Cardiac Surgery

Program Information

King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre offers a seven-year residency program in Cardiac Surgery. The residents go through a 3-year period of core surgical training as junior residents, including 12 months in general and trauma surgery, three (3) months each in vascular, thoracic, and pediatric surgery specialties, and a multidisciplinary intensive care unit (ICU) rotation. The 3rd year will include adult cardiology, echocardiography, cardiac catheterization laboratory, elective rotations, and a 6-month academic research where they will be asked to complete a research proposal with a mentor. The last four (4) years consist of cardiac surgery specialty training, divided into two periods. On the first year the residents will rotate in adult cardiac surgery, and the second year will be divided into congenital cardiac, thoracic, and vascular surgery. During the third and fourth years they will rotate as senior residents, spending 18 months in adult cardiac surgery and six (6) months electively between adult and congenital diseases.

The resident who has completed training in Cardiac Surgery is expected to function as an independent consultant, providing adequate diagnosis and management of patients with cardiovascular diseases, including surgical interventions and postoperative care. The Saudi Commission for Health Specialties has approved this program which offers successful candidates a certification in Saudi Board of Cardiac Surgery upon completion.