South African honored with Edwards Lifesciences award for expanding access to pediatric cardiac surgery

The Edwards Lifesciences Foundation has awarded its Every Heartbeat Matters Award to Wilhelm Lichtenberg, heart surgeon and founder of Young Hearts Africa in Cape Town, South Africa, recognizing his humanitarian work expanding access to pediatric cardiac surgery. Out of 14 global awards presented, Lichtenberg’s was the only one awarded to an African. The honor supports the nonprofit’s mission to address a severe heart health treatment gap, where fewer than 800 of 4,000 children needing congenital heart surgery receive care annually. Since 2021, Young Hearts Africa has facilitated surgical procedures through hospital partnerships while building training and access pathways. The award included a $23,000 grant.