This past year, Texas Heart Institute surgeon Ourania Preventza, MD—the first female cardiac surgeon to be granted the title of Professor of Surgery at Baylor College of Medicine—was invited to be Guest Editor of three consecutive issues of the Annals of Cardiothoracic Surgery.

All three issues are focused on non-open heart, minimally invasive treatments for cardiovascular disease. The first issue, published in September 2021, was dedicated to highly specialized use of transcatheter valve devices; the second and third issues, from November 2021 and January 2022, focused on treatments for thoracic aortic disease. The issue included articles written by Dr. Preventza and other THI surgeons and cardiologists. Also included are systematic reviews, Keynote Lecture Series, featured articles, editorials, and Masters of Cardiothoracic Surgery videos that Dr. Preventza solicited from experts around the world.

Already, the issues have drawn significant attention in the cardiac surgery, vascular surgery, and cardiology communities, drawing substantial praise.

Also, in October 2021, Dr. Preventza became the first woman president of the International Society of Endovascular Specialists. The ISEVS is a multidisciplinary society of cardiac surgeons, vascular surgeons, cardiologists, and interventional radiologists. It was founded by revolutionary cardiac surgeon Edward B. Diethrich in 1992.

Under Dr. Preventza’s leadership, ISEVS continues to enhance global education and clinical expertise in the treatment of cardiac and vascular diseases around the world. One of her most important accomplishments in the ISEVS has been establishing the society’s ninth chapter, in Lagos, Nigeria, with Herbert Oye, DO, as chapter president.

Explore our new Digital Annual Report or read the report in a Flipbook or Mobile/Tablet view.