The medical community is mourning the loss of Keyvan Moghissi, a distinguished and deeply compassionate cardiothoracic surgeon who dedicated his life to healing. He has died at the age of 98.
From Persia to pioneering heart surgery in Britain
Born in Tehran in what was still known as Persia, Moghissi was the second of six children in a Bahá'í family. A bright student, he followed his elder brother into medicine, studying in Tehran before moving to the University of Geneva in Switzerland in 1947 to earn his surgeon's diploma.
His path changed during a visit to Britain in 1954 to study cardiothoracic surgery, shifting his focus from academia to hands-on practice. He settled in the UK after meeting and marrying Elsie, a Moorfields ophthalmic nurse, in the mid-1950s.
Building a European centre for cardiac care
Moghissi's career saw him work at numerous prestigious hospitals, including Edgware, Nottingham, Southampton, and rotations at the Hammersmith, Harefield, Middlesex, and Great Ormond Street. In 1970, he was appointed consultant cardiothoracic surgeon at Castle Hill Hospital in Hull.
Far from his Persian roots, he embarked on an ambitious project: transforming the unit into a major European centre for heart surgery and a hub for analytical research. His work was instrumental in advancing the field.
He was a founding force behind the European Thoracic Surgery Club in 1979, which evolved into the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, an organisation he later presided over in the 1980s.
A legacy of innovation and empathy
Professionally, Moghissi was a pioneer, involved in early developments of heart bypass grafting, laser surgery, and photodynamic therapy. His honours were numerous, but colleagues and family note he derived greatest pride from directly improving and saving lives.
His empathetic approach was legendary. He captured this in his memoirs, Off My Chest: Tales of a Cardiothoracic Surgeon (2018), From My Heart (2024), and In My Memory (2025). He famously stated that he "took medicine personally and individuals seriously."
Outside the operating theatre, he was a talented violinist, having been taught by the revered master Abolhasan Saba. He found solace in music, particularly the works of Bach, which he used as personal therapy for stress.
He retired in 1994. His wife, Elsie, died in 2021. He is survived by his son Alexander, grandchildren Mico and Jonny, and siblings Minou and Chala.
