Mehdi Akhavan-Heidari, M.D., a cardiothoracic surgeon, has the most experience locally in complicated minimally invasive thoracic surgery, including minimally invasive lobectomy. He is a member of The Heart, Lung and Vascular Surgeons, a division of Wheeling Hospital. He received his medical degree from the University of Vienna Medical School in Austria and served his internship at West Virginia University. Dr. Akhavan-Heidari served a residency in general surgery at Marshall University, and a fellowship in cardiothoracic surgery at Loyola University, Chicago. He is doubly certified by the American Board of Surgery as well as American Board of Thoracic Surgery. Dr. Akhavan-Heidari has presented his research at numerous national as well as international meetings in Europe and he has been well published in academic journals. His areas of interest include minimally invasive thoracic surgery, esophageal surgery and heart valve operations.