Mr Roberto Casula, Consultant in Cardiothoracic Surgery, was appointed head of his department at Imperial College London NHS Trust in 2001. He is highly experienced in performing traditional and key-hole heart procedures. He was the first surgeon to perform robotic and minimally invasive heart procedures in the UK in 2003.

Mr Casula began his medical education in Italy graduating from Padova University Medical School in 1989. He then went on to train in the UK in cardiac, thoracic surgery and thoracic organs transplantation. He is currently registered with the General Medical Council and is a fellow for the Royal College of Surgeons in England. He has consistently offered his patients access to minimally invasive procedures like coronary revascularisation, mitral, tricuspid valve repair and replacements, minimal access aortic valve replacements and minimal access surgical or hybrid atrial fibrillation ablation.

His expertise extends beyond the UK, with him being invited as a visiting surgeon to many prestigious institutions in Milan, Bologna, Bari, Florence, Pisa, Udine, Athens, the Middle East and the West Indies. He has performed over 5000 traditional major cardiac surgeries.

He has a keen academic interest, being published by the Society for Cardiothoracic Surgery regularly. His main research interests centre around new surgical technology and innovation, robotics and assessments of elderly frailty. He has published over 100 peer-reviewed articles and a textbook on minimally invasive thoracic and cardiac surgery.

He is keen to give a second opinion to those that have been told that traditional operations are the only course of action for their case.

Dr. Giulia Luciano is a Specialist Cardiothoracic Surgeon with more than a decade of experience in the treatment and management of thoracic issues and minor surgical treatment, including the removal of cysts, skin tags, and deep-seated lipomas. She sees private patients at the Italian Doctors Clinic.

Dr. Luciano earned her primary medical degree in Italy, where she also undertook and completed her specialist cardiothoracic training. During this time, Dr. Luciano gained knowledge and expertise in lung transplants and thoracic surgery before coming to London for a Multiple Lung Cancers Fellowship with the Royal Brompton Hospital. Upon completion of her research fellowship she practiced as a Senior Clinical Fellow at St Barts Hospital at the cutting edge of the burgeoning field of Robotic Surgery for 5 years.

Dr Luciano has 13-years experience in minor surgical procedures including skin and soft tissue lesions removal, and has performed over 1000 surgical procedures during this time.

As well as performing cosmetic skin surgery she has a special interest in using Botulin Toxin in the treatment of hyperhidrosis.

Dr. Luciano holds a Ph.D. in Surgical Sciences, for her thesis on “Pulmonary Hypertension and the use of veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) to prevent primary graft dysfunction” and has authored various articles in renowned international journals, as well as producing chapters of a number of academic books. Her contributions to the field are highly valued, speaking regularly at a range of established international professional conferences including annually at the International Scientific Conference on Lung Cancer and Cardiothoracic Surgery.

Mr Kulvinder Lall, Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon, is currently working within St Bartholomew’s Hospital in London. He also sees patients privately in several London-based clinics. He is highly specialised in performing procedures on the aorta and coronary blood vessels, as well as performing mitral and electrophysiological surgery.

Mr Lall was appointed to a consultant when he was 36, making him one of the youngest qualified cardiac surgeons in the UK. He began his medical education at the University of London, graduating in 1989 before going on to do his specialist training in London, Glasgow, and Sydney. Throughout his career, he has performed over 5000 procedures in the NHS. He is renowned as the first surgeon to implant a heart valve without a stent in Asia, and more recently he has performed the same procedure in London.

Mr Lall is also a highly active researcher, with more than 40 peer-reviewed publications. He is also an excellent teacher, teaching surgical students in the USA, Europe, China, Hong Kong and Israel.

Mr Fabio De Robertis is a consultant cardiac and transplant surgeon primarily based at Harefield Hospital, who treats both NHS and private patients.

Mr De Robertis trained as a cardiac surgeon at the University of Naples, Italy, focusing on structural heart disease, including techniques for the management of aortic aneurysm and valve infection. In 2000, he joined Professor Sir Magdi Yacoub at Harefield Hospital to obtain further subspecialty training in complex cardiac conditions and transplantation.

In 2007, he completed a fellowship in mitral surgery at the Royal Brompton Hospital where he trained in mitral reconstructive surgery and TAVI. In 2009 he was appointed as a consultant in cardiac surgery and transplantation.

Mr De Robertis has vast clinical expertise in many aspects of cardiac surgery, including:

• coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) – with off-pump (beating heart) technique, arterial conduits and minimally invasive endoscopic harvesting
• minimally invasive cardiac surgery (MIDCAB, mini-sternotomy, mini-thoracotomy)
• valve repair or replacement
• complex mitral valve reconstructive surgery
• aortic valve and root surgery with human substitutes (homograft) and prosthetic substitutes
• septal myectomy for hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM)
• surgery for atrial fibrillation
• infective endocarditis
• redo surgery
• aortic aneurysm surgery including PEARS procedure
• chest wall reconstruction for the treatment of recurrent sternal dehiscence following cardiac surgery
• heart and lung transplantation
• surgical therapies for cardiac failure including ventricular assist device (VAD) surgery.

• Hypertrophic Obstructive CardioMyopathy (HOCM)
• Off-Pump beating heart revascularisation (OPCAB) with total arterial conduits
• Aortic work: valve and great vessels including the aortic arch
• PEARS implantation for connective tissue disorder
• Surgery for Atrial Fibrillation
• Valve repair / reconstruction
• Infective Endocarditis
• Minimally Invasive Lung Transplantation

Mr Toufan Bahrami is a Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon specialising in Adult Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery. He sees private patients at Harefield Hospital, Wellington Hospital and 77 Wimpole Street Outpatient & Diagnostics. At Harefield Hospital, Mr Bahrami leads the minimally invasive and endoscopic cardiac surgery service with his considerable expertise in endoscopic minimally invasive heart surgery - particularly in off-pump coronary artery bypass grafts and mitral valve repair surgery.

Mr Bahrami completed his medical degree at Pitié-Salpêtrière University Hospital, University of Paris in France, after which he trained under various pioneers in the field, including Professors Alain Carpentier and Alain Cabrol, as well as Sir Magdi Yacoub.

During his career Mr Bahrami has completed almost 4000 cardiac surgery procedures. He prides himself in utilising innovative surgical techniques, including the UK's first endoscopic vein harvesting surgery as well as using minimally invasive techniques for the first worldwide mitral valve repair, valve repair ablation, CABG and implanting the first Inspiris Resilia aortic valve. He also was the first surgeon in the world to perform the first double-lung transplant from a non-heart beating donor.

Mr Bahrami also has a strong passion for clinical research and is actively involved in programmes focused on the development of new technology in cardiac surgery. He has published widely in medical journals and is seen as a highly respected leader in his field.

Mr Ranjit Deshpande is a senior consultant in Cardiothoracic Surgery at King's College Hospital, where he has been based since 2007. He is highly specialised in Minimally Invasive (Keyhole) Cardiac and Thoracic Surgery, in addition to general cardiothoracic surgery. He is also a key member of King's "Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation" (TAVI) programme.

Mr Deshpande is renowned for using bilateral internal mammary arteries for coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) to achieve near-total arterial re-vascularisation in ischemic heart disease. Furthermore, he is internationally recognised for performing endoscopic CABG as a "beating heart" procedure without opening the sternum.

Following his training in the South-East Thames London Cardiothoracic Surgical Programme, Mr Deshpande earned a prestigious scholarship from the European Association of Cardiothoracic Surgeons to work at OLV Zeinkenhaus, Belgium to study port-access endoscopic mitral valve repair surgery for mitral valve prolapse. He became a Senior Registrar in Advanced Aortic & Robotic Cardiac Surgery at London's Royal Brompton Hospital in 2006.

Mr Deshpande is a key member of the South London Cardiac Network's complex major aortic surgery group, which is specifically created for aortic root and aortic dissection surgery. Additionally, he is the founder and treasurer of the British and Irish Society for Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery.

Outside of the hospital, Mr Deshpande enjoys spending his free time with his family, going to the theatre, and playing cricket.

Mr Marco Scarci is a consultant thoracic surgeon with more than 10 years' experience. His NHS base is at Imperial College NHS Healthcare Trust, and he practices privately at the Harley Street Clinic and Imperial College Private Healthcare.

His special interests are in the following areas:

• Lung cancer
• Chest wall deformities (pectus excavatum, pectus carenatum, rib deformities)
• Mesothelioma
• Rib fractures
• Thymomas
• Pneumothorax surgery
• Chest infection surgery

Mr Scarci works closely with a multidisciplinary team comprising other surgeons, specialist nurses, and radiologists. He is dedicated to providing a tailored service to his patients, ensuring the best possible treatment and outcome.

He trained in Italy, Malta, and the UK, including the Essex Cardiothoracic Centre and Guy's and St Thomas' in London. He also undertook a fellowship in minimally invasive surgery at the University of Toronto in Canada before becoming a consultant thoracic surgeon at Papworth Hospital, Cambridge and University College London Hospital.

Mr Scarci presents regularly to most thoracic surgery meeting and was the director of the European Society of Thoracic Surgeons Annual congress. He has also worked closely with the National Institute for Clinical Excellency. He also leads the chest wall database, pleural malignancies and chest wall working groups of the European Society of Thoracic Surgeons. In the UK he takes part in working groups for the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).

Mr Inderpaul Birdi, Consultant Cardiac Surgeon, currently works within the Essex Cardiothoracic Centre in the NHS, and also sees patients in a private setting across London at The Harley Street Clinic, the Wellington Hospital, and The Keyhole Heart Clinic. He is highly experienced in performing cardiac surgery including heart valve repair and replacement, coronary artery surgery, and heart bypass surgery. He has a special interest in keyhole and minimally invasive surgery.

Mr Birdi began his medical education in the 1980s, during which he graduated from the University of Nottingham in Medicine. He then went on to do specialist training in cardiac surgery, he specifically developed his skills at the Royal Papworth Hospital and The Royal Brompton Hospital. Following this, he undertook 2 fellowships with the Royal College of Surgeons in 1993 and 2002, a year later he was offered his role of Consultant Cardiac Surgeon. He has become a highly skilled laparoscopic surgeon with over 17 years of experience.

Mr Andrea Bille is a highly qualified Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon specialising in Oncology, including Lung Cancer, Mediastinal Tumours and Tracheobronchial Cancer. Mr Bille is skilled in a wide range of procedures, including Lobectomy, Segmentectomy, Tracheal Surgery, Thymoma Early and Advanced Stage Surgery, Chest Wall Resection and Reconstruction, and Robotic Surgery.

Mr Bille obtained his MD in 2005 from the University of Turin. He later completed a three-year research programme on Surgical Treatment of Mesothelioma, resulting in a PhD qualification. He was appointed Consultant at the National Institute of Cancer in Milan in 2013, specialising in the surgical treatment of lung cancer, thoracic sarcoma and mediastinal tumour. He completed a clinical fellowship at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Centre in the United States in 2014/15, during which he trained in thoracoscopy and robotic surgery for the treatment of thoracic malignancies. He also gained extensive experience with complex reconstruction for extensive thoracic malignancies.

Mr Bille is the Associate Editor of the thoracic section of Journal of Thoracic Disease and the Tumori Journal. He has also been involved in a number of research projects analysing the role of surgery and new multimodality approaches for lung cancer, thymoma and mesothelioma. Mr Bille has also presented his published work at conferences nationally and internationally. In addition to his academic achievements he has numerous professional memberships, including the British Medical Association, European Society of Thoracic Surgeons (ESTS), The Royal College of Radiologists, Royal College of Physicians, International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer and the International Thymic Malignancies Interest Group. He is also a Senior Lecturer at King's College University, London.

Consultant cardiothoracic surgeon, Mr Conal Austin, is based at Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital, with a private practice at London Bridge Hospital. He treats all aspects of paediatric neonatal infant and adult congenital surgical cases. Mr Austin has particular expertise in paediatric vascular conservative repairs, minimal access paediatric cardiac repairs, and intra-operative 3D echocardiography. He also has a special interest in PEARS - Personalised External Aortic Root Support.

Mr Austin offers a range of treatments including paediatric cardiac surgery, thoracic surgery, heart bypass surgery, coronary artery surgery, valve repair or replacement, atrial septal defects, total arterial revascularisation, and mitral valve repair. He also has particular expertise in hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy surgery.

Mr Austin gained his medical qualifications from Belfast University in 1986 before undertaking cardiothoracic training in 1995. He also spent time training at the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne and Chef de Service Hopital Broussais in Paris.