KIMS Bhubaneswar Dr Satyajit Samal receives AATS travel grant in Chicago
Bhubaneswar: Dr Satyajit Samal, working in the Department of Cardio-Thoracic and Vascular Surgery (CTVS) at Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS), Bhubaneswar, has been awarded the prestigious 2026 Mussallem Congenital Heart Diseases (CHD) Alliance Travel Grant by the American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS) Foundation at the 106th AATS Annual Conference in Chicago, USA.
Dr Samal completed fellowship training as an Associate Trainee at Metro Hospitals & Heart Institutes. In addition, he gained experience at CHU de Rennes in areas including heart transplantation, ventricular assist devices, aortic surgery, and advanced adult cardiac surgery.
A passionate Cardiothoracic and Vascular surgeon with specialization in the full spectrum of adult and pediatric cardiothoracic surgery, minimally invasive cardiac surgery, vascular surgery, ECMO, mechanically assisted circulatory support, and heart transplantation. Along with dedication to compassionate patient care, I am actively involved in academics and clinical research.
He has previously worked as an Associate Consultant in Pediatric Cardiac Surgery at Artemis Hospitals and also served as an Associate Consultant in Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery.
KIMS described this international recognition as a major milestone for the institute and is expected to strengthen efforts towards launching advanced heart transplantation services in eastern India.
KIMS has congratulated the doctor, stating, “Dr. Samal is the first cardiothoracic surgeon from Odisha to receive this honour from the AATS Foundation. We congratulate him on this remarkable achievement and thank our Hon’ble Founder, Prof. (Dr.) Achyuta Samanta, for his visionary leadership and constant support towards excellence in advanced healthcare.”
Himansu Sekhar Mahapatra, CEO and PRO at Empire Group of Academy, has also congratulated the doctor, stating, “The recognition of Dr. Satyajit Samal, Consultant, Department of CTVS, KIMS Bhubaneswar, with the prestigious 2026 Mussallem CHD Alliance Travel Grant, is a landmark achievement in the field of advanced cardiac care. Such milestones strengthen the vision of expanding advanced healthcare services, including heart transplantation, and bring renewed hope for patients across eastern India.”
Dr. Satyajit Samal has also expressed his happiness, stating, “Being selected for the AATS Foundation Award is both an honour and a defining milestone in my journey as a cardiothoracic surgeon. It provides invaluable exposure to global excellence in cardiothoracic surgery skills and research, meaningful mentorship, and learning opportunities that will boost future surgical practice and academics. This recognition has honoured my efforts and inspired me to aim higher and contribute more to society.”
“It was also a pleasure and privilege to be selected for the AATS Global Academic Exchange Program in Mumbai at IACTSCON 2026, which enriched my learning and professional connections. I am grateful to the AATS Foundation for empowering young surgeons and creating pathways for growth and global collaboration,” he added.
