Recognition of Dr Lokeswara Rao Sajja as ESC Fellow

Dr Lokeswara Rao Sajja, Senior Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon at STAR Hospitals and Chairman of the Sajja Heart Foundation, has been elected as a Fellow of the European Society of Cardiology (FESC) for the year 2026. The European Society of Cardiology issued a certificate confirming his election, noting his high professional standards and commitment to reducing cardiovascular disease burden.

The press release states that Dr Sajja is believed to be the first cardiac surgeon from India to be elected an ESC Fellow, placing him among a relatively small group of cardiac surgeons worldwide who hold this distinction. His election follows more than three decades of contributions to cardiac surgery, especially in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), arterial revascularisation, and clinical research.

Key Research Contributions

  • PROMOTE Patency Trial: An investigator‑initiated study evaluating graft patency after coronary artery bypass surgery, which has generated long‑term follow‑up data.
  • PREDICT Randomised Controlled Trial: A large multicentre trial conducted across multiple Indian cardiac centres, investigating single versus multiple arterial grafting in diabetic patients undergoing CABG, representing a significant Indian contribution to contemporary coronary revascularisation evidence.
  • International Trial Participation: Dr Sajja contributed to the Arterial Revascularisation Trial (ART) and the ROMA Trial (Randomized Comparison of the Clinical Outcomes of Single versus Multiple Arterial Grafts). He continues to be involved in the long‑term follow‑up of ART, including recently reported 15‑year outcomes, and remains active in the ROMA Trial, supporting global efforts to establish stronger evidence for multiple arterial grafting.
  • Additional Research Areas: His group investigates graft patency, off‑pump coronary surgery, outcomes in high‑risk patients, and strategies to improve long‑term results after CABG.

Additional Professional Distinctions

Dr Sajja has previously been elected a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS) and a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology (FACC). He is also an Active Member of the American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS), joining a select group of Indian cardiac surgeons associated with that organisation.

Leadership and Advocacy

Through the Sajja Heart Foundation and the Society of Coronary Surgeons, Dr Sajja promotes a culture of evidence‑based cardiac surgery in India, encouraging multicentre collaboration, clinical trials, scientific publication, and long‑term outcome research.

Statement from Dr Sajja

Commenting on the recognition, Dr Sajja said, “It is a great honour to be elected as a Fellow of the European Society of Cardiology. I sincerely thank the European Society of Cardiology for this recognition. I consider this fellowship not only a personal honour, but also a recognition of the collaborative research carried out by our colleagues, investigators and participating centres over many years. Our endeavour has always been to generate meaningful scientific evidence in cardiac surgery, particularly coronary surgery, that can ultimately translate into better care and better outcomes for our patients.”

The election as an ESC Fellow in 2026 marks another milestone in Dr Sajja’s career devoted to cardiac surgery, clinical research, and the advancement of coronary revascularisation, highlighting the growing contribution of Indian surgeons and Indian‑led clinical research to the international cardiovascular scientific community.

Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with NRDPL. PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.