Cardio-thoracic Surgery, “San Matteo” University Hospital, Pavia, Italy. (2013 – 2014)
Fellowship in Adult Cardiac Surgery, Department of Cardio-thoracic Surgery, St. Georges University Hospital, London, UK. (2014 – 2015)
Senior Specialty doctor in Cardiac Surgery, Department of Cardio-thoracic Surgery, Hull and East Yorkshire University Hospital, Hull, UK. (2015 – 2022)
Lead of Trust Appointed Doctors to the SCTS for the Cardio-thoracic Unit, Department of Cardio-thoracic Surgery, Hull and East Yorkshire University Hospital, Hull, UK. (2020 – 2022)
Director of the Cardiac Surgery Unit, German Medical Institute, Limassol, Cyprus. (2022 – present)
Scientific Activity
MD: Thesis: “The importance of the surgical timing on post-operative outcome in patients with acute endocarditis of native valve”. Medical School University of Perugia, Italy. (April 2005 – December 2006)
Collaborator at the multi-centre National project “Effects of Covid-19 Pandemic on the Provision of Cardiac Surgery in the UK”. Department of Cardio-thoracic Surgery, Hull and East Yorkshire University Hospital, Hull, UK. (2020 – 2022)
Co-investigator at the COMICs multi-centre International Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT) comparing Mini-Bypass (MIECC) with conventional bypass. Department of Cardio-thoracic Surgery, Hull and East Yorkshire University Hospital, Hull, UK. (2018 – 2022)
Co-investigator at the ROUTE multi-centre international registry, aimed to analyse the effectiveness and safety of Transaortic (TAo)-TAVI as a first line approach and to compare it to patients receiving TAo-TAVI as a last resort, which is current practice. Department of Cardio-thoracic Surgery, “San Matteo” University Hospital, Pavia, Italy. (2013 – 2014)
Special Interest
Myocardial revascularisation (coronary by-pass surgery with MIECC)
Aortic surgery (thoracic aorta aneurysm repair)
Aortic valve replacement or repair (minimal invasive, TAVI)
Mitral valve surgery (replacement or repair)
Heart transplant
Memberships
Founder member of the Cypriot Society of Cardiothoracic surgeons (CSCTS) founded in 2023.
Member of the European Association for Cardiothoracic Surgery (EACTS)
Member of the Society for Cardiothoracic Surgery (SCTS) in Great Britain and Ireland
Registration at the Cypriot Ministry of Health as Specialist in Cardiac Surgery (2016)
GMC-UK Specialist Register: Cardiothoracic Surgery (2014)
Italian Medical Council (Ordine dei Medici-Chirurghi): Full Registration with Licence to practise (2008 – 2014)
Read moreDr. Sertac Cicek is a renowned cardiovascular surgeon with over 40 years of medical experience. He has spent more than 30 years specializing in cardiac surgery, focusing on complex congenital and pediatric heart procedures. He trained at leading centers worldwide and completed fellowships at Texas Heart Institute, Mayo Clinic, and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. This combination of fellowships is rare in the field.
Dr. Cicek is the Chief of Pediatric and Adult Cardiovascular Surgery at Liv Hospital Vadistanbul. He leads advanced surgical programs and performs specialized operations, including Ozaki aortic valve reconstructions, Ebstein anomaly repairs, and minimally invasive heart surgeries. He is also a pioneer in hybrid coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).
Dr. Cicek holds ECFMG certification and active medical licenses in Turkey, Minnesota, and West Virginia. He has received several awards, such as the GATA 100th Anniversary Scientific Achievement Award and a Presidential Citation from the Asian Society for Cardiovascular Surgery. He is a founding member of the World Society for Pediatric and Congenital Heart Surgery and has been listed in Who’s Who in Medicine & Healthcare for 20 years.
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Education and Expertise
EGE UNIVERSITY FACULTY OF MEDICINE
Treatment Methods
Aortic Surgery
Heart Valve Surgery
Coronary Surgery
Venous Surgery
Experience
Dokuz Eylul University Faculty of Medicine
Professional Memberships
Turkish Society of Cardiovascular Surgery
National Society for Vascular Surgery
Articles
Relationship Between Extracorporeal Perfusion Pattern and Ischemic Brain Lesions
Inhibitory effect of adenosine on intimal hyperplasia and proliferation of smooth muscle cells in a carotid arterial anastomosis animal model.
A mandatory modification in extracorporeal biventricular assist device implantation: intercostal tunnel application
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Dr. Moni Shuvi is an Interventional Cardiologist at Hadassah Medical Center. He specializes in Valvular Heart Disease, with a focus on Mitral Valve interventions. Dr. Shuvi is known for his skills in PCI, Myocardial Infarction management, and Coronary Angiography.
He has performed more than 2,000 interventional procedures. His work has helped reduce patient complications. Dr. Shuvi is certified by top cardiology boards. He also takes part in international research on structural heart interventions.
Read moreDr. Ahmet Yavuz Balci is an experienced Orthopedic Surgeon at Medistate Hospital Istanbul. He treats injuries of the bones, ligaments, joints, and tendons. He is skilled in advanced orthopedic procedures. These include knee arthroscopy, ankle fusion surgery, ACL reconstruction, carpal tunnel release, and meniscus repair.
Dr. Balci has performed many complex surgeries with excellent patient outcomes. He holds accreditation from top medical boards. He uses minimally invasive techniques to support faster recovery. Dr. Balci is known for his dedication to high standards in orthopedic care in Turkey.
Read moreThe prof. Giuseppe Speziale holds the positions of the National Coordinator of Cardiac Surgery of GVM Care & Research, the Director of the Department of Cardiac Surgery at Anthea Hospital and Città di Lecce Hospital, and Director of the Department of Cardiac Surgery of the Santa Maria Hospital. He works at the Cardiological Clinical Institute (ICC) and San Carlo di Nancy Hospital in Rome. Since 2011 he has also held the position of Vice President of GVM Care & Research. In 2012 he occupied the charge of President of Confindustria Puglia, Health Section, and since 2018 he is Vice President of Aiop Puglia (Italian association of private hospitals). The prof. Speziale is a cardiac surgeon specializing in the minimally invasive surgical treatment of valve diseases, expert in minimally invasive repair of the mitral valve, in On and Off Pump myocardial revascularization, in thoracic aortic surgery. He is Co - Founder and President of the Scientific Committee of Mitral Academy, an independent association born from the passion for mitral surgery and the desire to pursue and share excellence in restorative surgery, with particular attention to minimally invasive techniques and the evaluation of potential therapeutic treatments deriving from the use of new technologies. Until 2016 he was elected Director of the Italian Society of Cardiac Surgery. He is part of the following associations: AATS (American Association for Thoracic Surgery), Italian Society of Cardiology Accredited Hospital, SICOA (active member), ISMICS (International Society for Minimally Invasive Cardiothoracic Surgery). Since 2004 he has held the position of Scientific Director of the Italian Cardiopathic Association onlus.
In the field of scientific research, he focuses on new approaches, applicable in the field of minimally invasive and non-invasive mitral, aortic, cardiac arrhythmias and tricuspid surgery. He was the coordinator and researcher of the various projects of the National Research Council on Myocardial Infarction, on the treatment of pulmonary hypertension, on new technologies for carrying out coronary, cardiopulmonary and normothermic bypass. He was an adjunct professor at the Sapienza University of Rome where he held the Chair of Cardiology II, and at the University of Ferrara, where he teaches Cardiac Surgery. He has presented numerous scientific papers at national and international congresses of cardiology and cardiac surgery.
Bibliography: He is co-author of 6 books known nationally and internationally. The most recent one is Advances in Treatments for Aortic Valve and Root Diseases, publisher Springer International Publishing, 2018.
He is Reviewer and author of over 90 publications of multiple journals, such as Seminars in Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Journal of Geriatric Cardiology, Heart & Lung: The Journal of Cardiopulmonary and Acute Care, European Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery, The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Journal on Cardiac, Vascular and Thoracic Surgery etc.
Awards: “Top Doctors Awards”, 2021
Read moreDr. Blanco is an experienced pediatric cardiac surgeon specializing in cardiovascular surgery with extensive academic and professional experience, including positions as Head of the UCC and Head of the Pediatric Cardiac Surgery Services at various hospitals.
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