In this 2nd episode of our 2021 Ask the Doctor Interview Series we speak to Dr. Safi Haq, cardiothoracic surgeon at the Bostick Heart Center at Winter Haven Hospital. We learn about his journey to Winter Haven and we discuss the structural heart and valve program and two minimally invasive procedures – TAVR and Mitroclip.

About Dr. Haq:
Dr. Safi Haq specializes in cardiothoracic surgery. He received his undergraduate degree in biochemistry and molecular biology from Boston University College of Arts and Sciences in Boston, Massachusetts. He then earned his Doctor of Medicine from the American University of Antigua College of Medicine in Antigua and Barbuda, West Indies. Dr. Haq continued his medical education by completing a general surgery internship, residency, and chief resident year at Northeast Ohio Medical University/Western Reserve Health Education in Youngstown, Ohio. He went on to complete a fellowship in cardiothoracic surgery at the University of Miami/Jackson Health System in Miami, Florida, where he also served as the chief fellow during his final year of training. During his cardiothoracic fellowship, Dr. Haq was one of the nation’s twenty-five awardees of the American Association of Thoracic Surgery’s Surgical Robotics Fellowship. This provided additional advanced educational experience in robotic surgery at the Intuitive Surgical headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia. Dr. Haq’s clinical interests include the treatment of all aspects of cardiovascular disease, valvular heart disease including complex mitral repair, disease of the great vessels, lung cancer, along with benign and malignant tumors of the pleura and mediastinum. Dr. Haq has a keen interest in minimally invasive/robotic approaches to both cardiac and thoracic surgical procedures, as well as, enhancing all aspects of patient recovery while minimizing pain and opioid usage. Dr. Haq is certified in endoscopic and laparoscopic surgery. He speaks Hindi, Urdu and Spanish and is affiliated with Winter Haven Hospital.

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