The opening with a symbolic ribbon cutting took place on October 16, 2026. The ceremony was attended by guests from state and local government institutions, foundations, the authorities of our university and the University Clinical Center WUM.
The ceremonial ribbon was cut by: Prof. Mariusz Kuśmierczyk, the Head of the Department of Heart, Chest and Transplant Surgery, UCC WUM, Prof. Rafał Krenke, the Rector of WUM, Marzena Kowalczyk, the Director of UCC WUM, Dr Tomasz Maciejewski, the Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of Health, and Lech Wąsowski, a member of the Management Board of Warbud SA.
Hearts under the best care
Patients from all over the country, often with the most complicated conditions, are referred to the Department of Heart, Chest and Transplant Surgery at UCC WUM.
“Our department occupies a special place on the map of Polish medicine. I can state with full confidence that it is the center performing the widest range of cardiac surgeries in Poland,” said Prof. Mariusz Kuśmierczyk. “The structure of the department allows for the provision of continuous care to patients from the diagnosis of the disease, through qualification, surgery and intensive postoperative supervision, to rehabilitation and preparation for returning to everyday life.”
The team of the Department performs coronary procedures, the most complex aortic surgeries, thoracic surgeries, heart, lung and multi-organ transplants. It also offers the treatment of congenital and acquired heart defects. The Deaprtment includes: Department of Cardiac Surgery, Cardiac Anesthesiology with Postoperative Ward, Department of Heart Transplantation and Mechanical Circulatory Support with High-Dependency Units, Department of Advanced Heart Failure, Department of Congenital Heart Defects in Adolescents and Adults.
The Department needed appropriate facilities to combine such a wide range of patient care. Thanks to this investment, one of Poland's most modern facilities for treating patients with heart and chest conditions was created.
The Department gets a makeover
“The renovation was not only a construction project. Our goal was to create a department that meets the highest modern standards of medicine, is safe for patients, functional for staff and prepared to perform the most demanding procedures,” emphasized Prof. Mariusz Kuśmierczyk.
The new facility allows for the simultaneous hospitalization of 20 cardiac surgery patients, 12 thoracic surgery patients, 4 patients with congenital heart defects. Moreover, it is equipped with 16 post-operative stations and specialized beds for 12 patients with advanced heart failure, including those requiring transplantation or the implantation of state-of-the-art cardiac support pumps. The department also features a modern treatment room with a standard comparable to that of an operating room. It enables the performance of urgent cardiac interventions in life-threatening situations, as well as X-ray examinations. There is also a rehabilitation room, which must be treated as an extremely important stage of recovery after cardiac surgery, as emphasized by Prof. Kuśmierczyk.
The renovation of the department also included solutions which are invisible at first glance and contribute to treatment safety, including the reduction of the risk of infections, e.g., the state-of-the-art ventilation and air conditioning system in the rooms, which ensures controlled, repeated air exchange within an hour. Surfaces are easy to disinfect and doors do not have traditional handles, making it possible to limit the contact of the hand with the elements of the equipment.
The renovated department also has the latest audiovisual solutions that will support the daily work of the staff, multidisciplinary consultations and the education of students and young physicians.
Together for the heart
The renovation cost almost PLN 60 million. It was carried out thanks to funds obtained from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, the Ministry of Health and the hospital's own funds, as well as with the participation of donors and numerous foundations, including the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity Foundation (WOŚP). Thanks to WOŚP, the Department received 137 of the latest medical devices worth almost 11 million and 600 thousand zlotys.
“We are in such a beautiful and unusual place, which was created thanks to passion and dream. And we, as a foundation, listen to such dreams,” said Jerzy Owsiak, the President of the Board of the WOŚP Foundation. “You've done something we can show the whole world.”
He also added that the strength of Polish healthcare stemmed from the people working in it, their professionalism and commitment.
“Don't let anyone get in the way of what you're doing. You are doing a great job, and for that, a huge, huge thank you,” said Jerzy Owsiak.
Where modern infrastructure meets knowledge and experience
The professionalism of the staff employed at the Department was also emphasized by Dr Tomasz Maciejewski, the Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Health.
“The equipment installed here will not replace the most important part of this department – the team of physicians, nurses, transfusion specialists, coordinators, the entire administrative staff and everyone who works here and is involved in patient care.”
While congratulating on the completion of the renovation and the new treatment options it offers, he also asked to remember those who make heart transplants possible. These advanced life-saving procedures would be impossible without organ donors and their families' attitudes.
“For this solidarity and courage, they deserve great respect and thanks,” emphasized Deputy Minister Maciejewski.
The strength of cooperation
The implementation of such a large project as the renovation of the department, which has not stopped working and providing assistance to patients since the renovation started, would not have been possible without the combined efforts of many institutions, organizations and people. The Rector, Prof. Rafał Krenke, explained how powerful cooperation could be. He also recalled that the Department of Heart, Chest and Transplant Surgery has only been operating in the structures of WUM for five years. In this short time, it has contributed to the development of UCC WUM as an advanced cardiac surgery center that performs highly specialized procedures.
“Thank you very much and I hope that you will continue to work as a team so efficiently and fantastically,” said the Rector. “We see how much we can achieve when we cooperate. Let us not lose such strength.”
The importance of good cooperation in the implementation of such difficult projects was also pointed out by Marzena Kowalczyk, the Director of the University Clinical Center WUM. The Director recalled the beginnings of talks about the plans to modernize the department. She admitted that, at that time, the hospital had only 50% of the funds needed to implement the investment. Nevertheless, a decision was made to start it.
“Many people who understood the need to carry out this task raised their hand and, like in the famous movie 'The Three Musketeers', said: 'One for all, all for one',” said Marzena Kowalczyk. “Thanks to this understanding, trust and determination we are pleased to open today a state-of-the-art heart and transplant surgery department.”
Completed renovation is not the end of challenges
“The new infrastructure increases our capabilities, but also imposes new obligations on us,” emphasized Prof. Mariusz Kuśmierczyk. “We must make the best possible use of the created conditions, develop cardiac surgery, thoracic surgery and transplantation programs, improve the treatment of lung cancer and advanced heart failure, implement innovative treatment methods, conduct scientific research and educate the next generations of physicians, nurses and medical specialists.”
After cutting the ribbon, Professor Kuśmierczyk invited the guests to visit the renovated rooms.
In addition to those aforementioned, the event was also attended by: Ilona Hibner, the Director of the Investment Assessment Department at the Ministry of Health, Marek Augustyn, the Deputy President of the National Health Fund, Katarzyna Słodka, the President of the Mazovian Branch of the National Health Fund, Cezary Nowosielski, the Director of the Health Policy Office of the Capital City of Warsaw, Dr Małgorzata Terlecka-Maciejewska, the Vice President of the District Medical Council, Prof. Janina Stępińska, the Director of NIKARD, Archbishop Adrian Galbas, the Metropolitan of Warsaw, Katarzyna Pszczoła from the European Commission Representation in Poland, Jarosław Miziołek, the President of the Arcadis consulting and design company.
Donors: Lidia Owsiak, Prof. Piotr Burczyński, Prof. Bohdan Maruszewski, Katarzyna Parafianowicz, the President of the Children's Heart Foundation (Serce Dziecka), Bogdan Benczak, the President of PZU (State Insurance Company), Marek Orzechowski, the President of the Lotto Foundation, Agnieszka Grzegorczyk, the President of the Polsat Foundation, Anna Kupiecka, the President of the Onkocafe Oncology Foundation, Women in the Center Association (Kobiety w Centrum), Katarzyna Jordan, the owner of the Visteria publishing house, the publisher of the "Vogue Polska" magazine.
Distinguished figures in Polish cardiology and cardiac surgery: former heads of Heart Surgery Department WUM: Dr Piotr Hendzel and Dr Romuald Cichoń, and Prof. Jerzy Korewicki, the former Director of the Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński National Institute of Cardiology.
WUM was represented by: Prof. Agnieszka Cudnoch-Jędrzejewska, the Vice Rector for Clinical Affairs and Investments, vice deans of faculties, authorities of the UCC WUM and teaching hospitals belonging to the UCC WUM, heads of departments, chairs and centers, employees of WUM and UCC WUM.
