Mariano E. Brizzio, M.D., a cardiac surgeon with The Valley Columbia Heart Center, is heading up a team from Valley that will travel to Arequipa, Peru to participate in a medical mission with CardioStart International.

As  part of the CardioStart team, Dr. Brizzio will perform complex cardiac surgeries and provide surgical training to his local counterparts.

CardioStart International provides free heart surgery and associated medical care to children and adults living in underserved regions of the world.