About the Author

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Dr. Antonio Loforte, MD, PhD Dr. Antonio Loforte received his Medical Degree from Catania University School of Medicine, Italy, and completed his cardiothoracic surgery residency at the University of Bologna, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Italy, after a period of training at St. Antonius Ziekenhuis, Nieuwegein, Utrecht, The Netherlands. He completed a two-year cardiothoracic and transplantation surgery fellowship at the Deutsches Herzzentrum Berlin, Germany, and then joined the Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Division of Tranplant and Assist Devices, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA, and the Klinic fur Herzchirurgie, Universitat Leipizig, Herzzentrum, Leipizig. He became permanent staff surgeon at S. Camillo Hospital, Department of Cardiac Surgery and Transplantation, Rome, Italy, and currently moved back as permanent staff surgeon to S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Bologna University, Department of Cardiovascular Surgery and Transplantation, Italy. Dr. Loforte's main clinical areas of interest are Heart Tranplantation, Mechanical Circulatory Support therapy, Aortic Surgery, Minimally-Invasive Heart Surgery, OPCABG and new technologies in cardiac surgery. Dr. Loforte's main scientific and research areas of interest are Organ Transplantation and Mechanical Circulatory Support (ECMO, VAD, TAH). He got a European PhD Label in 'Organ Transplantation' awarded by Rome Tor Vergata University, Italy, and the dissertation title has been: "The role of Mechanical Circulatory Support in end-stage heart failure as bridge or alternative to Heart Transplantation". He got, by time, 3 International Awards by such Societies as SITO, ASAIO and EACTS, respectively, on clinical reaserch studies focused on Mechanical Circulatory Support therapy. He has published over 60 papers in peer-reviewed Journals, as well as 5 book chapters and he is author of more then 170 abstracts (communications) for International meetings. He is a reviewer for 19 International Journals and on the Editorial Board of 8. He is active member of SICCH, EACTS, ASAIO, ISHLT, RHICS, STS, EUROMACS. Dr. Cristiano Amarelli, MDDr. Amarelli, is a cardiac nonacademic surgeon involved in the field of heart transplantation during the last 15 years with a strong scientific activity in the field of transplantation, mechanical valve and mechanical circulatory support. Born in Naples he graduated in Naples at the Second University of Naples where he completed in 2003 his training in cardiovascular surgery. He is an active promotor of heart donation for the European Cardiothoracic Transplant Association (ECTTA) stimulating and coordinating the writing process of the European Consensus Conference on thoracic donors, takes active part to the editorial board and to the historic committee of the ASAIO, and is active reviewer for many journals and international meetings. During last years undertake to a national network looking to expand the adoption of mechanical circulatory support in Italy under the auspices of National Transplant Center and of the Italian Society of Cardiac Surgery. Dr. Andrea Montalto, MD. Dr. Andrea Montalto obtained his Medical Degree at "Federico II" University School of Medicine in Neaples, Italy. After completed the residency in cardiac surgery at the University Federico II, he moved to Rome to complete the training by attending the cardiac surgery center at S. Camillo Hospital. Since 2006 he became permanent staff surgeon at S. Camillo Hospital, Department of Cardiac Surgery and Transplantation, Rome, Italy, Dr. Montalto has shown particular interest in the field of surgical treatment of advanced heart failure becoming familiar in the management of patients implanted with mechanical devices. Dr.Montalto, since 2012, has acquired the role of head of the VAD program at the center of cardiac surgery at the San Camillo Hospital. He is active member of SICCH, EUROMACS. Prof. hc. Dr. med. habil. Thomas Krabatsch Thomas Krabatsch, MD, PhD is Senior Cardiac Surgeon at Deutsches Herzzentrum Berlin. Dr. Krabatsch has expertise in the surgical treatment of a variety of cardiovascular diseases in adults including severe diffuse coronary artery disease, valvular heart diseases, mechanical circulatory support and transplantation. He is the Director of Deutsches Herzzentrum Berlin's mechanical circulatory support team, which has experience with over 2,800 implants. Dr. Krabatsch's basic science research interests include endothelial growth factors for coronary disease and gene transfer, laser therapy and cell therapy. He is Member of the ISHLT, EACTS, DGTHG, German society for Gene Therapy, BBGHK, and author or coauthor of more than 150 scientific articles. Dr. Krabatsch also has relations with several universities and cardio-surgical hospitals in Eastern Europe, such as Russia, Belarus, Bosnia and Hungary. He is Honorary Professor in one of Russia's largest medical schools.