Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon

Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive assessment, diagnosis, surgical treatment, and postoperative management of patients with cardiovascular and thoracic surgical conditions.

• Evaluate patients referred for cardiac and thoracic surgery, including detailed clinical assessment, review of diagnostic investigations, and surgical risk stratification.

• Diagnose and surgically manage coronary artery disease requiring myocardial revascularisation.

• Perform coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), including appropriate on-pump and off-pump techniques according to clinical indications and surgical expertise.

• Evaluate and manage patients with valvular heart disease requiring surgical intervention.

• Perform heart valve repair and replacement procedures, including aortic, mitral, and tricuspid valve surgery where appropriately trained and credentialed.

• Assess and manage patients with complex multivalvular heart disease requiring surgical treatment.

• Diagnose and surgically manage selected diseases of the thoracic aorta, including ascending aortic aneurysms and other aortic pathologies.

• Perform appropriate thoracic aortic surgical procedures, including aortic root or ascending aortic repair, within approved surgical privileges.

• Participate in the emergency surgical management of acute aortic syndromes and other life-threatening cardiovascular conditions.

• Evaluate patients with heart failure requiring surgical assessment or advanced cardiac interventions.

• Collaborate with advanced heart failure teams in assessing patients for mechanical circulatory support or other specialised cardiac surgical therapies.

• Assess patients requiring selected congenital cardiac surgical interventions and coordinate referral to dedicated congenital cardiac surgery teams when appropriate.

• Diagnose and surgically manage thoracic conditions involving the lungs, pleura, mediastinum, and chest wall within the surgeon's recognised scope of practice.

• Evaluate patients with suspected or confirmed lung malignancies requiring thoracic surgical assessment.

• Perform appropriate lung resection procedures, including wedge resection, segmentectomy, and lobectomy, where trained and credentialed.

• Assess and manage patients requiring surgical treatment of mediastinal masses, pleural diseases, and selected chest wall abnormalities.

• Perform video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for appropriate thoracic conditions where clinically indicated and within approved surgical privileges.

• Evaluate patients for minimally invasive cardiac or thoracic surgical approaches based on disease characteristics, procedural suitability, and available expertise.

• Perform or coordinate robotic-assisted cardiothoracic procedures where appropriately trained, credentialed, and supported by the healthcare facility.

• Interpret relevant diagnostic investigations, including echocardiography, coronary angiography, CT angiography, cardiac MRI, and thoracic imaging.

• Collaborate with cardiologists and radiologists to review cardiac catheterisation findings, vascular imaging, and other relevant investigations.

• Conduct comprehensive preoperative assessments, including evaluation of cardiovascular function, respiratory status, comorbidities, and anaesthetic risks.

• Develop individualised surgical treatment plans based on clinical findings, disease severity, patient risk factors, and evidence-based guidelines.

• Obtain informed consent and counsel patients and families regarding surgical indications, treatment alternatives, expected outcomes, and potential complications.

• Provide comprehensive intraoperative surgical management, ensuring adherence to established safety protocols and quality standards.

• Coordinate cardiopulmonary bypass requirements with cardiac anaesthesia and perfusion teams during appropriate cardiac surgical procedures.

• Manage complex perioperative cases involving significant cardiovascular or respiratory comorbidities.

• Provide postoperative care for patients following cardiac and thoracic surgery, including monitoring haemodynamic stability, respiratory function, and surgical recovery.

• Collaborate with cardiac intensive care and critical care teams in managing patients requiring advanced postoperative monitoring and organ support.

• Recognise and manage postoperative complications, including bleeding, arrhythmias, infection, respiratory failure, thromboembolism, and cardiac dysfunction.

• Assess and manage patients requiring urgent reoperation or additional surgical intervention following cardiothoracic procedures.

• Participate in multidisciplinary heart team discussions to determine appropriate surgical, catheter-based, or medical treatment strategies.

• Collaborate with interventional cardiologists in assessing patients for surgical versus transcatheter treatment options.

• Coordinate multidisciplinary management of patients with thoracic malignancies in collaboration with pulmonologists, oncologists, radiologists, and pathologists.

• Provide long-term postoperative follow-up, including assessment of surgical outcomes, functional recovery, and potential late complications.

• Support enhanced recovery protocols, postoperative rehabilitation, and appropriate referral to cardiac or pulmonary rehabilitation services.

• Maintain accurate clinical documentation, operative reports, postoperative records, and compliance with hospital policies and patient safety standards.

• Participate in surgical audits, morbidity and mortality reviews, clinical outcome monitoring, and quality improvement initiatives.

• Contribute to the development and implementation of cardiothoracic surgical protocols, perioperative care pathways, and specialised surgical services.

• Provide clinical supervision, teaching, and mentoring to junior physicians, surgical trainees, and multidisciplinary healthcare professionals.

• Stay up to date with advances in cardiac surgery, thoracic surgery, minimally invasive techniques, mechanical circulatory support, and evidence-based surgical care.

Qualifications

• Recognised specialist qualification in Cardiothoracic Surgery, Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, or an equivalent recognised surgical specialty.

• Recognised Tier 1 specialist qualification, such as American Board certification, Canadian Royal College certification, UK CCT/CCST, or an equivalent recognised qualification.

• Completion of recognised surgical residency and advanced specialist training in Cardiothoracic Surgery, Cardiac Surgery, or Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, as appropriate to the position.

• Minimum 5 years of post-specialisation experience, with substantial clinical and operative experience in cardiothoracic surgery.

• Proven surgical experience in managing coronary artery disease, valvular heart disease, and other complex cardiac surgical conditions.

• Demonstrated expertise in coronary artery bypass grafting, heart valve repair or replacement, and complex perioperative cardiac surgical management.

• Experience in thoracic aortic surgery and management of complex aortic conditions is highly desirable.

• Experience in general thoracic surgical procedures, including lung resection and minimally invasive thoracic surgery, is desirable where required by the position.

• Comprehensive knowledge of cardiovascular anatomy, cardiac physiology, thoracic pathology, and surgical treatment principles.

• Strong experience in preoperative assessment, surgical risk stratification, and postoperative management of complex cardiothoracic patients.

• Familiarity with cardiopulmonary bypass, myocardial protection, and advanced cardiac surgical techniques.

• Experience managing patients requiring cardiac intensive care and advanced postoperative cardiovascular support.

• Proficiency in interpreting echocardiography, coronary angiography, CT angiography, cardiac MRI, and relevant thoracic imaging.

• Experience in minimally invasive cardiac or thoracic surgery is advantageous.

• Robotic-assisted cardiothoracic surgical experience is an additional advantage where relevant to the healthcare facility.

• Strong understanding of cardiothoracic surgical emergencies, perioperative complications, and evidence-based surgical safety standards.

• Experience working in a tertiary hospital, specialised cardiac centre, cardiothoracic surgery department, or advanced multidisciplinary surgical facility.

• Familiarity with international cardiothoracic surgery guidelines, surgical quality standards, and multidisciplinary cardiovascular treatment pathways.

• Proven ability to manage complex surgical cases and collaborate effectively with cardiology, anaesthesia, intensive care, and other specialist teams.

• Eligibility for Consultant-level licensing with DHA, DOH, or MOHAP, as applicable to the position, together with appropriate institutional privileges for the required cardiothoracic surgical procedures.

Required Skills

• Strong clinical and operative expertise in cardiothoracic surgery and the management of complex cardiovascular and thoracic conditions.

• Advanced knowledge of coronary artery disease, valvular heart disease, thoracic aortic disorders, and relevant thoracic surgical conditions.

• Demonstrated competence in coronary artery bypass grafting, heart valve surgery, and other procedures within the surgeon's recognised specialty.

• Comprehensive understanding of cardiopulmonary bypass, myocardial protection, and perioperative cardiovascular management.

• Strong surgical planning, intraoperative decision-making, and complex operative management skills.

• Proficiency in interpreting cardiac imaging, coronary angiography, vascular imaging, and relevant thoracic investigations.

• Knowledge of minimally invasive and advanced cardiothoracic surgical techniques.

• Expertise in preoperative risk assessment, postoperative care, and management of cardiothoracic surgical complications.

• Ability to recognise and respond effectively to cardiac and thoracic surgical emergencies.

• Strong diagnostic, analytical, and clinical decision-making skills in complex surgical cases.

• Excellent communication, leadership, and multidisciplinary collaboration skills.

• Ability to provide compassionate patient counselling and explain complex surgical procedures, treatment options, and expected outcomes.

• Commitment to patient safety, evidence-based cardiothoracic surgical practice, and continuous professional development.

• Ability to support clinical education, cardiothoracic surgical service development, research, and quality improvement initiatives.

Compensation

An attractive tax-free package will be offered based on the candidate’s qualifications, clinical expertise, cardiothoracic surgical experience, operative competencies, professional background, and the requirements of the healthcare facility.