An Egyptian charm: meet Magdi Yacoub

Professor Magdi Yacoub was born in a little village in Egypt. His father was a surgeon, constantly moving from one place to another depending on the need for surgeons around the country. This greatly affected his childhood as it meant moving every three or four years. This taught him two important things. Firstly, you have to be able to adapt, and, secondly, the enjoyment that comes with meeting and interacting with lots of different people. These lessons have served him well throughout his life.

After his initial medical training in Egypt Professor Yacoub decided that he wanted to be a cardiac surgeon. He came to Britain to do his fellowship exam and also went to Denmark, Sweden, and the United States to find the best training he could. He admits, “What I had in mind was to get the very best training I could in cardiac surgery. I targeted great surgeons, like Lord Brock, and then worked with them.”

Professor Yacoub went on …