Professor Olaf Wendler

Professor Olaf Wendler is an internationally recognised cardiac surgeon with a wealth of experience in complex heart procedures. After completing his surgical training at the Medical School Hannover and the Heart Center Leipzig in Germany, he went on to become the Clinical Lead at the University Saarland-Germany. In 2004, he was appointed to King's College Hospital, where he held the role of Clinical Director for Cardiovascular Services from 2006 to 2012. His exceptional work led to his promotion as Professor of Cardiac Surgery at King’s College London, and in 2019, he became Chair of the Heart, Vascular, and Thoracic Institute at Cleveland Clinic London which he is leading since it opened its clinical services in 2021. The cardiac surgical group at CCL covers the entire specturm and complexity of cardiac surgery in adult patients.

He is renowned for his expertise in complex and repeat combined heart surgeries, including complete arterial coronary bypass surgery, thoracic aortic surgery, and minimally invasive heart surgery. He has been at the forefront of innovative treatments, including performing the UK's first transapical TAVI procedure in 2007. His patient-centered approach aims to improve outcomes and minimize the negative effects of surgery while ensuring long-term benefits for patients. With over 250 publications in peer-reviewed journals, he has also contributed to European Guidelines for the treatment of valvular heart disease and myocardial revascularisation. His work continues to have a significant impact on the advancement of cardiac surgery.

Professor Wendler is a respected member of several professional societies, including the Royal College of Surgeons of England and the Society of Cardiothoracic Surgeons of Britain and Ireland, where he served on the Adult Cardiac Subcommittee. He has also been actively involved in the European Association for Cardiothoracic Surgery and the European Society for Cardiology, where he is a Nucleus member of the ESC working group on heart valve disease. As a sought-after speaker at national and international conferences, Professor Wendler remains a key figure in the ongoing development of cardiac surgery.