Ralitsa Baranowski is a Consultant Thoracic and Robotic Surgeon at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast, Northern Ireland. She serves as the Robotic & Thoracic Lead for Regional Thoracic Surgery for the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust (BHSCT), and is the Co-Chair of the Society for Cardiothoracic Surgery’s Women in Cardiothoracic Surgery (WiCTS) Committee.
In 2025, Ms. Baranowski led and performed the first-ever robotic-assisted thoracic surgery cases in Northern Ireland, marking a significant advancement in patient care and surgical innovation within the region.
Her clinical expertise encompasses minimally invasive thoracic procedures, including video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) and robotic-assisted thoracic surgery (RATS), with a focus on segmentectomy, lung volume reduction surgery, navigation bronchoscopy, thoracic sympathectomy.
Beyond her clinical roles, Ms. Baranowski is a dedicated advocate for gender equity in surgery. As Co-Chair of the SCTS Women in Cardiothoracic Surgery Committee, she actively works to promote inclusivity and support for women in the field.
Prior to her surgical training, she engaged in humanitarian medical work with Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders), serving in Chad and Pakistan, experiences that have profoundly influenced her commitment to patient care and global health.
Ms. Baranowski’s contributions to thoracic surgery and her leadership in promoting diversity and innovation continue to shape the future of surgical practice in Northern Ireland and beyond.
