In the spotlight: Zbigniew Religa
A PBS survey puts the level of support for the professor at 18 percent. Both polls put Religa ahead of the competition. Another poll reveals that the Poles see Religa as the most trustworthy politician in the country. It seems that, after curing Poles' hearts for many decades, the 67-year-old renowned cardio-surgeon is now winning them.
After graduating from the department of medicine at the Medical University of Warsaw in 1963, Religa worked at Szpital Wolski in Warsaw for 14 years. However, he is most renowned for his work at the Cardiological Clinic in Zabrze, where in 1985 he performed the first successful heart transplant in Poland. A professor of the Medical University of Silesia, Religa was also its rector in 1997-1999. In 2001, he became the director of the Cardiological Institute in Warsaw.
While at Szpital Wolski, Religa took part in the activities of the Solidarność. Following a number of unsuccessful attempts to become a politician in the 1990s, Religa became a senator in 2001. In April 2004 he founded Partia Centrum, which, according to OBOP's latest opinion poll, has finally surpassed the five percent threshold. Apart from his medical and more recent political career, Religa is also the president of the Foundation for the Development of Cardio-surgery, which concentrates on scientific and research activities, as well as on providing scholarship programs. M.P.
After graduating from the department of medicine at the Medical University of Warsaw in 1963, Religa worked at Szpital Wolski in Warsaw for 14 years. However, he is most renowned for his work at the Cardiological Clinic in Zabrze, where in 1985 he performed the first successful heart transplant in Poland. A professor of the Medical University of Silesia, Religa was also its rector in 1997-1999. In 2001, he became the director of the Cardiological Institute in Warsaw.
While at Szpital Wolski, Religa took part in the activities of the Solidarność. Following a number of unsuccessful attempts to become a politician in the 1990s, Religa became a senator in 2001. In April 2004 he founded Partia Centrum, which, according to OBOP's latest opinion poll, has finally surpassed the five percent threshold. Apart from his medical and more recent political career, Religa is also the president of the Foundation for the Development of Cardio-surgery, which concentrates on scientific and research activities, as well as on providing scholarship programs. M.P.
