Alexander A. Fokin, MD, PhD
Associate Director, Director of Surgical Research
Heineman Medical Research Laboratories
Heineman Medical Research, Inc.,
Carolinas Heart & Vascular Institute at Carolinas Medical Center
Prior Positions and Experience
| 1985 - 1994 |
Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatric Surgery, State Pediatric Medical Academy (Saint Petersburg, Russia) |
| 1988 – 1993 |
Fellowships in thoracic surgery (2 years) at the Medical Academy of Postgraduate Education (Saint Petersburg, Russia) |
| 1982 – 1985 |
Accredited Surgeon, State Pediatric Medical Academy (Saint Petersburg, Russia) |
| 1977 - 1979 |
Pediatric Surgery Residency at the Pediatric Medical Academy, Saint Petersburg, Russia |
Education and Training
PhD: 1987, State Pediatric Medical Academy (Saint Petersburg, Russia)
MD: 1977, State Pediatric Medical Academy (Saint Petersburg, Russia)
Research Interests
The wide range of research projects in which Dr. Fokin participates includes both clinical and applied science topics.
Dr. Fokin has been involved in studies of chest wall deformities, both congenital and acquired, that include pectus excavatum, pectus carinatum, cleft sternum, Poland’s Syndrome, and acquired restrictive thoracic dystrophy. He is currently involved in a study of morphological and genetic changes in the rib cartilage of patients with pectus excavatum. This subject is closely related to another field of interest, namely the factors associated with sternal dehiscence and methods of its prevention.
Other topics of Dr. Fokin’s research are the revascularization of the ischemic myocardium, cardiac preservation and myocardial reperfusion injury, vein grafts and growth factor application for enhancement of collateralization in treatment of ischemic heart disease, collateral development in patients with coronary arteriovenous fistulas, and the mechanisms of possible flow augmentation in the ischemic myocardium.
In the field of lymphology, Dr. Fokin’s interest has been in lymphatico-venous communications, the spread of infection by the lymph pathway, and the possibility of local interventions in cases of accidental injuries with contaminated instruments.
Also ongoing is a study on the possibility of minimally invasive surgical treatment of ascending aortic aneurysm in patients with Marfan’s Syndrome and other connective tissue disorders. The effectiveness of a new mesh wrapping procedure of the dilated aorta is being investigated. The degenerative disease of both the tricuspid and bicuspid aortic valve and mechanism of the development of poststenotic aortic dilatation is also being studied.
In 2001, Dr. Fokin received the Minna James Heineman Foundation Award from the Minerva Stiftung of the Max Planck Gesellschaft (Germany) in recognition of his research achievements in the field of Life Science.
Dr. Fokin also participates in the educational process of thoracic and cardiovascular residents at Carolinas Medical Center and teaches biology at Gardner-Webb University.
Dr. Fokin is an active researcher and author of more than 100 publications. He has presented his work at numerous national and international meetings.
Recent Publications
Robicsek F, Fokin AA. Search for a better mousetrap. The quest for an ideal method of sternal closure. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 2008; Epub ahead of print. [PMID: 18314342]
Robicsek F, Fokin AA. Complications of Midline Sternotomy. In: Pearson’s Thoracic and Esophageal Surgery, 3rd Edition, Patterson GA et al, editors. Churchill Livingstone. 2008 [ISBN:0443068615].
Fokin AA, Masters TN, Gregory C, Robicsek F. Neovascularization in Bland-White-Garland Syndrome. Inter Cardiovasc Thorac Surg 2007 May;6:64-5.
Fokin AA, Robicsek F. Acquired deformities of the anterior chest wall. Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2006; 54: 57-61. [PMID: 16485191]
Fokin AA, Robicsek F, Masters TN, Fokin A Jr, Reames MK, Anderson JE, Jr. Sternal nourishment in various conditions of vascularization. Ann Thorac Surg 2005; 79: 1352-1357. [PMID: 15797076]
