Marko Turina: key obituary facts
Is Marko Turina dead? Yes. Marko Turina died on November 6, 2026, at age 89.
Cause of death: Marko Turina's cause of death has not been publicly confirmed.
What was Marko Turina known for?
He was a Croatian cardiac surgeon.
More about Marko Turina
Born: 23 January 1937.
Place of birth: Zagreb.
Gender: male.
Occupation: surgeon, researcher, physician.
Education: School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, University of Zagreb.
Employer: University of Zurich.
Also known as: Marko I Turina, Marko Turina, Marko Ivan Turina.
Marko Turina, a Croatian cardiac surgeon, died on November 6, 2026, aged 89.
Born in Zagreb on January 23, 1937, he studied at the School of Medicine at the University of Zagreb. From 1962 to 1965, he completed surgical residency in Flawil and Zurich, Switzerland, and in 1966–67 was a research fellow in biochemistry in the Department of Pharmacology at the University of Zurich.
He later became director of the Clinic for Cardiovascular Surgery at University Hospital Zurich, where he held a leading role in cardiac surgery. Turina was among the first surgeons to implant an artificial heart outside the chest and among the early surgeons to operate on congenital heart defects. Those procedures marked two distinct areas of his work: mechanical circulatory support and surgery for patients born with heart conditions. His professional work encompassed surgery, medicine and research, and he was regarded as a surgeon of high international prestige. Accounts of his career emphasized technical excellence, masterful operating skills and outstanding patient outcomes. His leadership in Zurich and his work on heart procedures made him an internationally recognized figure in the specialty.