He is a pioneer, a savior and sees his profession as a mission, every day and forever. Prof. Dr. Ivo Petrov is one of the most recognizable doctors in our country.
He has four specialties – in internal medicine, cardiology, invasive cardiology and angiology.
He is the first invasive cardiologist in the world to implant an endoprosthesis in a child with a torn aorta. His colleagues estimate that he saves at least eight lives per day.
One of the most invited lecturers in the world in the field of cardiological innovations. Winner of numerous awards, including the prestigious award “Doctor of the Year“ for 2022.
He lectures in America, Africa, Asia and Europe. A polyglot, he is fluent in French, Spanish, English and Russian. He protects the heart – in the literal sense, as an invasive cardiologist.
„Many people will be surprised that there is a direct connection between Northwestern Bulgaria and Argentina. Unfortunately, it is not an airplane connection, but rather a historical one. Seriously, between the two wars there was a significant layer of Bulgarian farmers who left Bulgaria for many reasons – both political and economic. My grandfather was one of the people who left at that time – 1925“, he says.
Dr. Ivo Petrov's father was also born there. After 1949, he thought that better times had come to Bulgaria and so he returned back. This happens at a time when Argentina is among the strongest economic countries in the world.
„I wouldn't say he regrets it. Dad, before he passed away, I took him back to Buenos Aires“, Ivo recalls.
He says about his work that one of the biggest mistakes a person with such a profession can make is to think he is God.
„Indeed, then this divine power slaps him on the hand and he makes an unforgivable mistake, which is on the back of the patient. But I think he has the power. We are a bit fatalistic and when I go in to perform an intervention, I always mentally trust in God and ask him to help me in a difficult situation“, he explains further.
The cardiologist also remembers what he learned from Professor Chirkov:
„Prof. Chirkov is one of the giants of our medicine and one of the founders of modern medicine, even with this behavior. In that he was an extremely moral man from the point of view of Christian values. He always spoke with parables, with quotes from the Gospel. Prof. Chirkov passed on to us a lot of the correct attitude towards medicine and towards patients - all this we, his students, carry.“