leaders in health: dr. maral ouzounian paving the way for women in heart surgery (q and a)
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dr malal ouzounian is paving the way for female cardiac surgeons with her first-ever appointments to high level positions.
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in 2022, dr. maral ouzounian was appointed the head of the division of cardiovascular surgery at uhn’s peter munk cardiac centre, a highly coveted position in the medical field. she is the first woman to hold the title. she has continued to use her knowledge, passion, and talent for cardiac surgery to gain another leadership position as the president of the canadian society of cardiac surgeons, another first for women.
her trailblazing career has gained her widespread attention and accolades, but it’s the patients she values most, noting in an email to healthing that “nothing is more rewarding” than helping people get to the other side of terrifying and often life-saving procedures. now, dr. ouzounian hopes that her work can open the door for others and will encourage others looking to get into cardiac surgery to follow their passion for saving lives.
what inspired you to get into medicine, and more specifically, heart surgery?
dr. ouzounian: i was originally training to be a classical pianist before i went to medical school. my background in music gave me a passion for technical precision and mastering an art, which i now deeply appreciate in cardiovascular surgery.
above all, i was drawn to the immediate and profound impact on patients’ lives. we take an extremely stressful and daunting moment – facing open-heart surgery – to reassuring and guiding patients and their loved ones through it safely, aiming for the best possible outcomes.
that type of relationship between surgeons and our patients is quite special and magnified in cardiovascular surgery.
how does your passion for music tie into your life as a cardiac surgeon?
dr. ouzounian: there are a lot of examples of surgeons who are also musicians or high-level athletes. i think some of that is discipline, perseverance and failing, and then facing repeated failures with resilience. and likely, some of the same characteristics, some of those innate demands and tendencies that are in top performing musicians and athletes are also present in surgeons.
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you’re the first woman appointed head of the division of cardiovascular surgery at uhn’s peter munk cardiac centre. how does it feel to trailblaze in that way, and what would you say to women coming up in the field?
dr. ouzounian: i would encourage young female surgeons considering this field to go for it. the number of women in cardiac surgery is steeply rising, as is the number of female trainees, but women in leadership roles remain underrepresented and are progressing more slowly.
i’m aware of the impact that the leadership positions i’ve been fortunate to hold can have on inspiring others to pursue their goals. these roles can influence younger faculty, surgeons, medical students and residents who are contemplating a career in cardiovascular surgery. i hope these examples can show younger faculty, surgeons, medical students, and residents who are contemplating a career in cardiovascular surgery that they, too, can follow their dreams. i would say start by doing what you’re passionate about. the rest will follow.
what about your role keeps you passionate and excited, and what are you most proud of?
dr. ouzounian: almost two years ago, i became head of the division of cardiovascular surgery at uhn’s peter munk cardiac centre. and no doubt that has been, to date, the proudest moment of my career. i feel very fortunate to be leading the top division in the country, who every day, gets patients through very complex procedures while also advancing the field of cardiovascular surgery globally.
operating can be innumerable hours. and frankly, it doesn’t feel like i’m at work because when i wake up, i’m excited for the day. i’m energized by the patients that i’m going to look after. i love the division – each person brings something unique to the table, and i am excited to see it grow and keep innovating.
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what does a typical day as the head of cardiovascular surgery look like?
dr. ouzounian: a lot of juggling. there are some days where i’m running from very early in the morning and am in the operating room until very late. the patient is always the priority. from speaking with patients and their families to performing some of the most complex operations in the country, no two days are the same.
as division head, my vision is to make an impact at all levels of care – from improving the lives of individual patients, to advancing and evolving the surgical division of the peter munk cardiac centre, to influencing how surgeons worldwide approach cardiovascular surgery. i bring this lens to my daily work leading the division and its priorities.
research is also a big part of my day, and something that drew me to uhn’s peter munk cardiac centre. here, innovative procedures work hand in hand with an evidence-based research approach. being in such a strong academic environment, we’re able to not only do our very best for patients, but also advance the field forward and actively shape it by researching the best ways to improve lives.
in my new role as president of the canadian society of cardiac surgeons, my responsibilities have expanded beyond our division in toronto to encompass surgeons across the country. i am excited to showcase the incredible talent and innovation not only at uhn’s peter munk cardiac centre and in toronto, but nationwide and globally.
what is it like raising two children while undertaking a remarkable medical career? what have you gained from your work that reflects on the person you are today, and how do you instill those values in your children?
dr. ouzounian: i’m often asked this question. straight answer: there’s no balance. balance is difficult. i definitely do not achieve balance every single day. i try to achieve balance on a broader scale, week-to-week or month-to-month. it’s valuable for my kids to see me prioritizing helping people and advancing science. the impact commitment can make is something i hope is instilled in them.
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but i do try to carve out as much time as possible for the most important people in my life: my husband and my two boys. i try to make sure that the time that we do have together is quality and that my complete attention is on them.
even though my days are extremely busy, it’s work that’s very fulfilling, and time goes by in a different manner when you’re excited for the day. i think it’s quite possible to be successful and still have a family and do those other things if that’s what you want. and i think you do need to build a supportive community around you to be able to do that.
how do you handle the pressure of an “it’s now or never” kind of surgeries that save people’s lives?
dr. ouzounian: it’s a very powerful moment when we encounter patients—many of whom are often young—who present with something catastrophic, for example, when they’ve torn their entire aorta, the main blood vessel that supplies all of our vital organs. this is called acute aortic dissection. and this condition is uniformly fatal without an immediate operation.
so, when we meet these patients in the emergency room, they are literally staring death in the face because, without an immediate operation, they will undoubtedly die. it’s a very profound feeling to have that conversation with them, have them entrust their lives to you in that moment, and then get them through a very complicated operation.
nothing is more rewarding than getting them through to the other side–reassuring their family that they’re in expert hands, then seeing them get home and get back to normal everyday life after a very traumatic, catastrophic event. we are extremely privileged to have these moments with patients at their most vulnerable.
i have hundreds of patients who will send me emails or cards on their anniversary of their surgery. some patients even choose to give a gift to support our research as a show of gratitude. i keep all these emails in an electronic folder and physical cards and mementos in a box in my office to show my kids once they’re older that this is partly why your mom missed some family dinners and birthdays. we’re saving lives in the meantime.
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