Treatment in Ravenna (Italy)

Dr. Ayman is a Medical Doctor and Surgeon specializing in General and Bariatric Surgery, with extensive training and experience in minimally invasive surgery and obesity management.

Doctor earned his Master's Degree in Medicine and Surgery from the University of Brescia in 2005. He then completed his specialization in General Surgery at the same university in 2016, with a thesis titled "Fast track in minimally invasive colon surgery. He has complete autonomy in the clinical management of complex patients and extensive experience in performing a variety of surgical procedures, including major surgeries. His expertise includes gastric and colorectal surgery, bariatric surgery, abdominal wall surgery, videolaparoscopic (VLC) and laparotomic (VLA) procedures, and proctology. He is particularly skilled in performing medium and major surgeries in emergency settings.

Currently, he practices at Maria Cecilia Hospital in Bologna, where he evaluates the degree of obesity and associated conditions. Based on these assessments, he determines the most suitable surgical intervention, such as sleeve gastrectomy, gastric bypass, and mini laparoscopic bypass.

He has advanced training in colorectal and abdominal wall surgery from top institutions in Italy and Belgium.

He is an active member of the Italian Society of Obesity Surgery and Metabolic Disorders (S.I.C.OB.) and the International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders (IFSO), contributing to the advancement of bariatric surgery on an international level.

Dr. Ayman is distinguished by his dedication to patient care and his advanced skills in minimally invasive and bariatric surgery.

Dr. Lechanoine is a highly accomplished neurosurgeon with extensive international experience, currently serving as a senior consultant at Maria Cecilia Hospital in Italy. With over 2,500 surgeries performed, including 1,600 as the lead surgeon, Dr. Lechanoine has built a distinguished career specializing in complex brain and spine surgeries. His areas of expertise include brainstem conditions, intraventricular neuroendoscopy for hydrocephalus and tumors, transsphenoidal surgery for pituitary adenomas, and minimally invasive spine procedures such as UBE (Unilateral Biportal Endoscopy).

His medical journey has taken him across Europe and beyond, with positions at prestigious institutions such as CHU de Grenoble Alpes and CHRU de Tours in France, and Ospedale Santobono in Naples, Italy. In addition, his dedication to pediatric neurosurgery has led to international collaborations, including at the General Peltier Hospital in Djibouti and the Meyer Children’s Hospital in Florence.

Dr. Lechanoine’s education is equally impressive. He graduated in Medicine and Surgery from the University of Caen, France, in 2012 and specialized in neurosurgery at the University of Tours under the guidance of renowned professors Stéphane Velut and Patrick François. His specialization focused on innovative endoscopic treatments for intracranial arachnoid cysts in children. Throughout his career, Dr. Lechanoine has pursued numerous advanced training courses, earning prestigious certifications, including the Diploma of the European Association of Neurosurgical Societies (EANS) and the European Diploma of Spine Surgery (Eurospine).

In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Lechanoine has contributed significantly to the field of neurosurgery through research and education. He has authored numerous scientific publications in leading international journals, with a total impact factor of 71.46. He is also a dedicated educator, serving as a tutor at international workshops on brain and spine endoscopy, and he recently founded a UBE surgical training center at Maria Cecilia Hospital.

After graduating in Medicine and Surgery, Dr. Saltutti specialized in Urology, gaining advanced expertise in treating disorders of the male and female urinary system, as well as the male ctive system. Throughout his professional journey, he has focused on innovative and minimally invasive surgical techniques, such as robotic and laparoscopic surgery, especially for the treatment of prostate, kidney, and bladder cancers.

Over the years, Dr. Saltutti has attended numerous national and international conferences, expanding his knowledge and contributing to the advancement of therapeutic and surgical techniques in the urological field. He is known for his clinical expertise and dedication to his patients, adopting a personalized approach to each case to ensure effective, high-quality care.

His work at GVM facilities, which boast cutting-edge technologies and a highly qualified medical team, allows Dr. Saltutti to offer comprehensive services ranging from early diagnosis to treatment and post-operative rehabilitation. His areas of specialization include, in addition to urological cancers, the treatment of prostate conditions, kidney stones, urinary incontinence, and male sexual dysfunction.

Thanks to his experience and passion for the medical profession, Dr. Carlo Saltutti is a reference point for patients seeking excellent urological care at the GVM group

Dr. Borghesi leads the Neurosurgery Unit at Maria Cecilia Hospital, where his team performs around 1,000 advanced neurosurgical procedures annually. His approach combines years of experience with the latest technological innovations to ensure patients receive the most effective treatments available. Specializing in spinal surgeries (including cervical, dorsal, and lumbar procedures), Dr. Borghesi utilizes both posterior and anterior techniques to help patients regain mobility and relieve pain. Throughout his career, he has successfully performed over 4,500 complex surgeries, offering life-changing solutions for patients with challenging cranial and spinal conditions.

For brain tumor removal, he and his team employ advanced video-micro-surgical techniques, including the use of a digital microscope with 4K 3D imaging, which allows for enhanced precision and minimal invasiveness. Patients suffering from conditions like trigeminal neuralgia, facial spasms, and tumors of the posterior cranial fossa can benefit from Dr. Borghesi’s expertise in minimally invasive surgery, having treated over 400 cases with innovative techniques.

• Spinal Surgery: Expert in performing complex spinal surgeries (cervical, thoracic, and lumbar) using the latest methods to treat conditions such as herniated discs, spinal degeneration, and more.
• Brain Tumor Removal: Specializes in minimally invasive brain surgery for the removal of extensive tumors using cutting-edge 3D orbital camera technology.
• Trigeminal Neuralgia: Successfully treated over 400 cases of trigeminal neuralgia and other cranial nerve disorders with minimally invasive techniques, providing relief for patients with less recovery time.
• Colloid Cyst Removal: The doctor specializes in complex surgeries to remove this benign but very rare tumor.

Dr. Borghesi has trained in various top-tier international hospitals, learning from the best to provide high-quality care to his patients:

• Spinal Unit at Schulthess Klinik in Zurich
• École de Chirurgie in Paris, specializing in skull base and spinal surgeries
• Brain Institute at the University of Florida, specializing in microsurgical brain procedures
• Microsurgical Laboratory at the University of Arkansas, with a focus on lumbar degenerative disorders

He is the author of numerous scientific publications in national and international journals and volumes. In 1997 he was consultant of the "Medical Review" Journal.

In 1995 he graduated at the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery form the Catanzaro University “Magna Graecia”, where, in 2001, he specialized in Internal Medicine. In 2006 he attended the “State of the Art in AFIB and HF Treatments” course directed by Dr. Carlo Pappone. In 2014 he attended the Heart Rhythm Management Center Universitair Ziekenhuis in Brussel and obtained the certification for the procedures for the treatment of atrial fibrillation using cryoenergy (Cryoballon Training Program). In 2015, he was certified for MICRA-TPS leadless pacemaker implantation procedures at Medtronic Training Center in Minneapolis (MICRA-TPS Training Program).

Dr Iacopino is a member of important national and international scientific societies such as the American College of Cardiology, the European Cardiac Arrhythmia Society, the European Heart Rhythm Association and the European Society of Cardiology. He directs several study projects, applicable to great benefit for the patient on the identification of rare syndromes associated with arrhythmias and heart failure, such as Brugada syndrome, or Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. He recently tested, for the first time in Italy, the CardioInsight, an innovative hi-tech jacket for 3D mapping of the heart rhythm disturbances. He has participated and hosted numerous medical conferences around the world, providing theoretical and practical preparation for the various interventional procedures aimed at electrophysiologists and electrophysiology technicians from all over Italy and abroad (United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, Russia). He was a member of the AIAC National Electrophysiology and Ablation Registry, the AIAC Lead Extraction National Registry and the AIAC Pacemaker and Implantable Defibrillator National Registry.

He is author or co-author of several publications and interventions in prestigious medical journals (total impact factor: 169.098).

He has been awarded different fellowships: 

- Fellowship ANMCO (National Association of Hospital Cardiologists), Florence, 3 June 2007; 

- Fellowship ESC (European Society of Cardiology), Munich, 1 September 2008; 

- Fellowship ACC (American College of Cardiology), Atlanta, February 1, 2010

Prof. Deraco has dedicated his career to helping patients with complex cancers, particularly those affecting the peritoneum, a membrane in the abdomen. He began his medical career in 1989 at the Surgery and Experimental Oncology Departments of the Fondazione IRCCS, National Cancer Institute in Milan, Italy. Over the years, he has played a key role in advancing treatments for peritoneal surface malignancies (PSM). For more than a decade, he was the lead physician for the Peritoneal Surface Malignancies Program. Since 2017, he has served as the director of the Peritoneal Surface Malignancies Unit, where he continues to focus on providing cutting-edge care for his patients.

Prof. Deraco’s expertise is in specialized cancer treatments like Cytoreductive Surgery (CRS), Hyperthermic Intra-Peritoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC), and Pressurized Intra-Peritoneal Aerosolized Chemotherapy (PIPAC). These techniques aim to remove cancer and deliver heated chemotherapy directly to the abdomen, giving patients with PSM new hope. He has successfully treated over 1,200 patients using these advanced methods.

In addition to his clinical work, Prof. Deraco is a professor at Milan University, where he teaches future surgeons about peritoneal surface malignancies. His teaching extends internationally, as he has mentored over 30 postdoctoral fellows from prestigious institutions worldwide.

Prof. Deraco’s educational background is extensive. He earned his medical degree from the University of Messina in 1987 with top honors, followed by a specialization in general surgery five years later. His training continued in Paris, where he specialized in oncology at the prestigious Paris Dauphine University. He further honed his skills through fellowships in world-renowned institutions such as the Gustave Roussy Institute in France, the Royal Marsden Hospital in the UK, and the Washington Cancer Institute in the USA.

Throughout his career, Prof. Deraco has remained actively involved in research and professional organizations. He has published over 250 scientific articles and 25 book chapters, contributing to the advancement of cancer treatment globally. He serves on the board of multiple scientific societies dedicated to cancer research, including the Peritoneal Surface Oncology International Group (PSOGI) and the Italian Society for Loco-Regional Cancer Therapy (SITILO).

Education Dr. Castriota graduated in Medicine and Surgery from the University of Milan. He continued his postgraduate training at the University of Bologna where he obtained two specializations: the first one in Cardiology in 1992 and then in Radiology. From 1995 to 1996 he spent a period as a Fellow in the "Arizona Heart Institute" under the supervision of Professor Diethrich.

Research Dr. Castriota is an active member of some scientific societies, such as SIRM (Italian Society of Medical Radiology), Fellow of the Scientific College of the Italian Society of Invasive Cardiology (GISE), Fellow of the European Society of Cardiology (FESC), European Cardiovascular Interventional Society (EAPCI) and of ISES, International Society of Endovascular Specialist. He is the principal investigator of a recent Protected TAVR study, aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of a particular device for brain protection during aortic valve replacement surgery using the TAVI endovascular method.

Publications He is a member of the International Editorial Board of Eurointervention, speaker and chairman for the execution of live cases in national and international conferences.

Author of about 150 full-length publications

Author of over 20 chapters in specialized volumes

Awards: NHMRC Career Development Fellowship, Australian National Health and Medical Research Council, 2015.

Dr. Lolli is a highly accomplished orthopedic surgeon specializing in spine surgery, with over two decades of expertise in treating complex spinal conditions. Graduating with top honors in Medicine and Surgery from the prestigious University of Bologna in 2004, he further honed his skills by specializing in Orthopedics and Traumatology.

Currently, Dr. Lolli is a key member of the Neurosurgery and Spine Surgery Department at the renowned Maria Cecilia Hospital, where he focuses on advanced treatments for spinal deformities in both teenagers and adults. His extensive background includes over a decade of work at the world-renowned Rizzoli Orthopedic Institute, one of Europe’s top orthopedic centers, where he was a spine surgery specialist from 2003 to 2015.

Dr. Lolli’s surgical expertise is reflected in the more than 3.000 spine surgeries he has performed, particularly in correcting vertebral deformities such as scoliosis and kyphosis. His proficiency spans treating both congenital and neuromuscular scoliosis in children and adolescents, using state-of-the-art techniques like growing rods and VEPTR for early onset scoliosis. He is also highly skilled in advanced vertebral resection techniques, including Smith Petersen, Ponte, and pedicle subtraction osteotomies.

In addition to pediatric spine deformities, Dr. Lolli has vast experience addressing degenerative spine conditions, such as herniated discs, spondylolisthesis, and spinal stenosis, using both traditional and cutting-edge non-fusion techniques.

An active member of the AO Spine association, Dr. Lolli contributes to global education and research in spine care. His academic contributions are extensive, with over 30 publications in leading medical journals (Spine, European Spine Journal, The Spine Journal) and more than 100 reports presented at national and international conferences. He has also been a keynote speaker at numerous prestigious events, including the Global Spine Congress and the Bologna Spine Meeting.

Dr. Lolli’s dedication to advancing spine surgery and improving patient outcomes has made him a respected figure in the field, both in Italy and internationally.

Dr. Motti works at the Neurosurgery Department at Maria Cecilia Hospital, as the coordinator of the Gamma Knife Operating Unit, and neurosurgeon in charge of the Stereotaxic Neurosurgery Unit, one of the few centers in Italy, which specializes in the Gamma Knife treatments.  

He is an active member of several research companies focused on Gamma Knife: Italian Society of Neurosurgery, Rome; Gamma Knife Society, Stockholm; European Gamma Knife Society, Madrid. In 1982 he obtained the patent for interfacing the Talairach stereotaxic helmet with computerized axial tomography methods. In 1987 he made the first brain implantation of rgic cells in Parkinson's disease in Italy. He is responsible for training courses at national and international levels, such as courses in Stereotaxic Techniques, Functional Neurosurgery, Radiosurgery at the School of Specialization in Neurosurgery, by the University of Milan; He was an Invited speaker at the "Compliance in radiosurgery" course at the GKSociety meeting in Seoul, South Korea; Organizer of the First European Meeting of Gamma Knife Users, in 1996 in Milan and its subsequent editions.

He is often invited as an instructor in the first weeks of the opening of the new Gamma Knife centers, such as from the Hospital of the University of California Davis, Sacramento, California; or the Arsenji Hospital in Bucharest, Romania etc.

Author and co-author of about 100 publications and contributors to national and international journals. In the seventies he contributed as Assistant Editor to the editorial board of the Journal of Neurosurgical Sciences. For twenty years he was a Consultant in medical libraries as an expert in research techniques and bibliographic archives.

Since 2007 he has been Coordinator of the Operative Unit of Orthopedics and Traumatology at Maria Cecilia Hospital and Scientific Supervisor of the Orthopedic Area of GVM Care & Research, where every year more than 1,200 cases are treated by his team of orthopedists.

He operates in the field of diagnosis and therapeutic treatment of degenerative diseases and traumatic diseases of the knee, hip, shoulder, ankle, foot, hand, spine; in the arthroscopic treatment of the wrist, hip, knee and shoulder and in major prosthetic surgery for the knee, hip, shoulder, as well as in orthopedic and physiatric rehabilitation. In particular, he specializes in the treatment of the following pathologies: femoro-acetabular impingement, pubalgia, chondropathy, Perthes disease, synovitis and the snapping hip syndrome. Author of 7 monographs of over 100 publications in national scientific journals. Among the most recent publications: "Thirty years of Arthroscopy in Italy" 2011 Argalia Publishing and "Groin Pain Syndrome" 2017 Publishing Springer-Verlag. He is the author of over 200 reports on Hip, Knee, Ankle, Shoulder Prosthetics, Hip, Ankle, Knee, Elbow, Wrist, Shoulder Arthroscopy, BioTechnology, Sports Traumatology. He was awarded twice with the Bellando-Randone Prize of the Italian Society of Orthopedics and Traumatologists (SIOT) for the best monograph of the year 1983 with the book "Radiculography Lombare - Text Atlas", Editrice Roma; and for the best monograph of the 1997 with the volume "Arthroscopy of the ankle - Practical manual of surgical technique" Editrice Fortuna.

He graduated in Medicine and Surgery from the University of Padua, where, in 1996, he obtained the specialization in Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolic Diseases. In 1994 he specialized in Metabolic Diseases from the San Bortolo University Hospital in Vicenza. Engaged in research activities in the areas of use of engineered tissues and growth factors for tissue regeneration, new technologies in the field of conservative surgical treatment, and extreme percutaneous revascularization protocols. He has been chairman of several international courses on Diabetic Foot and Charcot Foot and he is a member of the Editorial Board of the journal "Diabetic Foot and Ankle", and of the European Diabetic Foot Study Group (DFSG).

Author of over 100 scientific publications and about 300 speeches at international congresses, including several editions of the National Congress of the Diabetes Doctors Association or the Italian Journal of Diabetology.

Awarded with "Ilizarov Award of Excellence" at the International External Fixation Symposium, 2018; -“Paul Brand Memorial Lecture” Award in 2016.

Dr. Stea has been working for the GVM Care & Research Group, he had hold the role of the Head of the Operational Unit of Maxillofacial Surgery Department for many years. Former 1st level medical assistant at the hospital maxillofacial department in one of the Public Hospitals in Bologna, Italy, he also started working in the UK for the most prestigious hospitals. 

Dr. Stea worked as an Academic professor at the School of Specialization in Maxillofacial Surgery of the University of Bologna. During his professional career, he attended several internships and had opportunity to work with the best masters worldwide, such as:

• Division of Stomatology and Oral Surgery of the University of Geneva, Switzerland
• Division of Maxillofacial Surgery of Sabbatsberg Sjukhus in Stockholm, Sweden
• Plastic and Oral Surgery Division of Canniesburn Hospital in Glasgow, Scotland, U.K.
• Head and Neck Surgery Department of Indiana University in Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.A.
• Head & Neck Department, Memorial Sloane Kettering Cancer Center, New York, City, NY, USA
• Department of Otolaryngology, Free University Hospital, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
• Zentrum fur Kiefer und Gesichtschirurgie (Dr. A. Triaca), Pyramide Klinik, Zurich, Switzerland

In 1993 he graduated in Medicine and Surgery from the University of Bologna (Italy) with full marks. Five years later he specialized in Maxillofacial Surgery from the University of Parma (Italy), and he also obtained a double-degree in dentistry. Dr. Stea continued with his professional education, obtaining a 2nd level Master Certificate in Surgical therapy for TMJ Disorder, from the University “La Sapienza”, Rome. 

Then, in 2008 he obtained a diploma from the European Board of Oral-Maxillofacial Surgery and recently, in 2020, of Fellowship Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow.

Research & Publications

He is the author of more than 70 scientific publications in national and international journals and speaker at national and international courses and congresses. He is a Member of many professional bodies including the British Association of Oral Maxillofacial Surgery (BAOMS), the Italian Maxillofacial Surgery Society (SICMF), the European Association for Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery (EACMFS), the Italian Medical Society of Great Britain (IMSoGB). He has been Speaker at many national and international congresses. For Italian public television, he has given various interviews, speaking of his specialty in collaboration with the GVM Facilities.

Prof. Filippini began his career in 1980 and has been teaching at the University of Chieti since the 1990s in the fields of General Surgery, Microsurgery, Reconstructive Surgery, Vascular Surgery, Orthopedics, and Gynecology. His primary focus is oncological surgery, particularly specializing in "The surgical treatment of locally advanced tumors and multi-organ resections." He has enriched his expertise by visiting prominent reference centers in the United States, including the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in Manhattan, New York City. There, he delved into minimally invasive, laparoscopic, and microsurgical techniques under the guidance of esteemed mentors such as John Daly, Michele Gagner, and Murray Brennan. Additionally, in 2005, he further expanded his skills at the City of Hope Oncology Center in Los Angeles, focusing on robotic surgery in oncology.

In 1980, Prof. Filippini graduated in Medicine and Surgery from the G. D'Annunzio University of Chieti in Italy with honors, presenting an experimental thesis on lympho-venous anastomosis using microsurgical techniques. He completed his specialization in general surgery at the University of Pisa with distinction after five years. In 1990, he obtained another specialization in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery from the University of Padua in Italy, where he maintained a stellar academic record.

Prof. Filippini has presented at numerous national and international conferences and authored over 100 scientific publications. Additionally, he has co-authored two monographs.