Top international adult congenital heart disease specialist to visit Dubai's Mayo Clinic

Dr. Ammash, a member of the highly specialized Mayo Clinic Congenital Heart Disease Center, is a part of the team of physicians that pioneered many of the diagnostic and surgical techniques used in caring for congenital heart disease patients. He is widely recognized as one of the leaders in the treatment of this ailment.

"Dr. Ammash's visit to our Dubai facility gives our UAE and GCC-based patients the opportunity to be seen by one of the finest specialists in adult congenital heart disease," said Dr. David A. Hayes, Mayo Clinic Chairman, Cardiovascular Diseases.

"Providing this kind of specialized service is important to Mayo Clinic, as we are committed to giving all our patients the best possible care. This is why specialists like Dr. Ammash spend time seeing patients in offices outside our Rochester headquarters."

Congenital heart disease is not a single disease, but a general name for any type of malformation of the heart, heart valves or major blood vessels that is present at birth. Statistically, about one in every 120 babies is born with some form of heart defect. While many children with congenital heart defects are treated when young, others live full and healthy lives, only developing problems as adults.

In addition to seeing patients with congenital heart disease, Dr. Ammash will also treat patients seeking a general cardiac evaluation.

Dr. Ammash, a native of Lebanon who speaks fluent Arabic, English and French, completed medical school at the American University of Beirut, an Internal Medicine residency at the University of Iowa (Iowa, USA) and a residency in Cardiovascular Diseases at the University of Louisville (Kentucky, USA) before joining Mayo Clinic. He completed an additional residency in Adult Congenital Heart Disease at Mayo Graduate School of Medicine, where today, he is an associate professor.