1979 - 1985: Faculty of General Medicine, Bucharest – Graduated top of the class, average grade 10; Diploma Thesis: “Histopathological Study of Microvascular Sutures Performed by Microsurgical Techniques on Vessels Under 2 mm Diameter”
1985 - 1993: Internship and Residency in Cardiovascular Surgery – “Fundeni” Clinical Hospital, Bucharest
1993: Specialist in Cardiovascular Surgery
1994: PhD in Medical Sciences – Doctoral Thesis: “Pathology of the Popliteal Artery”
2003: Senior Specialist Doctor in Cardiovascular Surgery
Education
February 1993 – April 1993: Study Grant, Advanced Cardiovascular Institute, Louisville, KY, USA, Prof. Dr. Allan M. Lansing: Coronary bypass and adult valve surgery
1994 – 1995: Fellowship, “E. Malan” Center, San Donato Hospital, Milan, Italy, Prof. Dr. Alessandro Frigiola: Valve surgery and pediatric cardiac surgery (complex malformations and Ross procedure); Prof. Dr. Lorenzo Menicanti: Coronary bypass and post-infarct complications surgery, especially left ventricular aneurysm (world-leading center)
1995 – 1997: Fellowship, Advanced Cardiovascular Institute, Louisville, KY, USA, Prof. Dr. Allan M. Lansing: Combined myocardial revascularization – bypass and transmyocardial laser revascularization (largest US experience)
1997 – 2000: Fellowship, “De Gasperis” Center, Niguarda Hospital, Milan, Italy, Prof. Dr. Ettore Vitali: Valve replacement with homografts, heart transplant (adults and children), mechanical circulatory support (largest Italian experience), pediatric cardiac surgery including neonates
2000: Private practice in Italy
2000 – 2002: Deputy Head of Cardiac Surgery, “Città di Monza” Hospital, Monza, Italy: Adult cardiac and vascular surgery, including mitral and aortic valve repair, and exclusively arterial coronary bypass on beating heart
2002 – 2003: Cardiovascular Surgeon and Research Team Member, “E. Malan” Center, San Donato Hospital, Milan, Italy: Pediatric cardiac surgery, aortic aneurysm repair, valve repair, Ross procedure (aortic valve replacement with patient’s own pulmonary valve, leading Italian center)
2004 – 2005: Collaboration with the National Center for Limb Salvage – extreme combined revascularizations (endovascular + surgical): angioplasty, stenting, and infrapopliteal bypass including foot-level interventions