Dr. Ghannam: Why I Became a Heart and Lung Surgeon

Alexander Ghannam, MD, is a cardiothoracic surgeon with ProMedica Physicians Cardiothoracic Surgeons. His passion for medicine grew into a love for heart and lung surgery as he experienced his first successful heart surgery and saw the collaborative team dynamic displayed in the operating room.

Dr. Ghannam has a true passion for cardiothoracic surgery, and every day he performs his best work so his patients can live their best lives.

When did you know you wanted to go into medicine?

It was a gradual process for me. I worked as a caddie at a golf course throughout high school and caddied for a number of doctors during that time. I was offered the opportunity to shadow for a radiologist, pediatrician and emergency room doctor. I thought each of these fields were interesting, and I liked aspects from each one. Since all three were extremely different, it made me realize how wide the range of specialties are within the medical field, and I knew if I went to medical school, I would find a specialty I enjoyed. 

What drew you to cardiothoracic surgery?

As a college and medical student, I excelled in my anatomy courses. When I got to my clinical rotations in medical school, I loved being in the operating room. As a third-year student, I wanted to see an open heart procedure, so I introduced myself to the cardiac surgeon. He asked me, “What do you want to do?” So, I replied, “I want to be a surgeon.” Then he said to me, “We’re going to make you a heart surgeon.” He let me stand next to him in the operating room and observe his operation. I saw him stop the heart, perform the operation and restart the heart. At that point, I knew I had to learn how to be a heart surgeon. 

What part of your job motivates you most to come to work every day?

It is not uncommon that I arrive at work in the morning to find an anxious patient with his or her equally anxious family members looking to me for guidance and unsure of what to expect. It’s a great feeling to be able to guide them through the process, and then meet with the family after a procedure and let them know that the surgery went well. Seeing the relief on their faces is what keeps me coming to work every day.

What is your care philosophy?

Providing guidance to my patients and their family is critical. The most important thing is making sure the patient understands what is happening to them and what our plan is. I spend time explaining the process to patients. I then ask them to think about what we’ve talked about, and to write questions down so we can revisit them later. I think it’s important that the patient really understands why they are here and what to expect after surgery.

Why did you choose ProMedica as your place of work?

ProMedica has had an extremely well-established cardiothoracic surgery program that has been in practice for decades. This program has been led by Drs. Moront, Crescenzo, Rachwal and Riordan, and the patient outcomes speak for themselves. Joining a group that has demonstrated excellence over decades was extremely appealing. 

What makes ProMedica unique when it comes to cardiothoracic care?

The most unique part of this program is the robust staff at all points of the patient care process. There are a number of nurses and assistants in the operating room that have been doing cardiothoracic surgery for over 30 years. We have dedicated anesthesiologists that specialize in open heart procedures who keep our patients safe during the procedure and in the ICU while they are recovering. And we have a team of excellent nurses in the ICU and step-down unit that only care for open heart patients. The entire team from start to finish is top notch.