Advancing Coronary Surgery in India: The Rise of a Dedicated Subspecialty Society

Coronary artery disease is the leading cause of mortality worldwide and presents with disproportionately severe patterns in the South Asian population. Coronary artery bypass grafting remains the most durable revascularization modality. Yet, its evolution in India has been inconsistent, perhaps in part due to the absence of a dedicated scientific body focused exclusively on coronary surgery. Following the successful completion of the PROMOTE Patency Trial, the first multicenter randomized clinical trial in Indian cardiac surgery, a motivated group of surgeons recognized the need for sustained collaboration, research, and subspecialty-driven progress. This realization led to the formation of the Society of Coronary Surgeons in December 2020 under the leadership of its Founder President, L. R. Sajja, during the unprecedented disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic. The society’s creation marks a pivotal advance in India’s effort to cultivate indigenous coronary research, data collection, standardized training, and region-specific guidelines. This perspective outlines the origins of the Society of Coronary Surgeons, the evolution of coronary surgery, the need for a coronary subspecialty society in India, and the importance of establishing a national coronary surgery database tailored to Indian patient characteristics. The Society of Coronary Surgeons represents both a scientific necessity and a transformative opportunity for the future of coronary surgery in India.