D.Lokeswara Rao Sajja born on 5th July 1956, is an Indian Cardiac Surgeon at Star Hospitals Hyderabad, and holds the position of Senior Consultant Surgeon in the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery and the Director of Cardiovascular Surgical Research, and also the Chairman of Sajja Heart Foundation.
Dr. Sajja is a participating surgeon in over 10,000 open heart surgeries and himself performed over 4,000 surgeries, being coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery, on-pump CABG and off-pump CABG using multiple arterial grafts (bilateral internal mammary arteries, radial artery grafts), mitral valve repair for ischemic mitral regurgitation, redo-CABG operations and CABG with concomitant valvular surgeries with a high success rate of 99.8%. He is a strong proponent of multiple arterial revascularization using bilateral internal thoracic arteries and radial artery graft for coronary bypass surgery.
Dr. Sajja was elected in May 2013 as an Active Member in the American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS) He is the fourth Cardiac Surgeon to reach this milestone from India since its inception in the year 1917.
He presented a paper on a randomized study conducted in India on “Coronary artery bypass grafting with or without cardiopulmonary bypass in patients with preoperative non dialysis dependent renal insufficiency: at 86thAnnual Meeting of American Association for Thoracic Surgery held at Philadelphia, (2006).
He described a modification of harvesting of bilateral internal mammary (thoracic) arteries in coronary bypass surgery that reduces the incidence sternal wound infections.
His commitment to resolution of social problems and extends his surgical expertise for the Aarogyasri Scheme which is a State sponsored health welfare scheme for the below poverty line in the state.
Early life
Dr. Lokeswara Rao Sajja hails from Jandrapet Village of Chirala Mandal in Andhra Pradesh, India. He was born to Sri Veeraiah Sajja and Smt Kousalya. He has 6 brothers and 3 sisters. Dr.Sajja is married to Dr.Jhanshi Vani, a Consultant Microbiologist at Care Hopsital, Hyderabad. They have one son, Pavan Sajja, is a Transmission Planning Engineer at Nisource, Merrillville,USA.
Education
Surgical training in India
He graduated from Guntur Medical College, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh and did his post-graduation- MS in surgery from PGIMER, Chandigarh and JIPMER, Pondicherry. He did super-specialization- MCh in Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery at All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi.
Training abroad
He obtained advanced training under world renowned Cardiac Surgeon, Prof. Denton Cooley at the Texas Heart Institute, Houston, Texas, USA. He was conferred Fellowship of American College Surgeons (in Thoracic Surgery).
Innovations and contributions in the field of Cardiothoracic Surgery
* Introduced and popularized the technique of extrafascial harvesting of radial artery graft for CABG.
* Modification of harvest of bilateral internal thoracic (mammary) arteries for coronary bypass surgery which reduces the incidence of sternal wound infection.
* Designed and patented a device - Mammary Artery Surgical Platform (MASP) to facilitate the construction of Left and Right Internal Mammary Arteries ‘Y’ graft and there by promote the extended use of Bilateral Internal Thoracic Artery in CABG surgery.
* One of the two surgeons who introduced a new conduit, RIMA and radial artery composite in situ pedicle graft to use in CABG.
* Introduced clinically the concept of retrograde coronary sinus perfusion in patients with severe left main coronary artery stenosis undergoing bypass surgery.
Research, Presentations & Publications
* He is a keen researcher and prolific in publishing about 50 original peer-reviewed articles as the First Author in the leading Journals of Cardiothoracic Surgery.
* Presented several papers of Original Research at International Fora including Annual Meetings of AATS, STS, EACTS, ASCVS ATCVSA, and 2nd International Workshop on “Arterial conduits for myocardial revascularization” held at Rome.
* His research work has been quoted in many textbooks of Cardiothoracic Surgery i.e. Cardiac Surgery in the Adult, a premier textbook in adult cardiac surgery. His recommendations were included in the guidelines of coronary bypass surgery of American and European Heart Associations.
Editorial skills
* He is the member of the International Advisory Board of the Asian Cardiovascular and Thoracic Annals. He currently serves as Assistant Editor, Indian Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular surgery and also serves as Section Editor for Cardiothoracic Surgery of Indian Heart Journal.
* Guest reviewer for The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, Asian Cardiovascular and Thoracic Annals, Cardiology and Indian Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Indian Heart Journal, Journal Indian College of Cardiology and has reviewed hundreds of manuscripts.
Memberships, Fellowships & Awards
* He is a member of American Association for Thoracic Surgery, Society of Thoracic Surgeons (USA), European Association for Cardio- Thoracic Surgery, Asian Society for Cardiovascular Surgery, Fellow of American College of Surgeons and Fellow of Indian Association of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgeons.
* For his contributions in the field of Medicine he was conferred A.P. Scientist Award for the year 2007 by AP State Council of Science & Technology, Govt. of Andhra Pradesh.
Orations
* Dr.C.S.Sadasivan Oration entitled “The Journey of Surgery for Coronary Artery Disease in India: Adoption, Customization and Innovation. 60th Annual meeting of IACTS held at Kovalam, Thiruvananthapuram. (2014).
* Prof. KV Naidu Memorial Oration entitled "The Journey of Surgery for Coronary Artery Disease in AP: Adoption, Customization and Innovation". XIV Annual Meeting of AP Chapter of Cardiological Society of India. NRI Medical College and Hospital, Chinnakakani, (2009).
* Dr.Sajja Sudhakara Rao Memorial Gold Medal Oration entitled “Early Detection and Surgical Management of CAD” at IMA,Chirala (2006).
Sajja Heart Foundation
Dr.Sajja is a Chairman of Sajja Heart Foundation, a charitable trust registered in India. An independent, academically focused organization dedicated to improve the survival and quality of life of people suffering from heart disease through research, education and service. The Foundation aid the researchers and investigators in designing studies, data harvesting and analysis of data, manuscript preparation leading to quality publications.
Dr. Sajja is a participating surgeon in over 10,000 open heart surgeries and himself performed over 4,000 surgeries, being coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery, on-pump CABG and off-pump CABG using multiple arterial grafts (bilateral internal mammary arteries, radial artery grafts), mitral valve repair for ischemic mitral regurgitation, redo-CABG operations and CABG with concomitant valvular surgeries with a high success rate of 99.8%. He is a strong proponent of multiple arterial revascularization using bilateral internal thoracic arteries and radial artery graft for coronary bypass surgery.
Dr. Sajja was elected in May 2013 as an Active Member in the American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS) He is the fourth Cardiac Surgeon to reach this milestone from India since its inception in the year 1917.
He presented a paper on a randomized study conducted in India on “Coronary artery bypass grafting with or without cardiopulmonary bypass in patients with preoperative non dialysis dependent renal insufficiency: at 86thAnnual Meeting of American Association for Thoracic Surgery held at Philadelphia, (2006).
He described a modification of harvesting of bilateral internal mammary (thoracic) arteries in coronary bypass surgery that reduces the incidence sternal wound infections.
His commitment to resolution of social problems and extends his surgical expertise for the Aarogyasri Scheme which is a State sponsored health welfare scheme for the below poverty line in the state.
Early life
Dr. Lokeswara Rao Sajja hails from Jandrapet Village of Chirala Mandal in Andhra Pradesh, India. He was born to Sri Veeraiah Sajja and Smt Kousalya. He has 6 brothers and 3 sisters. Dr.Sajja is married to Dr.Jhanshi Vani, a Consultant Microbiologist at Care Hopsital, Hyderabad. They have one son, Pavan Sajja, is a Transmission Planning Engineer at Nisource, Merrillville,USA.
Education
Surgical training in India
He graduated from Guntur Medical College, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh and did his post-graduation- MS in surgery from PGIMER, Chandigarh and JIPMER, Pondicherry. He did super-specialization- MCh in Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery at All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi.
Training abroad
He obtained advanced training under world renowned Cardiac Surgeon, Prof. Denton Cooley at the Texas Heart Institute, Houston, Texas, USA. He was conferred Fellowship of American College Surgeons (in Thoracic Surgery).
Innovations and contributions in the field of Cardiothoracic Surgery
* Introduced and popularized the technique of extrafascial harvesting of radial artery graft for CABG.
* Modification of harvest of bilateral internal thoracic (mammary) arteries for coronary bypass surgery which reduces the incidence of sternal wound infection.
* Designed and patented a device - Mammary Artery Surgical Platform (MASP) to facilitate the construction of Left and Right Internal Mammary Arteries ‘Y’ graft and there by promote the extended use of Bilateral Internal Thoracic Artery in CABG surgery.
* One of the two surgeons who introduced a new conduit, RIMA and radial artery composite in situ pedicle graft to use in CABG.
* Introduced clinically the concept of retrograde coronary sinus perfusion in patients with severe left main coronary artery stenosis undergoing bypass surgery.
Research, Presentations & Publications
* He is a keen researcher and prolific in publishing about 50 original peer-reviewed articles as the First Author in the leading Journals of Cardiothoracic Surgery.
* Presented several papers of Original Research at International Fora including Annual Meetings of AATS, STS, EACTS, ASCVS ATCVSA, and 2nd International Workshop on “Arterial conduits for myocardial revascularization” held at Rome.
* His research work has been quoted in many textbooks of Cardiothoracic Surgery i.e. Cardiac Surgery in the Adult, a premier textbook in adult cardiac surgery. His recommendations were included in the guidelines of coronary bypass surgery of American and European Heart Associations.
Editorial skills
* He is the member of the International Advisory Board of the Asian Cardiovascular and Thoracic Annals. He currently serves as Assistant Editor, Indian Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular surgery and also serves as Section Editor for Cardiothoracic Surgery of Indian Heart Journal.
* Guest reviewer for The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, Asian Cardiovascular and Thoracic Annals, Cardiology and Indian Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Indian Heart Journal, Journal Indian College of Cardiology and has reviewed hundreds of manuscripts.
Memberships, Fellowships & Awards
* He is a member of American Association for Thoracic Surgery, Society of Thoracic Surgeons (USA), European Association for Cardio- Thoracic Surgery, Asian Society for Cardiovascular Surgery, Fellow of American College of Surgeons and Fellow of Indian Association of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgeons.
* For his contributions in the field of Medicine he was conferred A.P. Scientist Award for the year 2007 by AP State Council of Science & Technology, Govt. of Andhra Pradesh.
Orations
* Dr.C.S.Sadasivan Oration entitled “The Journey of Surgery for Coronary Artery Disease in India: Adoption, Customization and Innovation. 60th Annual meeting of IACTS held at Kovalam, Thiruvananthapuram. (2014).
* Prof. KV Naidu Memorial Oration entitled "The Journey of Surgery for Coronary Artery Disease in AP: Adoption, Customization and Innovation". XIV Annual Meeting of AP Chapter of Cardiological Society of India. NRI Medical College and Hospital, Chinnakakani, (2009).
* Dr.Sajja Sudhakara Rao Memorial Gold Medal Oration entitled “Early Detection and Surgical Management of CAD” at IMA,Chirala (2006).
Sajja Heart Foundation
Dr.Sajja is a Chairman of Sajja Heart Foundation, a charitable trust registered in India. An independent, academically focused organization dedicated to improve the survival and quality of life of people suffering from heart disease through research, education and service. The Foundation aid the researchers and investigators in designing studies, data harvesting and analysis of data, manuscript preparation leading to quality publications.
Sister Ernestine (November 9, 1915, Wielsbeke, Belgium - January 22, 2011, Anzegem, Belgium), born Esther Declercq, was a of the order of Saint Vincent de Paul (Dutch : Heilige Vincentius à Paulo) at Anzegem in Belgium.
Early life and relatives
Sister Ernestine was a daughter of Marie Elodie Devenyn and of Ernest Constant Declercq, a farmer and flax merchant at Wielsbeke in Belgium descending from the known families of Declercq and Vercruysse from Deerlijk in Belgium and from Van den Broucke, a leading family in the flax industry at Wielsbeke. Among her grand-nephews and grand-nieces are for instance soprano and music writer Françoise Vanhecke, singer Carmelina Sorvillo, physicist Nico Felicien Declercq. Her brothers were Joseph Declercq, a farmer, and Michel Achiel Renatus Declercq, a flax merchant, whereas her sisters were Maria Declercq, a midwife and head of a maternity, Valentine Declercq, Rachel Declercq, a school teacher at Olsene and Judith Declercq, the provincial president of the Belgian National Child Welfare organisation and a lecturer and co-founder in 1937 at the Nurse Training Institute 'Maria Middelares' that would later become 'Hoger Instituut voor Verpleegkunde', associated with the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven Kulak in Belgium.
Sister Ernestine went to boarding school at Anzegem.
Career, jail ministry and mission
She has been a teacher at Anzegem’s primary school and secondary school on general subjects and particularly French and Music. From 1943 until 1958 she has been a school Director at Ingooigem in Belgium. Simultaneously she has worked at the Women’s jail (Dutch: “kleine Refuge” and “grote Refuge”) of Sint Andries near Bruges. On November 18, 1958, when she was 43 years old, she became a Missionary at Uvira in Congo where she taught French classes. After having been taken hostage at Uvira, she returned to Belgium where she became the school Director at Mannekensvere while she continued her Jail Ministry. At the end of her career she lived at the monastery of Anzegem, then at Vichte before she spent her final years at a home for elderly persons “Woon- en Zorgcentrum Ter Berk” at Anzegem. Because of her educational role and because of her captivity in Congo, Sister Ernestine has been well-known. Sister Ernestine’s intelligence and empathy have always been very much appreciated by everyone and enabled her to play a crucial role in negotiating with the rebels at Uvira during her captivity in Congo.
Hostage at Uvira in Congo
In 1964 the East of the Republic of Congo was afflicted by the Simba Rebellion. A group of Belgian and Italian Sisters were taken hostage by rebellion leader Gaston Soumaliot. The Sisters have been forced to hard labor and numerous atrocities were reported by news agencies all over the world. Uvira, near the border with Burundi was a supply route for the rebellions. Sisters being taken hostage was a dramatic turn for the new Republic of Congo that has been widely covered by newspapers all over the world and that was strongly condemned by the United Nations. Embarrassment on the one hand and modesty on the other hand have probably been the reasons why the hostage taken Sisters have remained silent about the events for many decades. Sister Ernestine has been among the imprisoned Sisters together with for instance Sister Begga Afra Theys from the same convent and born in Rollegem. It is said that Sister Ernestine has saved lives because of her personal diplomacy skills and knowledge of the local language. From Uvira they have escaped on the road to Bukavu from where they returned to Belgium by airplane.
Ancestry
The Belgian archives reveal the following ancestors of Ernest Constant Declercq born 1872 in Wielsbeke:
*Ivo Declercq (married Mathilde Van den Broucke born 1869 in Wielsbeke),
*Leo Bernard Declercq (married Therese Loncke born 1840 in Wielsbeke),
*Pierre Joseph Declercq (married Barbara Therese D’Hont in Kuurne),
*Renier Declercq (married Marie Anne Lombaerde born 1770 in Kuurne),
*Jean Declercq (born 1706 in Deerlijk married Marie Monteyne born 1734 in Kuurne),
*Pierre Declercq (born 1673 in Deerlijk, married Marie Prienne born, Harelbeke 1703)
*Antoine Declercq (married Martine Vercruysse born 1656 in Deerlijk)
Gallery
Early life and relatives
Sister Ernestine was a daughter of Marie Elodie Devenyn and of Ernest Constant Declercq, a farmer and flax merchant at Wielsbeke in Belgium descending from the known families of Declercq and Vercruysse from Deerlijk in Belgium and from Van den Broucke, a leading family in the flax industry at Wielsbeke. Among her grand-nephews and grand-nieces are for instance soprano and music writer Françoise Vanhecke, singer Carmelina Sorvillo, physicist Nico Felicien Declercq. Her brothers were Joseph Declercq, a farmer, and Michel Achiel Renatus Declercq, a flax merchant, whereas her sisters were Maria Declercq, a midwife and head of a maternity, Valentine Declercq, Rachel Declercq, a school teacher at Olsene and Judith Declercq, the provincial president of the Belgian National Child Welfare organisation and a lecturer and co-founder in 1937 at the Nurse Training Institute 'Maria Middelares' that would later become 'Hoger Instituut voor Verpleegkunde', associated with the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven Kulak in Belgium.
Sister Ernestine went to boarding school at Anzegem.
Career, jail ministry and mission
She has been a teacher at Anzegem’s primary school and secondary school on general subjects and particularly French and Music. From 1943 until 1958 she has been a school Director at Ingooigem in Belgium. Simultaneously she has worked at the Women’s jail (Dutch: “kleine Refuge” and “grote Refuge”) of Sint Andries near Bruges. On November 18, 1958, when she was 43 years old, she became a Missionary at Uvira in Congo where she taught French classes. After having been taken hostage at Uvira, she returned to Belgium where she became the school Director at Mannekensvere while she continued her Jail Ministry. At the end of her career she lived at the monastery of Anzegem, then at Vichte before she spent her final years at a home for elderly persons “Woon- en Zorgcentrum Ter Berk” at Anzegem. Because of her educational role and because of her captivity in Congo, Sister Ernestine has been well-known. Sister Ernestine’s intelligence and empathy have always been very much appreciated by everyone and enabled her to play a crucial role in negotiating with the rebels at Uvira during her captivity in Congo.
Hostage at Uvira in Congo
In 1964 the East of the Republic of Congo was afflicted by the Simba Rebellion. A group of Belgian and Italian Sisters were taken hostage by rebellion leader Gaston Soumaliot. The Sisters have been forced to hard labor and numerous atrocities were reported by news agencies all over the world. Uvira, near the border with Burundi was a supply route for the rebellions. Sisters being taken hostage was a dramatic turn for the new Republic of Congo that has been widely covered by newspapers all over the world and that was strongly condemned by the United Nations. Embarrassment on the one hand and modesty on the other hand have probably been the reasons why the hostage taken Sisters have remained silent about the events for many decades. Sister Ernestine has been among the imprisoned Sisters together with for instance Sister Begga Afra Theys from the same convent and born in Rollegem. It is said that Sister Ernestine has saved lives because of her personal diplomacy skills and knowledge of the local language. From Uvira they have escaped on the road to Bukavu from where they returned to Belgium by airplane.
Ancestry
The Belgian archives reveal the following ancestors of Ernest Constant Declercq born 1872 in Wielsbeke:
*Ivo Declercq (married Mathilde Van den Broucke born 1869 in Wielsbeke),
*Leo Bernard Declercq (married Therese Loncke born 1840 in Wielsbeke),
*Pierre Joseph Declercq (married Barbara Therese D’Hont in Kuurne),
*Renier Declercq (married Marie Anne Lombaerde born 1770 in Kuurne),
*Jean Declercq (born 1706 in Deerlijk married Marie Monteyne born 1734 in Kuurne),
*Pierre Declercq (born 1673 in Deerlijk, married Marie Prienne born, Harelbeke 1703)
*Antoine Declercq (married Martine Vercruysse born 1656 in Deerlijk)
Gallery
Dr. Vijay Kumar Devabhaktuni (born..) is an Indian born electrical engineer, Professor, academic administrator. He is Professor in College of Engineering at the University of Toledo and also he is serving as a Director of Interdisciplinary Research Initiatives for the College of Engineering. Vijay previously worked as Associate Professor at Concordia University.
Education and Work
Vijay Devabhaktuni born and raised in India. He received the B.Eng. degree in Electrical Engineering and M.Sc. degree in Physics from BITS, India in 1996. He received Ph.D. in Electronics from Carleton University, Canada, in 2003. From 2005-2008 he held Canada Research Chair in Computer-Aided High-Frequency Modeling and Design at Concordia University, Montreal, Canada. He is currently working as Professor in College of Engineering at the University of Toledo and also Vijay serves as Director for Interdisciplinary Research initiatives.
Education and Work
Vijay Devabhaktuni born and raised in India. He received the B.Eng. degree in Electrical Engineering and M.Sc. degree in Physics from BITS, India in 1996. He received Ph.D. in Electronics from Carleton University, Canada, in 2003. From 2005-2008 he held Canada Research Chair in Computer-Aided High-Frequency Modeling and Design at Concordia University, Montreal, Canada. He is currently working as Professor in College of Engineering at the University of Toledo and also Vijay serves as Director for Interdisciplinary Research initiatives.
Janet Oleszek is a former at-large member of the Fairfax County school board in Virginia. She was elected to the school board in 2003, serving for one term (2004-2008). She ran for and lost elections for the state House, state Senate, and the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.
Oleszek holds a master's degree in special education from American University, and began her career as a teacher in the Fairfax County public schools system.
Oleszek joined the PTA when her sons began school and served first as Local Legislation Chair, then (Fairfax) County Council Chair and finally (Virginia) State Legislation Chair in 2002, where she advocated for public school students throughout the Commonwealth and developed an annual legislative agenda gathered from 146 local school districts.
In 2003, Oleszek ran for one of three at-large seats on the Fairfax County School Board. She received 87,759 votes, the largest number of votes of the six candidates for the seat.
While serving on the school board, Oleszek successfully advocated for full-day kindergarten (FDK); its implementation is considered one of her flagship successes as a school board member.
In 2005, Oleszek ran for the Virginia House of Delegates 37th District seat. She was defeated in the Democratic primary by David Bulova 58%-42%.
In 2007, Oleszek did not seek re-election to the School Board, instead challenging incumbent Republican state Senator Ken Cuccinelli as the Democratic candidate for the 37th District seat in the Virginia Senate. On the night of the election, unofficial results showed Cuccinelli leading by a margin of less than 100, well within the 1% (371) necessary to request a recount. Oleszek requested a recount which showed that Cuccinelli won by 92 votes out of 37,185 cast. Oleszek conceded the race on December 19, 2007.
In 2011, Oleszek ran for the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, seeking to represent the county's Braddock District. She defeated Chris Wade in the Democratic primary by 43 votes out of 3,875 cast. She challenged Republican incumbent John Cook in the general election, and was defeated by 371 votes out of 25,375 cast (49%-48%).
Oleszek holds a master's degree in special education from American University, and began her career as a teacher in the Fairfax County public schools system.
Oleszek joined the PTA when her sons began school and served first as Local Legislation Chair, then (Fairfax) County Council Chair and finally (Virginia) State Legislation Chair in 2002, where she advocated for public school students throughout the Commonwealth and developed an annual legislative agenda gathered from 146 local school districts.
In 2003, Oleszek ran for one of three at-large seats on the Fairfax County School Board. She received 87,759 votes, the largest number of votes of the six candidates for the seat.
While serving on the school board, Oleszek successfully advocated for full-day kindergarten (FDK); its implementation is considered one of her flagship successes as a school board member.
In 2005, Oleszek ran for the Virginia House of Delegates 37th District seat. She was defeated in the Democratic primary by David Bulova 58%-42%.
In 2007, Oleszek did not seek re-election to the School Board, instead challenging incumbent Republican state Senator Ken Cuccinelli as the Democratic candidate for the 37th District seat in the Virginia Senate. On the night of the election, unofficial results showed Cuccinelli leading by a margin of less than 100, well within the 1% (371) necessary to request a recount. Oleszek requested a recount which showed that Cuccinelli won by 92 votes out of 37,185 cast. Oleszek conceded the race on December 19, 2007.
In 2011, Oleszek ran for the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, seeking to represent the county's Braddock District. She defeated Chris Wade in the Democratic primary by 43 votes out of 3,875 cast. She challenged Republican incumbent John Cook in the general election, and was defeated by 371 votes out of 25,375 cast (49%-48%).