After becoming a cardiologist at the age of 26, Dr. Haitham Sakr has brought his experience to northern Ontario as the newest member of SAH\u2019s cardiology program<\/p>\n
Dr. Haitham Sakr is the newest member of Sault Area Hospital\u2019s cardiology program.<\/p>\n
An interventional cardiologist, he uses minimally invasive techniques to diagnose and treat heart conditions.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want to do all I can to make things better for patients,\u201d Sakr told SooToday.<\/p>\n
Much of his work involves coronary angioplasty, a procedure used to widen blocked or narrowed coronary arteries.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe tell a patient that they have a blockage or a narrowing in one or more of their vessels. We go in – through the wrist, arm or groin – dilate and put in a stent, which is something like a spring that will widen their vessels and stay in for the rest of their lives.\u201d<\/p>\n
That procedure is followed by patients taking blood thinning medication.<\/p>\n
Born and raised in Egypt, Sakr received his medical training in Egypt and Saudi Arabia and was a cardiologist by the early age of 26.<\/p>\n
\u201cI still hold the record for being one of the youngest in Egypt (to become a cardiologist),\u201d Sakr said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI started a little bit early. I took my fifth and sixth grade education in one year so I went to university when I was 16 years old and finished medical school at 23 before I specialized in cardiology.\u201d<\/p>\n
His aptitude in biology and chemistry led him to attend medical school.<\/p>\n
Sakr said he was inspired to specialize in cardiology by Dr. Ashraf Zaki, a now-deceased colleague in Egypt.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was the man that put me on that road,\u201d Sakr said, adding that he used to imitate heart sounds with his mouth.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“I was amazed how a human being could be so talented and able to imitate heart sounds.<\/p>\n
“I got into the field of cardiology because of him. We remained friends for two decades before he passed away.\u201d<\/p>\n
Now a permanent resident of Canada and licensed to practice medicine in Ontario, Sakr worked as a cardiologist and consultant for 18 years in Saudi Arabia before arriving in the Sault to join the SAH cardiology team in January 2026.<\/p>\n
He was inspired to move to the Sault by SAH cardiologist Dr. Rami Abazid and Dr. Michael Kutryk, a Toronto-based heart surgeon who works closely with SAH\u2019s cardiology program.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was expecting snow. I have been in Canada before and I know what snow means but not that amount of snow,\u201d he laughed while recalling his January arrival in the Sault.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, Sakr said he came to the community prepared with lots of winter clothing.<\/p>\n
The 46-year-old married father of three said he plans to enjoy canoeing, swimming and tennis when not\u00a0caring for patients.<\/p>\n
\u201cA professor of mine in Egypt told me medicine is not just about prolonging patients’ lives. It’s improving their quality of life,\u201d Sakr said.<\/p>\n
He agrees with that view.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt’s not just about giving pills to the patient and hoping that everything will be OK, so that\u2019s what led me into interventional cardiology.\u201d<\/p>\n
Despite the vitally important nature of his profession, Sakr said he doesn\u2019t view himself as a hero.<\/p>\n
\u201cStenting is done everywhere, but what really matters to me is when you see the gratefulness and the gratitude in a patient\u2019s eyes and the family members\u2019 eyes after a procedure.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s priceless,\u201d Sakr said.<\/p>\n
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