RIYADH: A consultant cardiac surgeon at King Faisal Specialist Hospital has been awarded the American College of Cardiology 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award.
Prof. Zohair Al-Halees received the honor in recognition of his decades-long contribution to advancing cardiac surgery and his scientific and educational impact on cardiac care both in Saudi Arabia and internationally.
The award was presented during the college’s annual scientific session in New Orleans in the presence of leading cardiology experts from around the world, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.
Al-Halees’ professional career spans more than 48 years, during which he has performed over 25,000 cardiac surgeries. He established the first congenital heart defects registry in the Middle East and played a central role in developing an integrated heart center at King Faisal Specialist Hospital, bringing together cardiac surgery, cardiology and critical care, while mentoring and training dozens of young surgeons.
Internationally, he led more than 60 humanitarian and educational surgical missions in more than 20 countries. His academic contributions include publishing more than 150 scientific papers and contributing to specialized reference textbooks. He was also elected president of the World Society for Pediatric and Congenital Heart Surgery, becoming the first Saudi and Arab physician to hold the position.
During the award ceremony, the American College of Cardiology highlighted Al-Halees’ contributions to advancing heart valve replacement surgery, including a pioneering technique that replaces a damaged valve with the patient’s own tissue.
This approach has enabled patients, particularly children and adolescents, to live with a valve that adapts to natural growth, reduces the need for lifelong medication, and improves long-term quality of life.
This surgical innovation, along with his work in treating complex congenital heart defects in infants and children, has improved success rates, reduced complications and enhanced recovery outcomes, as documented in leading international medical references, reinforcing his standing as a global pioneer in cardiac surgery.
