New Chair to transform the way vascular surgery is delivered

With a goal of transforming the way that vascular care is delivered, Dr. Robert Maggisano has been named the inaugural Chair in Vascular Surgery at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. The $3 million endowment fund will allow Dr. Maggisano, a vascular surgeon at Sunnybrook, to enhance the development and evaluation of less invasive image-guided vascular interventions, with a strong focus on education.

"Sunnybrook is a world leader in providing safe, less invasive endovascular surgery. A priority of the Chair will be to disseminate new knowledge to both students and practicing surgeons," says Dr. Maggisano, Associate Professor, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto. "My motto is make a difference and make a difference now.  By ensuring that new knowledge is applied to patient care, we can make a difference now in saving patients' lives."

Sunnybrook has highly regarded expertise in catheter-based treatments of aneurysmal and occlusive diseases, as well as surgical treatment of complex tertiary and quaternary thoraco-abdominal disease. Since beginning to perform endovascular aneurysm repairs (EVAR) in 2006 with the support of funding from the Sunnybrook Foundation, the organization has been recognized as a leader in the use of this technique. This minimally invasive technique is safer than conventional open aneurysm repair, results in shortened hospital stays and a quicker recovery time for patients with aortic aneurysms. Typical open surgery means a seven or eight hour operation and six weeks' to three months' recovery, while EVAR surgery takes an hour or two and patients are out of the hospital within days.

A key to success has been Sunnybrook's highly skilled multidisciplinary health team with strengths in imaging, endovascular therapies, intensive care, basic and clinical research and also teaching. "This is a cohesive group, supported by Sunnybrook's Schulich Heart Centre, and readily shares knowledge, cases and assists one another in order to achieve quality patient care and education," adds Dr. Maggisano.
 
Over the last few years, the team's clinical and teaching strengths have been boosted by the additions of Dr. Giuseppe Papia and Dr. Andrew Dueck to the vascular surgery team. Sunnybrook has become a regional resource for continuing education in endovascular care, serving as a teaching and learning hub for hospitals within the Central LHIN.
 
Another priority for Dr. Maggisano is to build bridges with industry to modify and develop new endovascular products for the benefit of patients. The Chair in Vascular Surgery at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre will ensure the organization is actively involved in evaluating, critiquing and developing new endovascular devices.