Zbignev Religa Minister of Health of Poland Date of Birth: 16.12.1938 Country: Poland

1. Biography of Zbigniew Religa
2. A Pioneer in Cardiac Surgery
3. A Shift to Politics
4. A Popular Figure
5. A Medical Family

Biography of Zbigniew Religa

Zbigniew Religa, a renowned cardio surgeon, was born on December 16, 1938, in the village of Medniewice. He graduated from the Medical Academy in Warsaw in 1963 and went on to work for 14 years at a hospital in the capital city's district of Wola. In 1984, he was appointed as the director of the Heart Institute in the mining town of Zabrze, a position he still holds to this day.

A Pioneer in Cardiac Surgery

Under Religa's leadership, the first heart transplant operation in Poland was successfully performed. He also developed several models of artificial hearts. His contributions to the field of cardiology have earned him national recognition.

A Shift to Politics

In 1993, Religa decided to enter the world of politics and was elected to the Senate. However, he admitted that politics only occupied about 10 to 15 percent of his free time. Despite his venture into politics, Religa remained dedicated to his medical career and continued to make significant contributions in the field of cardiology.

A Popular Figure

Polish citizens seem to have become disillusioned with professional politicians, as Zbigniew Religa, a well-known cardio surgeon, has consistently topped the list of the most popular figures in Poland. His popularity led him to announce his candidacy for the presidential elections scheduled for September. The current president, Aleksander Kwasniewski, who has held the position for two terms, is not eligible to run again.

A Medical Family

Zbigniew Religa is married to Anna Religa, who is also a medical professional and works as an adjunct at the Institute of Physiology in Warsaw. Their son, Grzegorz, followed in his father's footsteps and became a cardiologist. The only one who deviated from the medical path was their daughter, Malgorzata, who chose to study Chinese language at the University of Warsaw instead.

Overall, Zbigniew Religa's contributions to the field of cardiology and his popularity among the Polish people have made him a respected figure both in medicine and in politics.