Dr. Gopal Bhatnagar

Dr. Gopal Bhatnagar is Institute Chief of the Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi. He holds an MD from the University of Western Ontario and completed specialist training in cardiothoracic surgery at the University of Toronto, where he became the youngest Chief of Cardiac Surgery appointed. Over 36 years, he has built a distinguished career leading major cardiac surgery programs across North America.

Dr. Bhatnagar specializes in open-heart surgery, valve repair and replacement (especially mitral valves), beating-heart coronary bypass, aortic surgery, and minimally invasive valve techniques. He has performed over 10,000 open-heart cases, including 4,000 beating-heart bypass operations, with a 95% success rate in mitral valve repairs. He also treats endocarditis, coronary artery disease, congenital heart disease, and aortic conditions.

Dr. Bhatnagar led the cardiac surgery program at Trillium Health Centre in Ontario for over 20 years, transforming it into Canada's third-largest cardiac surgery center and the country's largest beating-heart surgery service. He is a strong fit for patients requiring complex valve surgery, minimally invasive heart procedures, or challenging coronary bypass operations, and for those seeking a surgeon with proven outcomes and institutional leadership experience.