One of the world’s leading heart transplant surgeons will visit The University of Toledo Medical Center to speak about heart-assistive devices and transplant options.
Dr. Francis Pagani holds a HeartMate II heart-assisting device, which was approved by the FDA in 2008 after a national clinical trial that he helped lead. On the table is an earlier-generation device, the HeartMate.
Pagani, who also is surgical director of the Adult Heart Transplant Program and director of the Center for Circulatory Support for the UM Health System, focuses his research on the use of mechanical circulatory support to treat advanced heart failure and stem cell transplantation for myocardial regeneration.
“We are pleased to have someone with Dr. Pagani’s expertise share his knowledge and experience with our community,” said Dr. Thomas Schwann, professor and chair of the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery at UT Medical Center.
The University of Toledo and University of Michigan are collaborating to establish a heart-assist device program in the area that will allow patients with end-stage heart failure access to this state-of-the-art technology.
Pagani received his medical degree and a PhD in pharmacology from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. He also has a PhD in pharmaceutical sciences from Rutgers University.
