About Us
- Consultant Thoracic Surgery Unit
- Edith Wolfson Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
- ivan@schewitz.com
- +9723-5028604
MEET THE EXPERT
Meet Dr Ivan Schewitz
A Pioneer in Cardiothoracic Surgery
Dr Ivan Schewitz is a Heart, Lung & Chest Specialist based in Midrand, Gauteng. After completing his medical degree, Dr Schewitz went on to specialise in Cardiothoracic Surgery in 1985. Since then he has been working in private practice while being a part-time consultant for Medunsa University, Oliver Tambo Hospital, Natalspruit Hospital and Pretoria University since his specialisation.
With his extensive experience and knowledge, Dr Schewitz is a pioneer in his field, credited with introducing Thoracoscopic Surgery as well as the Minimally Invasive Repair of Pectus Excavatum (the Nuss Procedure) to South Africa.
With his membership with the General Thoracic Club (USA), the European Thoracic and Cardiothoracic Society, the Chest Wall International Group, being a council member of the South African Thoracic Society and Director of the VATS Workshops since 2014, Dr Ivan Schewitz is a trailblazer in the field of Cardiothoracic Surgery.
Having presented over 40 cardiothoracic presentations throughout his years in the field, of which 10 were explicitly related to Pectus Deformity Correction, Dr Ivan Schewitz is highly specialised in Pectus Excavatum and Carinatum Repair Surgery.
As a pioneer in the field of Cardiothoracic Surgery and the one to introduce the Minimally Invasive Repair of Pectus Excavatum (the Nuss Procedure) to South Africa, Dr Schewitz specialises in Pectus Deformity Correction. With particular mastery of the Nuss, Ravitch and Abraham Procedures, Dr Schewitz treats both Pectus Excavatum and Pectus Carinatum.
- General Thoracic Club USA
- European Thoracic Society
- SA Thoracic Society Council
- Chestwall International
- Head of Thoracic Surgery Unit
- Edith Wolfson Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
- firasabuakar@gmail.com
- +972522200688
MEET THE EXPERT
Meet Dr Firas Abu Akar
A Pioneer in Thoracic Surgery and Uniportal VATS
Dr Firas Abu Akar is a leading Thoracic Surgeon based in Jerusalem and currently serves as Head of the Thoracic Surgery Unit at Edith Wolfson Medical Center in Holon, Israel. Following completion of his medical degree at O6U / Cairo University, he completed specialist training in Cardiothoracic Surgery at Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem and later undertook an advanced fellowship in minimally invasive thoracic surgery at the Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital in China.
Dr Abu Akar is internationally recognised for his expertise in Uniportal Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (Uniportal VATS), pediatric thoracic surgery, advanced minimally invasive thoracic procedures, and pectus deformity correction. He performed the first recorded Uniportal VATS lobectomy in Israel and has completed more than 3,000 thoracic operations, including over 900 anatomical resections via Uniportal VATS.
His academic and surgical contributions extend internationally through faculty appointments, invited lectures, live surgery workshops, and collaborative programs across Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Dr Abu Akar has played a major role in developing Uniportal VATS programs internationally and was instrumental in introducing advanced minimally invasive thoracic surgery techniques in Israel and Palestine.
Dr Abu Akar has authored and co-authored numerous peer-reviewed publications, textbook chapters, and international consensus statements in thoracic surgery. He serves as reviewer and editorial board member for several leading thoracic surgery journals and is an active member of major international thoracic surgical societies.
Areas of Expertise
- Uniportal Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (Uniportal VATS)
- Minimally Invasive Thoracic Surgery
- Thoracic Oncology
- Pediatric Thoracic Surgery
- Pectus Excavatum and Chest Wall Surgery
- Subxiphoid Thoracic Surgery
- Mediastinal Surgery and Thymectomy
- Complex Thoracic Reconstructions
Professional Memberships
- European Society of Thoracic Surgeons (ESTS)
- European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS)
- International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC)
- Israeli Society of Cardiothoracic Surgery
- Uniportal VATS Interest Group (UVIG)
- Palestinian Medical Association
- Israeli Medical Association
Leadership and International Contributions
Dr Abu Akar has served as Treasurer and Secretary of the Israeli Society for Thoracic Surgery and has directed multiple international Uniportal VATS workshops and masterclasses. He has been invited faculty and speaker at major thoracic surgical meetings worldwide including ESTS, ERS, and numerous international Uniportal VATS summits. He has established and supported thoracic surgery training programs in North Macedonia, Kenya, Palestine, Costa Rica, and Mexico.
Academic Contributions
Dr Abu Akar has authored more than 60 peer-reviewed publications, contributed to international thoracic surgery textbooks, and participated in international consensus guidelines relating to minimally invasive thoracic surgery and Uniportal VATS techniques.
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Appointments available across three hospital locations in South Africa.
Jerusalem, Israel
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