Mr Aktuerk is a leading keyhole heart surgeon practicing in the London area. He is the lead for minimally invasive and robotic cardiac surgery at the largest cardiothoracic centre in the UK, Barts Heart Centre. Mr Aktuerk graduated from the Technical University of Munich, Germany, and has practiced in leading British, German, and Australian cardiothoracic units, gaining comprehensive experience in the specialty.

Following his higher cardiothoracic training at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, Mr Aktuerk moved to Australia to complete a prestigious fellowship in heart failure surgery and transplantation at St. Vincent’s Hospital Sydney. During this time, he worked alongside pioneering surgeons performing heart transplantation from a beating “heart in the box” and was a member of the team implanting a total artificial heart.

Upon returning to the UK, Mr Aktuerk joined the Royal Brompton Hospital in London to acquire specialist skills in transcatheter aortic (TAVI) and mitral valve therapies, techniques typically applied by cardiologists. This unique training allows him to provide a wide range of tailored treatment options to individual patients.

Mr Aktuerk then moved to the highly innovative Robert-Bosch Hospital in Stuttgart, Germany, where he worked with Prof. Ulrich Franke, learning ground-breaking minimally invasive and robotic cardiac surgery techniques. Following his appointment at Barts Heart Centre, he successfully introduced minimally invasive mitral valve repair surgery and keyhole coronary surgery. He is also the first surgeon to introduce a robotic cardiac surgery programme in London.

In addition to his clinical work, Mr Aktuerk is a respected proctor for heart valve surgery, providing guidance, support, and training to other surgeons learning new techniques or procedures in cardiac surgery. He is regularly invited to observe and mentor in the operating room, offering real-time feedback and advice on surgical techniques, patient management, and other aspects of cardiac surgery.

Mr Aktuerk’s areas of expertise include minimally invasive cardiac surgery, robotic cardiac surgery, heart failure surgery, heart transplantation, and transcatheter valve therapies. His dedication to advancing cardiac surgery techniques and his commitment to patient care make him a highly respected figure in the field.