CardioStart was conceived in 1987 as a practical attempt to harness the collective skills of western-trained experts in cardio-thoracic medicine and surgery. The goal is to accomplish free counseling and interventional or operative correction of cardiac diseases to children and adults in under-developed countries. CardioStart International is formally registered as a 501 (c)(3) non-profit charity since 1994 in Florida, USA.

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• Assisting in the development of advanced heart care and related specialties.

• Performing complex heart operations in local facilities by providing ongoing training and educational programs. We believe education is the key to developing sustainable medical programs in developing countries. Local doctors and nurses are involved as an integral part of the CardioStart team throughout each mission. They participate in training sessions, learn to perform all surgical procedures, and how to provide care for the post-operative patient with the goal to become self-sustaining programs.

• Empowering local medical teams with the skills, equipment and means to increase the level of care for their patients.

• Cardiac surgery is done free of charge for patients that cannot otherwise afford it or survive without it.

 

CardioStart has grown over the last decade and supports well-coordinated and efficient volunteer activity in several countries. We are non-political, non-denominational and open to medical and non-medical people of all ages. Volunteers support CardioStarts’ work both at home and overseas.

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Countries which have received various levels of assistance include from CardioStart include Albania, Bolivia, Brazil, Croatia, Dominican Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Iraq, Iran, Jamaica, Jordan, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestine, Tanzania, Vietnam, Uganda, Ghana, Perú, Uganda, Ukraine, Nepal, Nigeria, and Myanmar as partners in practice.

 

Historically, CardioStart has completed 109 missions with 1,980 volunteers affecting almost 9000 lives.
If you and, your hospital or company would like to become more involved with CardioStart International, please call 813-204-3163 or visit the website www.CardioStart.org to volunteer or donate.