Cardiac Surgeon Gleb I. Kim Wins National “People Who Change the Country” National Award

A ceremonial awards event for the national “People Who Change the Country” prize winners was held in Moscow. Among the recipients of this prestigious distinction was Gleb I. Kim, PhD, a cardiac surgeon at the Center of Cardiac Surgery and Interventional Cardiology of the Pirogov Clinic of High Medical Technologies at St. Petersburg State University.

Dr. Kim leads the development of a Russian artificial intelligence–based software system for cardiac surgery – Expert Opinion AI. To implement the project, he assembled a multidisciplinary team of experts in medicine, information technology, and engineering.

Once introduced into clinical practice, the digital system will be able to analyze the condition of the heart and blood vessels, generate individualized diagnostic reports, and provide physicians with evidence-based recommendations for treating complex cardiovascular diseases.

The program is designed to become a reliable clinical assistant, particularly in emergency care for patients with acute cardiac and vascular conditions. In addition, it is expected to significantly improve the quality of medical care in regions lacking access to specialized cardiac surgery services.

The “People Who Change the Country” award was established by the Agency for Strategic Initiatives by decree of Vladimir Putin to recognize individuals whose projects improve quality of life and contribute to achieving national development goals.

From more than 10 million active participants in the Agency’s initiatives, several hundred leaders were selected. Their projects span critical areas including healthcare, social support, industry, education, environmental sustainability, and workforce development. A strong emphasis is placed on training highly qualified professionals and implementing innovative, future-oriented technologies.

Each award recipient received a commemorative badge and official laureate status. Their success stories will be widely covered by Russian media, inspiring new leaders to pursue meaningful change.

This recognition opens new opportunities for the further development of Dr. Kim’s innovation. The AI-based system he is developing represents an important step toward making high-tech cardiac care more accessible and improving the quality of life for millions of patients across Russia.