MAISANO FRANCESCO

Francesco Maisano is a Full Professor of Cardiac Surgery at the Università Vita Salute San Raffaele in Milan and Director of Cardiac Surgery at the San Raffaele Hospital's Valve Center. Previously, he served as Full Professor and Head of the Department of Cardiac Surgery at the University of Zurich (2015–2020). He graduated in Medicine from the Catholic University of Rome (1990), completed a fellowship at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (1994), and specialized in Cardiac Surgery at La Sapienza University of Rome (1995). His career includes senior roles at the San Raffaele Hospital since 1997, focusing on surgical and endovascular treatments for cardiovascular diseases.

Education:

• M.D., Catholic University of Rome, 1990
• Fellowship, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1994
• Specialization in Cardiac Surgery, La Sapienza University of Rome, 1995

Research Interests: Dr. Maisano specializes in heart valve treatments, innovative technologies (surgical and catheter-based), and multidisciplinary cardiovascular therapies. He leads a Heart Team approach, integrating surgical, interventional, and imaging expertise. His work emphasizes postgraduate training and the development of medical devices.

Key Achievements:

• Over 600 peer-reviewed publications (h-index 74)
• 24+ patents and multiple start-ups in cardiovascular medicine
• Awards include the ESC Silver Medal (2018) and C Walton Lillehei Young Investigator Award (1999)

Teaching and Grants: He directs specialized courses in structural interventions (e.g., Mitral/Tricuspid Valve, Aortic Valve) at the University of Zurich and San Raffaele. His grants fund research in valve therapies and device innovation.

Labs/Teams: Leads the Valve Center at San Raffaele, focusing on translational research and clinical trials in structural heart disease.