About Dr. Zhao Qiang
Dr. Zhao Qiang (赵强) is one of China's most distinguished cardiac surgeons and the Director of the Department of Cardiac Surgery at Ruijin Hospital, affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine. He holds the title of Chief Physician and Professor and is nationally recognized as a leader in minimally invasive cardiac surgery, valve repair, and aortic surgery.
Over a career spanning more than three decades, Dr. Zhao has built Ruijin Hospital's Cardiac Surgery Department into one of the premier heart surgery centers in eastern China. He is particularly renowned for his expertise in minimally invasive valve surgery, aortic root and arch reconstruction, and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) — areas where his technical innovations have influenced surgical practice across China.
International patients requiring open heart surgery, valve repair or replacement, aortic surgery, or coronary bypass consistently identify Dr. Zhao as one of Shanghai's top cardiac surgeons for both primary surgical treatment and second opinions on complex cases.
Professional Positions and Affiliations
- Director, Department of Cardiac Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine
- Vice Chairman, Chinese Society for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery
- Chairman, Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery Committee, Chinese Society for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery
- Editorial Board Member: Chinese Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Journal of Cardiac Surgery
- Fellow, American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS)
- Fellow, European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS)
Specialties and Clinical Expertise
- Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery — mini-sternotomy and right mini-thoracotomy approaches for valve surgery, ASD closure, and cardiac tumor resection; robotic-assisted cardiac surgery
- Mitral Valve Repair and Replacement — repair-first approach for degenerative mitral regurgitation; ring annuloplasty, leaflet resection, chordal reconstruction; minimally invasive and robotic techniques
- Aortic Valve Surgery — aortic valve repair and replacement; Ross procedure for young patients; valve-sparing aortic root replacement (David procedure)
- Aortic Surgery — aortic root replacement (Bentall procedure), ascending aorta and arch reconstruction, total arch replacement with frozen elephant trunk for type A dissection and aneurysm
- Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG) — on-pump and off-pump CABG; total arterial revascularization using bilateral internal mammary arteries; hybrid coronary revascularization with PCI
- Congenital Heart Disease in Adults — ASD, VSD, and complex congenital lesions in adult patients
- Cardiac Tumors — atrial myxoma and other primary cardiac tumors; minimally invasive resection
- Redo Cardiac Surgery — reoperative valve surgery and CABG in patients with prior cardiac procedures
Academic and Research Contributions
Dr. Zhao Qiang has published over 200 peer-reviewed papers in leading international cardiac surgery journals, with a particular focus on minimally invasive valve surgery outcomes, aortic surgery techniques, and the optimization of CABG strategies in Chinese patients. His research on minimally invasive mitral valve repair through right mini-thoracotomy has been widely cited and has contributed to the adoption of this approach as a standard technique at major Chinese cardiac surgery centers.
He has led multicenter studies on total arch replacement outcomes in acute type A aortic dissection — a condition with particularly high surgical mortality — and his group's results have set benchmarks for aortic surgery outcomes in China. He is a regular invited speaker at AATS, EACTS, and the Asian Society for Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery (ASCVTS) annual meetings.
Hospital: Ruijin Hospital Cardiac Surgery Department
Under Dr. Zhao's leadership, Ruijin Hospital's Cardiac Surgery Department operates:
- Multiple Cardiac Operating Theaters equipped for minimally invasive, robotic, and complex open heart surgery
- A dedicated Aortic Surgery Program with 24/7 capability for emergency type A dissection repair
- A Cardiac Surgical ICU with advanced hemodynamic monitoring and ECMO capability
- A Hybrid Operating Room for combined surgical and interventional procedures
- Close collaboration with the Structural Heart Disease Program for TAVR and transcatheter valve procedures
Why International Patients Choose Dr. Zhao Qiang
- Minimally invasive cardiac surgery pioneer — Chairman of China's national minimally invasive cardiac surgery committee
- Mitral valve repair expertise — repair-first approach preserving native valve function and avoiding lifelong anticoagulation
- Aortic surgery authority — complex root, arch, and dissection surgery at the highest technical level
- AATS and EACTS Fellow — internationally credentialed and aligned with global cardiac surgery standards
- Robotic cardiac surgery capability — offering the least invasive approach for eligible patients
- English-language support available through CMCS concierge coordination
Practical Information for International Patients
- Hospital: Ruijin Hospital, 197 Ruijin Er Road, Huangpu District, Shanghai
- Appointment Lead Time: 2–4 weeks for elective surgery consultations; emergency aortic surgery available 24/7
- Languages: Mandarin Chinese; English interpretation provided by CMCS
- Pre-consultation: Overseas echocardiography, cardiac CT, and catheterization reports can be reviewed remotely through CMCS
How CMCS Can Help
China Medical Concierge Shanghai (CMCS) provides end-to-end support for international patients seeking cardiac surgery with Dr. Zhao Qiang at Ruijin Hospital. Our services include priority appointment booking, medical record and imaging translation, remote pre-consultation review, on-site interpretation, accommodation coordination, insurance liaison, and post-surgical follow-up with your home country cardiologist or cardiac surgeon.
📧 Contact us: contract@medicalsh.com
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