Marko Turina was born January 23, 1937, in Zagreb, Croatia. He attended medical school in Zagreb, where he graduated in 1961. He trained in surgery at the University Hospital in Zurich, with one year training in cardiology. He was Assistant Research surgeon, University of California in San Diego, USA 1969/70. He completed his surgical training in Zurich, where he became staff member in 1972. He became Head of the Division of Experimental Surgery in 1975; he was promoted to assistant professor in 1977 and to associate professor in 1982. In 1985 he became full professor and director of the Clinic for Cardiovascular Surgery in Zurich. In 1990 he also established division of cardiac surgery in City Hospital Triemli, Zurich. From 1994 - 2000 he was the Dean of the Medical Faculty in Zurich. Obligatory retirement in 2005. Marko Turina is one of the founders of the European Association of CardioThoracic Surgery, where he became President 2001-2002.