The Lifetime Achievement Award for 2026 was presented to Professor Zohair Alhalees, Consultant Cardiac Surgeon at King Faisal Specialist Hospital (KFSH), by the American College of Cardiology. The award recognizes his decades-long contributions to cardiac surgery and his scientific and educational impact on cardiac care in Saudi Arabia and internationally. The ceremony took place during the College’s Annual Scientific Session in New Orleans, United States.
A Career Spanning 48 Years
Professor Alhalees’ professional career extends more than 48 years. During that period, he performed over 25,000 cardiac surgeries locally and internationally. He established the first congenital heart defects registry in the Middle East and played a central role in developing an integrated heart center at KFSH. That center brings together cardiac surgery, cardiology, and critical care under one roof.
Moreover, he mentored and trained dozens of young surgeons throughout his career. His work helped build a generation of cardiac specialists across the region, strengthening the long-term capacity of cardiac care in Saudi Arabia.
Lifetime Achievement Award: Key Surgical Contributions
The American College of Cardiology highlighted Professor Alhalees’ work in advancing heart valve replacement surgery during the award ceremony. Specifically, the College noted a technique he developed that replaces a damaged valve with the patient’s own tissue. This approach allows patients, particularly children and adolescents, to live with a valve that adapts to natural growth.
Furthermore, the technique reduces the need for lifelong medication and improves long-term quality of life. His work in treating complex congenital heart defects in infants and children has also improved success rates, reduced complications, and enhanced recovery outcomes, as documented in leading international medical references.
International Humanitarian and Academic Impact
On the international stage, Professor Alhalees led more than 60 humanitarian and educational surgical missions across over 20 countries. His academic contributions include publishing more than 150 scientific papers and contributing to specialized reference textbooks in health technology and medicine.
He was also elected President of the World Society for Pediatric and Congenital Heart Surgery. Consequently, he became the first Saudi and Arab physician to hold that position, marking a significant milestone for the region’s medical community.
About King Faisal Specialist Hospital
KFSH has been ranked first in the Middle East and North Africa and 12th globally among the world’s top 250 Academic Medical Centers for 2026. The hospital was also recognized as the most valuable healthcare brand in the Kingdom and the Middle East, according to Brand Finance 2025. In addition, Newsweek listed KFSH among the World’s Best Hospitals 2025, the World’s Best Smart Hospitals 2026, and the World’s Best Specialized Hospitals 2026.
The recognition of Professor Alhalees adds to KFSH’s standing as a leading institution in cardiac care. His career reflects the hospital’s broader commitment to advancing medical education, surgical excellence, and patient outcomes across the Kingdom’s healthcare sector.
