THORACIC ACADEMY
Who Are We
Welcome to ATA
The Asian Thoracic Academy (ATA) aims to nurture world-class thoracic surgeons with the commitment to excellence and innovation in practice and education, inspiring the present and future healthcare practitioners to embrace progressive and quality patient care.
The ATA leadership were the founding leaders of Asia Thoracoscopic Surgery Education Program (ATEP) which was formed in 2015 with a vision to promote the highest standards of minimally invasive thoracic surgery across Asia. ATEP’s mission was specific to advance the surgical skills of surgeons, with the support of industry partners such as Medtronic.
Moving forward, the ATA leaders recognized the need to evolve as they continue with their vision to nurture thoracic surgeons with commitment to excellence and innovation in practice, education and research. This is only possible with a broader spectrum of contemporary educational programs to include non-surgical skills development, expertise-based clinical trials, and digitalized connectivity for access to learning resources, mentorship and inter-professional networking.
The ATA leaders seek to broaden its network of industry and institutional partners for collaboration to nurture future ready surgeons and promote inter-professionalism in healthcare with the inclusion of non-surgeon members as associates.
Education
Asian Thoracic Education Programs delivers expert-led certificate courses, workshops, and conferences, uniting healthcare professionals for collaborative learning in thoracic medicine across Asia.
Get Certified
Elevating thoracic surgical excellence across Asia through rigorous standards, comprehensive examinations, and ongoing professional development. Begin your certification journey today.
Memberships
Connect with dedicated thoracic surgeons, residents, fellows and healthcare professionals. Shape the future of patient care through learning, innovation and collaboration.
Clinical Registry
Building a secure network of healthcare partners to enhance research collaboration and drive medical innovation through shared data and evidence-based insights.
Research and Publication
Leading thoracic surgery advancement through innovative studies, evidence-based solutions, and peer-reviewed publications. Access cutting-edge research to enhance patient outcomes.
Events
About Asian Thoracic Academy
How It All Began
The Asian Thoracic Academy (ATA) is founded by a group of experienced and highly skilled physicians in the area of thoracic surgery, whose members have a proven record of distinction within the specialty and have made significant contributions to the care and treatment of cardiothoracic disease throughout the world.
The ATA is a not-for-profit professional organization representing surgeons, researchers, and allied health care professionals who are dedicated to ensuring the best possible outcomes for surgeries of the heart, lungs, and esophagus, as well as other surgical procedures within the chest.
The ATA’s Leadership Team comprises of leading cardiothoracic surgeons in Asia with prominent positions in leading hospitals such as Seoul National Hospital.
Our Leaders
Dr. Sanghoon Jheon, Founding President
Dr. Sanghoon Jheon is the Founding President of the ATA. He is the Founder and Visionary behind other medtech digital platforms like the Health on Cloud, and the Smart Hospital Alliance. These platforms were founded to leverage cutting-edge technology to improve healthcare worldwide through high-quality education and knowledge-sharing.
Dr. Soon Sing Yang, Secretary General, and Chair, Memberships
Prof. Soon Sing Yang is the Secretary General and Chair of Memberships of ATA. Prof. Soon is also a Founding Board Member of the South East Asian Thoracic Society and currently serves as Chair of the SEATS School of Thoracic Surgery. He is the pioneer and lead for the Malaysia Lung Cancer Registry and acts as an examiner for the Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh (RCSEd). As a proctor in VATS Surgery and TEVAR, he plays a vital role in advancing minimally invasive techniques.
Dr. Antonio Ramos, Chair, ABTS
Professor Antonio B. Ramos practices in Metro Manila, Philippines. He obtained his medical degree and did his General Surgery training at the University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center. He trained in Thoracic and Vascular Surgery at the Lung Center of the Philippines. He underwent training in cardiothoracic transplantation at the Stanford University Medical Center.
Dr. Alan D. L. Sihoe, Chair, Education
Dr. Sihoe received his medical training at the University of Cambridge, and after working in Scotland and England, he returned to practice Cardiothoracic Surgery in Hong Kong and China, with a special interest in minimally invasive Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery (VATS).
Dr. Akif Turna, Chair, Clinical Registry
Professor Akif Turna graduated from Istanbul University Istanbul Medical School. He has been trained in thoracic surgery at Yedikule Teaching Hospital for Chest Diseases and Thoracic Surgery. He started VATS lobectomy program in 2007, received national and European Thoracic Surgery Board Certificates.
Dr. Hisashi Saji, Chair, Research
Dr. Hisashi Saji is a renowned thoracic surgeon, widely recognized for his expertise in advanced techniques such as minimally invasive surgery, radical surgery, and surgical oncology. He earned his medical degree from Gifu University School of Medicine, Japan, in 1995. He began his career as an intern at the prestigious International Medical Center of Japan in Tokyo and later completed his residency in general surgery at Tokyo Metropolitan Komagome Hospital.
Dr. Ali Zamir Khan, Chair, Tumor Board
Dr. Ali Zamir Khan is a specialist in Video Assisted Thoracoscopic (VATS) and Robotic Thoracic Surgery (RTS). He has set up the VATS / Robotic Thoracic surgery program in Medanta Hospital, India. He is currently practicing as a Consultant Thoracic Surgeon at Blackpool Victoria Hospital, London as well as operating in Delhi, Gurgaon, Mumbai and few other cities across Asia. He usually travels internationally to operate at various centers.
Dr. Wentao Fang, Chair Perspectives
Dr. Fang is currently Professor and Chief surgeon of Thoracic Surgery and of Respiratory Surgery at Shanghai Chest Hospital and Honorary Chair of Mediastinal Tumor Committee of Chinese Anti-Cancer Association, China. He is a member of IASLC, serving at the Staging and Prognostic Factor Committee and the Multidisciplinary Clinical Science Committee. He is also a member of the AATS, and committee member at the EACTS and the ASCVTS thoracic domain.
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