Yin-Kai Chao is professor and chief of the department of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery in Chang Gung memorial hospital-Linkou, Taiwan. 

Dr Chao acquired his MD degree from Chang Gung University in 2001 and completed specialist training as thoracic surgeon in Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in 2006. In 2010, he received his PhD degree in Medical sciences at the Chang Gung University. 

Dr Chao is a board-certified surgeon pioneering in minimal invasive Thoracic Surgery. He is a very strong patient advocate and very dedicated to his specialty, his talent in minimal invasive surgery is outstanding, exemplary and of the highest quality. 

In addition to his work, Dr Chao is also a well-known researcher. His areas of scientific investigation include the esophageal cancer research, development of biodegradable medical devices, fluorescence-guided Thoracic Surgery in hybrid OR and robotic surgery. Being a recipient of numerous research awards since 2006, he has authored over 180 papers in peer-reviewed international journals. 

Dr Yin-Kai Chao is a well-respected doctor in the thoracic surgery field. His innovative surgical methods as well as his experienced techniques have gained him recognition and praise around the world.

Dr Anson Cheung is the Director of Cardiac Transplantation of B.C. and Clinical Professor of Surgery with the University of British Columbia (UBC), Department of Surgery, Division of Cardiovascular Surgery. Practicing since 2000, he is currently on staff at St Paul’s Hospital and Vancouver General Hospital. He is a graduate of the University of Manitoba with post-graduate work at Stanford University, University of Western Ontario and the University of Pittsburgh.

 He joined the academic staff at UBC in 2001 and St Paul’s Hospital in 2000. His specialties include cardiac transplant surgery, mechanical circulatory assist devices, transcatheter valve therapy and off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCABG). 

Dr Cheung has established the VAD (Ventricular Assist Device) Program at St Paul’s Hospital, which is the first VAD program in Western Canada. He is also a leader in transcatheter valve therapy. He is currently involved in numerous research projects along with other works in progress. He was also the recipient of the Department of Surgery Concept Awards in 2003 as well as the International Society of Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery President’s Award in 2010 and 2015. He continues to foster cardiac surgical education by participating in numerous symposiums and postgraduate courses worldwide.

Dr Amy Fiedler is an assistant professor of cardiac surgery with a focus on heart transplantation and mechanical circulatory support at UCSF.  Dr Fiedler earned her medical degree at the George Washington University School of Medicine where she graduated with the highest honors. She completed her general surgery residency and cardiac surgery training at The Massachusetts General Hospital, an affiliate of Harvard Medical School. 

In 2020, Dr Fiedler was selected as one of 60 scholars to participate in the prestigious Presidential Leadership Scholars, a program offered through the collaboration of several former U.S. presidents’ centers which brings together young leaders to collaborate and make a difference in the world as they learn about leadership thruough the lens of past presidential experiences.  

Dr Fiedler currently serves as surgical director for Rwanda Team Heart, a nonprofit organization providing life saving Cardiac Surgery in addition to creating a sustainable surgical infrastructure for the people of Rwanda.

Dr Kendra J. Grubb, MD, MHA, FACC, Surgical Director Emory University Structural Heart and Valve Center, is dedicated to improving the lives of patients through innovation and building collaborative teams to promote patient-centered treatment of cardiovascular disease. Previously, she was Director of Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery and the Heart Valve Program at University of Louisville. 

Dr Grubb has led and participated in numerous clinical trials of innovative technologies, including studies of transcatheter aortic valve replacement, mitral valve percutaneous therapies, endovascular treatment of descending thoracic aortic aneurysms, and transcatheter heart failure devices.

Dr Grubb attended University of Southern California, where she received her medical degree from Keck School of Medicine and a Master of Health Administration. She completed general surgery residency at University of Illinois at Chicago (2010), fellowship in cardiothoracic surgery at University of Virginia (2012), and fellowship in interventional cardiology and transcatheter therapies at New York Presbyterian-Columbia University (2013). Currently, Dr Grubb is completing a Master of Science in Clinical Trials at the University of Oxford with anticipated graduation in 2024.

Dr Paula Ugalde Figueroa has established herself as a thoracic dedicated to research. With a focus on innovative uniportal VATS approaches for lung cancer, she boasts an impressive portfolio of publications. Notably, Dr Ugalde spearheaded the establishment of the lung cancer database at Laval University, elevating it to the world's leading contributor to the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer's prospective database.

Since 2021, Dr Ugalde has served on the Board of Directors of the IASLC, alongside her memberships in prestigious organizations such as the American Association of Thoracic Surgery and the Society of Thoracic Surgeons. As the acting Chair of International Affairs for the Women in Thoracic Surgery society, she actively advocates for gender equity in her field.

In 2021, Dr Ugalde transitioned to Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, where she is an Associate Surgeon within the Division of Thoracic Surgery. Emphasizing her academic prowess, she also serves as an Associate Professor of Surgery at Harvard Medical School and is affiliated with the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Dr Ugalde's influence extends beyond the operating room; she has played a pivotal role in introducing minimally invasive thoracic surgery techniques to Brazil and Latin America. Through her mentorship of hundreds of thoracic surgeons and her annual instruction of a Latin American fellow in Québec, she facilitates the dissemination of expertise throughout the region. Dr Ugalde's commitment to empowering the next generation of female thoracic surgeons, particularly in developing countries, underscores her dedication to advancing the field on a global scale.