Heart Sapling in the Spotlight | Mexican Cardiac Surgeon Featured on CTSNet: “I Learned Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery at Xiamen Cardiovascular Hospital”

In recent years, China’s cardiovascular medicine has been rapidly transforming from a technology “follower” into a global peer and innovator, increasingly becoming a key force in advancing cardiovascular health worldwide. In this process, Xiamen Cardiovascular Hospital Xiamen University (Xiamen Cardiovascular Hospital) and its Heart Sapling Visiting Scholar Program (Heart Sapling Program) have become a vivid example of how Chinese cardiovascular expertise is reaching the world and benefiting patients globally.

Recently, Oscar A. Flores Flores, a cardiac surgeon from Mexico and a graduate of the Heart Sapling Program, published an academic article and surgical video on CTSNet, one of the world’s leading platforms for cardiothoracic surgeons. Together with his mentor, Director Lin Zhi of the Department of Cardiac Surgery at Xiamen Cardiovascular Hospital, he was also invited to participate in a CTSNet podcast interview. Their appearance vividly demonstrated the far-reaching impact and growing vitality of this international medical talent development program. 

Dr. Oscar (first from the right) and his mentor, Director Lin Zhi (second from the right), participated in an online interview with Professor Joel Dunning (first from the right), a world-renowned cardiothoracic surgeon and editor-in-chief of CTSNet.

From Trainee to Knowledge Ambassador: The Heart Sapling Journey of a Mexican Surgeon

The article and surgical video published by Dr. Oscar on CTSNet, titled “Endoscopic Cone Repair in an Adult Patient With Ebstein Anomaly,” reported the world’s first totally endoscopic cone repair for Ebstein anomaly. The procedure was an innovative minimally invasive cardiac surgery performed by Director Lin Zhi and his cardiac surgery team during Oscar’s training through the Heart Sapling Program at Xiamen Cardiovascular Hospital. The publication of this achievement represents not only a milestone in Oscar’s professional career but also a new chapter in a medical mentorship journey that spans the Pacific Ocean.  

During his one-year visiting scholar training, Oscar systematically studied and actively participated in the clinical practice of a range of core minimally invasive cardiac surgical techniques under the guidance of Director Lin Zhi’s team. These included totally endoscopic mitral valve repair and the correction of complex congenital heart diseases.The hospital’s high surgical volume and advanced technological platform significantly accelerated his professional development. During this period, Oscar was also invited to present at high-level academic conferences, including the China Minimally Invasive Cardiovascular Surgery Conference, completing a remarkable transformation from an observer and trainee to an academic speaker. Oscar described his year at Xiamen Cardiovascular Hospital as a pivotal turning point in his career.

Today, he has not only successfully applied the minimally invasive techniques learned in China to clinical practice in Mexico, benefiting more local patients, but has also shared his surgical experience and videos through CTSNet, a globally recognized knowledge platform for cardiothoracic surgeons. In doing so, he has achieved a critical transition from a “technology learner” to a “knowledge disseminator.”His story embodies the value chain envisioned by the Heart Sapling Program: “Train one physician, advance one technology, serve a community of patients, and connect a nation.”

China’s Strength in Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery Supports International Specialist Training

Oscar’s rapid growth did not happen by chance. Behind his success lies the strong foundation established through the rapid development of China’s minimally invasive cardiac surgery capabilities.During the CTSNet interview, host Professor Joel Dunning, internationally renowned cardiac surgeon and Editor-in-Chief of CTSNet, expressed great interest in the speed and quality of China’s progress in minimally invasive cardiac surgery.  

As Oscar’s mentor, Director Lin Zhi shared Xiamen Cardiovascular Hospital’s experience during the discussion. He noted that cardiovascular centers across China are advancing minimally invasive cardiac surgery at an unprecedented pace.Using Xiamen Cardiovascular Hospital as an example, he highlighted several impressive achievements:

* The hospital independently performs more than 200 totally endoscopic mitral valve repair procedures annually.

* The repair success rate for degenerative mitral valve disease has consistently remained above 98%.

* More than half of patients with rheumatic mitral stenosis can also undergo successful endoscopic valve repair.* Through minimally invasive approaches such as axillary mini-incisions, parasternal mini-incisions, and upper partial sternotomy, the hospital routinely performs highly complex procedures including aortic valve replacement, double-valve replacement, ascending aortic replacement, and partial aortic arch replacement. 

It is precisely because of this extensive, real-world, and systematic clinical experience that the Heart Sapling Program is able to provide young physicians from around the world with a deeply immersive and continuous learning environment.Here, trainees gain access not only to cutting-edge technologies described in scientific publications, but also to a comprehensive system of multidisciplinary teamwork, clinical workflow management, and quality control. What the Heart Sapling Program delivers is a complete solution rooted in China’s rich clinical practice and experience. 

Heart Sapling Blossoms: Building a Global Platform for Medical Talent Development

Oscar’s success story is only one example of the Heart Sapling Program’s commitment to international medical talent development over the past three years.Officially launched at the United Nations Headquarters in 2023 and incorporated into the Global Development Project Database of the China International Development Cooperation Agency the following year, the program has gradually evolved into an important international bridge that connects governments and communities, technology and ideas, and Xiamen with the broader world.  

The name “Heart Sapling” carries profound meaning. Just as a sapling grows into a strong and thriving tree, the program seeks to cultivate future leaders in cardiovascular medicine and inject new vitality into the global fight against cardiovascular disease.In just three years, 39 young cardiovascular specialists from 16 countries have completed training at Xiamen Cardiovascular Hospital. They have since returned to their home countries carrying not only the hospital’s technical expertise, but also its management philosophy and clinical standards, becoming key contributors to the development and modernization of cardiovascular healthcare systems in their regions.  

From a Mexican surgeon publishing academic work on a prestigious international platform to a Chinese hospital sharing its technologies and talent-development experience with the world, Xiamen Cardiovascular Hospital has demonstrated through concrete actions the profound meaning of the belief that medicine knows no borders.Looking ahead, the Heart Sapling Program will continue to serve as a cradle for the growth of young cardiovascular specialists worldwide. It will further promote the global dissemination of China’s cardiovascular expertise and medical humanism, allowing more Chinese innovations, clinical practices, and inspiring stories from the heart to take root, flourish, and benefit patients across the globe.