Saverio La Francesca, MD
About Saverio La Francesca, MD
Saverio La Francesca, MD, is a Principal Cardiothoracic Surgeon currently working at TransMedics, Inc. in Palo Alto, California, and has held various prominent roles in the medical field, including positions at The Ohio State University and Biostage, Inc.
Work at TransMedics
Saverio La Francesca, MD, serves as the Principal Cardiothoracic Surgeon at TransMedics, Inc. since 2021. In this role, he leads approximately 100 surgical interventions annually, focusing on strategy, planning, and directing preservation and transport processes. He acts as a liaison between TransMedics and key stakeholders, including the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) and 57 regional organ procurement organizations in the United States. His responsibilities also include facilitating business development and market expansion for TransMedics by leveraging a global professional network and managing relationships with transplant center surgeons and key opinion leaders.
Previous Experience in Cardiothoracic Surgery
Prior to his current position, Saverio La Francesca held several significant roles in the field of cardiothoracic surgery. He worked at The Ohio State University as an Assistant Professor of Surgery in the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery from 2019 to 2020. He also served as Clinical Assistant Professor of Surgery at Stanford University School of Medicine from 2020 to 2021. His experience includes leadership roles at Houston Methodist, where he was Co-Director of the Ex-Vivo Lung Perfusion Laboratory and Director of Organ Procurement, Perfusion and Preservation at the JC Walter Transplant Center.
Education and Expertise
Saverio La Francesca earned his Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree from Sapienza Università di Roma. He completed his residency in Cardiovascular Surgery and has pursued multiple fellowships, including at the Texas Heart Institute, where he specialized in Cardiopulmonary Transplantation and Mechanical Circulatory Support. He also achieved a Fellowship in Clinical/Research Lung Transplant at McGill University. Additionally, he holds a Certificate in Financial Management from Cornell University, which complements his medical expertise with business acumen.
Innovations and Contributions
Saverio La Francesca has made significant contributions to the field of surgery and transplantation. He co-authored a paper featured on the cover of Science Translational Medicine, documenting the first successful transplantation of a lab-grown lung in an animal. He also invented and patented a lab-grown bioartificial esophagus, which was successfully implanted in a patient in collaboration with the Mayo Clinic. His involvement in groundbreaking surgical procedures includes being part of the team that performed the world's first battery-operated mechanical heart assist device implantation in Oxford, UK.
Leadership Roles at Biostage, Inc.
At Biostage, Inc., Saverio La Francesca held multiple leadership positions from 2014 to 2017. He served as Chief Medical Officer, then as Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, and finally as President & Chief Medical Officer. His tenure at Biostage involved overseeing medical strategies and innovations in the development of regenerative medicine technologies.