Minimally-Invasive Heart Valve Experts Unite at Endoscopic Cardiac Surgeons Club Meeting
Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Published: September 5, 2025
During the past 25 years, a key transformation in heart valve disease treatment has been the use of safe and effective minimally-invasive techniques.
For this reason, I jumped at the opportunity to attend the first meeting of the Endoscopic Cardiac Surgeons Club in the United States hosted by St. Elizabeth Healthcare in Northern Kentucky. This interactive meeting featured world-renowned minimally-invasive experts, live operations, surgical simulations and new research. The conference was led by Dr. Mario Castillo-Sang, a leading heart valve expert from St. Elizabeth Healthcare. Watch this video to learn why this conference is so important for patients.
A Minimally-Invasive Community Emerges
What I personally found fascinating about the Endoscopic Cardiac Surgeons Club was the fact that the meeting was attended by all types of people. Yes, there were surgeons. Lots of surgeons from 38 different countries. But, there were also cardiologists, hospital administrators, medical device companies and… patients!!!
Here is Dr. Mario Castillo-Sang with the leadership team of St. Elizabeth Healthcare.
That’s Dr. Joseph Zacharias, an endoscopic cardiac surgeon who practices in Blackpool, England.
Here is Dr. Marc Gillinov, the Chairman of the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery at the Cleveland Clinic. Fyi, that’s Suzi Epstein, his mitral valve repair patient, on our booth.
Here we have Dr. Marc Gerdisch, the Chief of Cardiac Surgery at Franciscan Health in Indianapolis, Indiana.
We were lucky to connect with Dr. Vinay Badhwar, the Executive Chair of WVU Heart and Vascular Institute from Morgantown, West Virginia.
Here is Dr. Chris Malaisrie, a leading minimally-invasive expert that specializes in aortic valve and aorta therapies at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago, Illinois.
Yes, that is Dr. Gan Dunnington, a world-renowned cardiac surgeon that specializes in the treatment of heart valve disease and atrial fibrillation using minimally-invasive techniques.
That is Gene, a mitral valve repair patient of Dr. Mario Castillo-Sang.
That is Nick Thaxton who works for Atricure, a leading medical company that makes life-saving cardiac devices that help surgeons treat atrial fibrillation during heart valve surgery.
Here is Barbara who is another successful heart valve patient of Dr. Mario Castillo-Sang.
Thanks Dr. Castillo-Sang, Endoscopic Cardiac Surgeons Club and St. Elizabeth Healthcare!
On behalf of all the patients in our community, many thanks to the organizers and the attendees of the Endovascular Cardiac Surgeons Club! In particular, I have to give a special shout-out to Debbie, Stephanie, Megan and Michele from St. Elizabeth who helped us film a series of educational videos during the meeting.
We really appreciate your ongoing support, dedication and passion for treating cardiac patients with minimally-invasive techniques.
Related Links:
- See Patient Reviews for Dr. Mario Castillo-Sang
- Explore the St. Elizabeth Healthcare Heart Valve Microsite
Keep on tickin!
Adam
P.S. For the deaf and hard-of-hearing members of our community, I have provided a written transcript below of my interview with Dr. Castillo-Sang.
Adam Pick: Hi everybody, it’s Adam with HeartValveSurgery.com and we are at the Endoscopic Cardiac Surgeons Club in Northern Kentucky. I am thrilled to be joined by Dr. Mario Castillo Sang, who is a leading minimally invasive expert at St. Elizabeth Healthcare. He’s also the program director of the Endoscopic Cardiac Surgeon’s Club. Dr. Castillo it is great to see you and thanks for being with me today. A lot of great things are happening here.
Dr. Castillo-Sang: Absolutely.
Adam Pick: We’re seeing new research, we’re learning about new techniques. We’re seeing live operations simulations going on, and I have a question for you, which is, we’ve got a lot of patients watching this video. What are the top three things you think patients should know about this meeting?
Dr. Castillo-Sang: I think that the first one is that endoscopic cardiac surgery is an umbrella. Underneath it, there is endoscopic surgery done with 3D, 4K, and long shafted instruments. On the other side, it has also robotic assisted endoscopic surgery. Both are cousins, same family, and the point is… Smaller incisions, shorter recovery, less pain, same effectiveness, and same efficacy and safety for the patient.
The second one would be that – as we’re listening right now in a talk ongoing – early referral of patients before their heart gets sick. What does that mean? Before the lower part of the heart gets dilated, before it loses its power, before the symptoms put you in a hospital… That is the sweet spot for somebody to be referred for care.
Third one is that we’re super proud that here in Northern Kentucky we’re hosting an international meeting with people from 38 countries. Surgeons from all around the world are coming here to share their expertise and hopefully from this point we spread it out through the United States and we scale up endoscopic cardiac surgery, which includes endoscopic approach and the robotic approach – both cousins.
Adam Pick: Well, I’ve got to say congratulations. Thank you on what’s happening here. On behalf of the patients, thanks to you and the entire team, whether it’s the Endoscopic Cardiac Surgeons Club, or St. Elizabeth, which is hosting this extraordinary event that is c bringing the world’s leaders together to advance endoscopic techniques and to help patients live normal better lives.
Thanks so much for everything.
Dr. Castillo-Sang: Thank you, Adam.
Written by Adam Pick
- Patient & Website Founder
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