Dr JJ Koshy

PROFESSIONAL JOURNEY

Dr Koshy has been practicing Cardiothoracic surgery in South Africa since 2015, providing an array of comprehensive services and procedures within his field. He completed his undergraduate training in Medicine at the University of Zambia in 2004. After his Internship he founded and chaired Doctors Outreach Care lnternational a non-profit organisation providing outreach clinical care to underprivileged communities in Zambia. In 2008, he was awarded the Belt Trust Scholarship to specialise in Cardiothoracic surgery at the University of Cape Town. On completion, he advocated for the establishment of cardiothoracic surgical services in Zambia. In 2015, he was recruited to Klerksdorp on a joint appointment as a specialist cardiothoracic surgeon in the Department of Surgery at the University of Witwatersrand where he helped establish the first public sector cardiothoracic service within the North West province. In 2018, he took up a post as acting Head of Unit for Cardiothoracic Surgery at the Livingstone Tertiary Hospital in the Eastern Cape Province, subsequently serving as Head of Clinical Unit since 2019. Dr Koshy has gained extensive experience in establishing, developing and sustaining cardiothoracic services in varied settings and is passionate about cardiothoracic surgical training. He has supported the development of the postgraduate cardiothoracic surgery curriculum as joint lecturer at Wits University and Walter Sisulu University and as professional associate at Nelson Mandela University. He has published research articles In various International Journals and in 2019 was honoured to receive the Anton Doubell Pen Award for best original publication in the South African Heart Journal for his article on Infective endocarditis.Since completing his cardiothoracic surgery training at the University of Cape Town, he has continued to stay ahead of the latest findings and advancements, ensuring patients receive the best possible care. His areas of expertise include: minimally invasive cardiothoracic surgery, including coronary bypass surgery, heart valve surgery, VATS lobectomy and VATS/Laparoscopic esophageal resection surgery. He has a special interest in mitral and aortic valve repair procedures using various techniques including the David's Procedure for the aortic valve. He has had extensive training and experience in off-pump coronary surgery at the International Centre of excellence in OPCAB surgery at the Meitra Hospital under Dr Murali Vettath. He also has a special interest in aortic root reconstruction after extensive cardiac damage due to infective endocarditis and aortic dissection. Dr Koshy has also helped develop pioneering strategies in minimally invasive (key hole) lung resection for destroyed lungs due to tuberculosis and he was also involved in performing the first public service open heart surgery in the Northwest Province of South Africa.   As a leading Cardiothoracic surgeon, Dr Koshy is proud to be serving his patients and helping them make better choices while providing them with compassionate, personal and expert care.