My name is Dr. Ehsan Natour,
and I dedicate my life to transforming Heart health worldwide by protecting, strengthening, and connecting
the Hearts we love.
Dr. Ehsan Natour
DR. EHSAN NATOUR
A HEART SURGEON'S GUIDE TO HEALING
THE HEARTS WE LOVE
Heart disease is the No. 1 killer worldwide
Heart disease is the No. 1 killer worldwide, causing disability
and reducing quality of life. It doesn't have to be this way!
EXPERIENCE & WARMTH CONTACT ME
Dr. Ehsan Natour is an internationally renowned Heart surgeon. Raised in Israel as the son of Palestinian parents, he completed his education and specialization in Germany. In 2003, he earned his Doctorate
(Magna Cum Laude).
From 2007 to 2016, he worked at the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG) and was involved in complex aortic pathology, Heart-lung transplants, and left ventricle assist devices. He also served as an educator and head of the aorta (valve) surgery program at UMCG. Since 2016, he has been living and working in Maastricht and Aachen.
Dr. Natour is the author of the book 'When life comes to a standstill', which is available in Dutch, English, and German.
He is the founder of the Dutch foundation 'Stilgezet' and the growing #OneMillionHearts community.
STICHTING STILGEZET
ABOUT STICHTING STILGEZET
Many people worldwide are undergoing medical treatment. Often it concerns major, life-saving medical treatment that has a major impact. Not only on the patient, but also on their loved ones and involved practitioners. The life of the patient and his/her family members and friends comes, as it were, “to a standstill”. This “standstill” of a life causes a wide variety of emotions. But how do you trace these emotions? How do you name them? How should a person’s environment deal with this? Questions that many people have to deal with every day.
Stichting Stilgezet offers tools. By publishing a book based on patient experiences, a podcast and various art forms, such as a play and music composition, the questions that patients have to deal with are interpreted. Art forms which will take shape in the coming months and years and which, in contrast to science, are able to describe the indescribable and name the unnameable.
Stichting Stilgezet also uses scientific research to clarify the emotional and social context in this important phase of life. When it is predictable how a person will respond, medical professionals can apply the correct individual emotional guidance preventively. As a result, people return to their starting position more quickly.
The combination of art forms and scientific research ensures empathy and recognition, which increases the quality of life.
PATIENT STORIES
PAUL
“My father was always an active man with a zest for life. At one point he became more and more tired and listless. We reported these complaints to the GP, who referred us to the hospital. After undergoing an ultrasound, my father was diagnosed with a defective heart valve. From that moment, as patient, you go through the medical mill ...
ALOIS
During an intensive 3-day work trip to Denmark, I was on the road for three days with my friend Jo, who is also my cousin. One day after we returned home, he was suddenly in hospital with a heart attack. He was in a coma for a few days and died shortly afterwards. Very suddenly.
This hit me really hard ...
HOMEPAGE STICHTING STILGEZET
Stichting Stilgezet is there to provide insight into and comprehension of the emotional situation of patients and their loved ones before and after radical, often life-saving medical treatment which increases the quality of life. To make this goal understandable and tangible, experiences are translated into, among other things, a book, podcast, play, music composition, other art forms and scientific research.
THE BOOK
When Life Comes to a Standstill
- A successful heart surgeon’s plea for a more humane medicine.
- The best strategies to deal with life-threatening crises and to find a “new normal”
without the old mistakes. - Plea for an encounter between doctor and patient on equal terms.
- A heart-felt book about patient recovery, growth and life after surgery.
A GROUNDBREAKING THEATER PERFORMANCE
A groundbreaking theater performance combining music, dance, and science to explore the emotional journey of a crisis.
Dr. Ehsan Natour leads the audience through a live heart surgery, using it as a powerful example of crisis. Under the direction of conductor Frank Adams, the Kamarata Zuid orchestra delivers a captivating musical performance, while Ellen ten Damme’s songs and Andrew Greenwood’s choreography bring the narrative to life, merging intellect with emotion. This performance encourages self-reflection and action, inspiring visitors to take control of their health and approach life’s challenges with a deeper sense of awareness and understanding.
TRAILER I
TRAILER & INTERVIEWS
VIDEOS
Here you will find a complete overview of all available videos. This collection is designed to help you easily browse, select, and access the content you're interested in. Whether you're looking for specific topics or simply exploring what’s available, this page serves as a central hub for all video material. Enjoy discovering and watching!