Congenital Heart Surgeon Named to Board of Trustees of the American College of Cardiology

Hani Najm, MD, MSc, FACC, Chair of Pediatric and Congenital Heart Surgery at Cleveland Clinic, has been elected to the board of trustees of the American College of Cardiology (ACC). Dr. Najm will serve from 2021-2024.

“As the leading cardiovascular society in the world, the ACC has a clear vision to transform cardiovascular care, not only in the U.S., but throughout the world. It is an honor to join the officers of the ACC as a member of the board of trustees. I look forward to serving in my position in the ACC,” says Dr. Najm.

Complex cases with outstanding results

Board-certified in surgery and cardiothoracic surgery, Dr. Najm has performed more than 10,000 open heart operations for adults and children, with a special interest in complex congenital and adult surgery, as well as repair of transposition of great arteries.

Dr. Najm enjoys complex cases and strives to lower mortality rates. He and his team have achieved an overall mortality rate of less than 1% in recent years. He has used a unique repair technique for repair of a complete atrioventricular septal defect in more than 200 patients, and 15-year follow-up results are outstanding.

At Cleveland Clinic, Dr. Najm has innovated new surgical operations for management of congenital anomalies that have received wide acceptance and recognition. In addition, in collaboration with Cleveland Clinic Innovations, Dr. Najm has patented a design for a valve that has the potential for growth, an unmet need for children.

Dr. Najm earned his medical degree from King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He completed a rotating internship in Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology and a general surgery residency at King Khalid University. He also served a General Surgery residency at Ottawa Civic Hospital, Canada, and a Cardiothoracic Surgery residency at The Toronto Hospital and Hospital for Sick Children, Canada. He completed fellowships in Pediatric and Adult Cardiac Surgery at Hospital for Sick Children and Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto.

He was appointed to the Cleveland Clinic staff in 2016 after serving as a consulting staff member in 2014. He has served at King Abdulaziz Cardiac Center in Saudi Arabia, including appointments as Deputy Chairman in 2008, Head of Cardiac Surgery in 2001, and Consultant for Adult and Pediatric Cardiac Surgery in 1999.

Dr. Najm serves in leadership roles for many professional heart and surgery societies throughout Europe, Asia and the Middle East, including the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, the Asian Society of Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery and the World Society of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgeons. He has a Master’s of Science in research Training and has been an educator and speaker at hundreds of professional meetings worldwide. Within the ACC, Dr. Najm has had a variety of roles over the last 12 years, including chapter governor, member of the steering committee of the Assembly of International Governors, a member of the Surgeon’s Council, Chair of the Assembly of International Governors and as a member of the Membership Committee.