On March 21, 2026, the second edition of the NextGen Cardiac Surgery Skills Academy was successfully held in Belgrade, at the Crowne Plaza hotel, bringing together more than 50 participants from the fields of cardiac surgery and anesthesiology.
The program was designed for young cardiac surgeons and residents, with the aim of providing hands-on experience using advanced simulation models and medical equipment that may not be readily accessible in everyday clinical practice, while also strengthening their practical knowledge and skills.
The educational program was led by distinguished experts from Serbia, including Prof. Svetozar Putnik, Prof. Slobodan Mićović, Prof. Lazar Velicki, and Dr. Miloš Matković in the field of cardiac surgery, as well as Prof. Dejan Marković, Dr. Selena Nestić, Dr. Ana Andrejević Nikolić, and Dr. Jelena Vučković in anesthesiology.
Throughout the day, participants engaged in a combination of lectures and intensive hands-on workshops, focusing on mitral valve repair and replacement, the use of advanced systems such as Simuform, Mosaic, and COR-KNOT, as well as ECMO-related procedures, including cannulation techniques and management of different ECMO modalities.
The event was marked by a highly professional and interactive atmosphere, further highlighting the importance of such educational formats in supporting the development of the next generation of cardiac surgery professionals.
