Cleveland Clinic Experts Inspire Young Cardiac Surgeons

Cleveland Clinic is a world-renowned hospital that sits in the middle of downtown Cleveland, Ohio. According to OMI faculty member Dr. Skubas, “The institution was built in a way that makes its patients feel like they are not in a hospital.” The huge window fronts, colorful paintings and sculptures, high ceilings, and light wood that make up the interior of the clinic add to this sensation. The Cleveland Clinic indeed is a one-of-a-kind hospital: Its physicians not only take excellent care of their patients, but the clinic’s buildings themselves are constructed to make individuals feel at ease while they undergo often stressful medical situations or wait for loved ones.

The Open Medical Institute has worked alongside the Cleveland Clinic for 18 years, educating young cardiac surgeons, cardiologists, and anesthesiologists to minimize brain drain in their respective home countries. Like the renowned hospital, the OMI’s headquarters serve a unique purpose. The close-knit setting of Schloss Arenberg, where faculty and fellows live and learn under the same roof, provides the seminars’ participants with a chance to broaden their horizons as well as network with one another. The Cardiac Surgery seminar, which took place from March 9 to 15, 2025, was no exception to this phenomenon.

This week’s remarkable group of educators were made up of one course director, two co-course directors, and five faculty members. The course director was none other than Dr. James J. Yun (Cleveland Clinic), the co-course directors were Dr. Nikolaos J. Skubas (Cleveland Clinic) and Dr. Daniel Zimpfer (Medical University of Vienna), while the remaining faculty consisted of Dr. Anthony Zaki (Cleveland Clinic), Dr. Alfred Kocher (Medical University of Vienna), Dr. Marek P. Ehrlich (Medical University of Vienna), Dr. Paul Simon (Medicla Univeristy of Vienna), and last but not least Dr. Hrvoje Gasparovic (University Hospital Center Zagreb, Croatia).

Dr. Yun served as course director for the first time this week and was enthusiastic to share his impressions of the OMI program and his role in it. He stated, “Serving as course director for the OMI Cardiac Surgery Seminar in Salzburg was a special opportunity to share the expertise of the Cleveland Clinic’s Department of Cardiac Surgery with a highly capable group of selected fellows. The ever-expanding international reach of the OMI and this unique educational activity facilitate knowledge sharing for the benefit of cardiac patients throughout the world. We look forward to ongoing collaboration with the OMI and continued learning from each other!”

As heart surgery is one of the most demanding fields to work in, the 36 fellows from 23 countries were thrilled to be able to ask top experts their most pressing questions and listen to interesting lectures.

“This year’s cardiac seminar curriculum included mainstay topics of cardiac hemodynamics and physiology, acute aortic syndromes, complex coronary revascularization, and current issues in valve surgery. In addition, contemporary cardiogenic shock decision making, cardiac surgery in the ‘hostile mediastinum’, surgical management of cardiac tumors, cardiomyopathy, endocarditis, and pericardial disease were highlighted by faculty from Cleveland Clinic, the University of Vienna, and the University of Zagreb,” summarized the course director.