Dr Lokeswara Rao Sajja, Senior Consultant Cardiac Surgeon, Star Hospitals, and Chairman, Sajja Heart Foundation, has been accorded the honour and privilege of being invited as Faculty for the AATS 99th Annual Meeting, to be held in Toronto from May 4 to 7.

Dr Sajja is an active member of the American Association of Thoracic Surgery (AATS), an international organization that encourages, promotes, and stimulates the scientific investigation of Cardiothoracic Surgery. Founded in 1917, this prestigious organisation currently has more than 1,400 members who have a proven record of distinction within the specialty, and have made significant contributions to the care and treatment of Cardiothoracic Disease.

AATS 99th Annual Meeting will be attended by delegates from more than 80 countries, 80 per cent of them are Cardiothoracic Surgeons, and more than 65 per cent have been in practice for over a decade. Over 1,200 speakers and discussants are invited to participate in over 130 topically focused scientific sessions that combine invited presentations, videos and scientific abstracts.

Dr Sajja is the only Cardiac Surgeon invited as Faculty who is practicing in India. He is also a keen Researcher and prolific in publishing original articles on Coronary Bypass Surgery, having presented over 100 papers at International and National Cardiothoracic Surgical Conferences.

Dr Sajja has showcased to the world that Indian doctors are on par with world standards of excellence, and that the Indian medical world has advanced by leaps and bounds, over the last 50 years, and are now capable of pursuing research and innovation within our own country, a statement said on May 2.