Gaetano Ciancio, professor of surgery, has been named director of the Miami Transplant Institute, a joint program between the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and Jackson Memorial Hospital.

In his new role, Ciancio will oversee operations of the Miami Transplant Institute (MTI), one of the world’s largest and most comprehensive transplant centers. The institute was formed five years ago, advancing the UM/Jackson transplant program’s 42-year history of world-renowned faculty performing more than 500 transplant procedures annually, playing a major role in kidney, liver, intestinal, heart, lung, and pancreas transplantation.

Gaetano Ciancio

MTI is also a leader in multi-visceral transplantation. More than half of the reported multi-organ transplants in the world have been performed at MTI, the only Florida hospital to perform every type of organ transplant.

“Gaetano is a surgeon’s surgeon and a passionate, revered educator and transplant researcher,” said Pascal J. Goldschmidt, senior vice president for medical affairs and dean of the Miller School and CEO of UHealth – University of Miami Health System. “Under his leadership, the Miami Transplant Institute will not only continue to lead the way but will also break ground in perfecting lifesaving transplant techniques.”

“Dr. Ciancio is a pioneer in transplantation and is widely praised for his contributions as a clinician, a researcher, and an educator,” said Carlos A. Migoya, president and CEO of Jackson Health System. “He is the perfect person to lead Miami Transplant Institute toward continued success.”

A native of Italy who grew up in Venezuela, Ciancio completed his surgical residency and fellowship in transplantation at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Medical Center in 1995, then joined the Miller School faculty as an assistant professor of clinical surgery in the Division of Kidney and Pancreas Transplantation. He later earned his M.B.A. in health administration from UM.

At UM/Jackson, Ciancio has distinguished himself as a leader in transplantation and has served as the director of urologic transplant surgery. He has traveled throughout the world as a visiting professor and has helped establish kidney transplant programs at hospitals abroad. He is an advocate of organ donation and works tirelessly to address the critical shortage of donor organs by educating the South Florida community about the need.