A physician who specializes in operating on the heart and blood vessels. Cardiovascular surgeons earn a medical degree (MD or DO), then complete 5 t o 6 years of general surgery training, followed by an additional 2 to 3 years of cardiovascular surgical training. They perform such procedures as bypass surgery, heart valve repair, and removal of aortic aneurysms (abnormal widening or ballooning of the aorta).