Gruppo San Donato

Gruppo San Donato (GSD) is by far Italy’s leading hospital group and among the largest in Europe, with 19 hospitals, 3 of which are classified as IRCCS – the prestigious acronym given by the Italian State to institutions that carry out scientific research aimed at cure quality improvement. We have over 5,500 beds, over 5,350 doctors and more than 4.7 million patients treated per year.

The Italian National Health System, which has been among the top three health systems globally for quality and accessibility in the past 15 years, has developed a rare synergy with GSD. That allows us to provide private quality treatment as a public national service, thus making us the premier provider of health services.

GSD’s unique model is built around the patient and it combines clinical, academic and research excellence in order to provide the best care to everyone. While we are active in all specialties, our strongest clinical areas are cardiovascular disease, oncology and hematology, orthopedics, diabetes, ophthalmology, medical and surgical treatment of obesity, reproductive medicine, plastic and cosmetic dermatology and surgery, and gene therapy.

GSD proudly owns and operates some of the best hospitals in Italy. Among these, three are internationally-renowned centers of excellence: Ospedale San Raffaele (Italy’s most famous private hospital and a first-class center for research and molecular medicine), Policlinico San Donato (one of the top locations in Europe based on volume and complexity for adult and pediatric cardiovascular care) and Ospedale Galeazzi-Sant’Ambrogio (a hospital dedicated to complex orthopedics, sports medicine and physical rehabilitation).

MULTI-DISCIPLINARY PATHWAYS

People affected by multifactorial diseases have many things in common and their treatment requires dedication, professionalism, innovation and humanity.
The approach to these diseases is successful when all the professionals involved act in a coordinated way, without losing sight of the uniqueness of the individual.
Figures involved in the multi-disciplinary team: different Physicians, Nurses, Psychologists, Nutritionists, Physiotherapists, and an International Patient Manager to support the doctor-patient communication.

CARDIO CENTRE: A 360° CURE

The GSD Cardio Department is a center of excellence on the international medical field for the treatment of all main diseases affecting the cardiovascular system. With the largest volume of activity in Italy, our cardiac surgery department is one of the most experienced in Europe, specialized in pediatric and adult congenital heart disease and providing innovative techniques of cardiac surgery and interventional cardiology. Arrhythmia and electrophysiology are some of the clinical highlights of the cardio canter. It is the first and only center in the world for the treatment of Brugada syndrome.

RESEARCH & INNOVATIONS

GSD’s San Raffaele Hospital is the top research institute in Italy by volume and profile of scientific output: in 2018 alone, the institute produced 1,446 scientific publications with total impact factor points of 8,545. Our Scientific Research covers virtually all fields of biomedical research – from neuroscience to experimental oncology, from genomics and genetics to gene and stem cells therapy, and from immunology to biomaterials. We perform our research over a variety of activities across different Divisions, Institutes and Research Centers.

CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGICAL EQUIPMENT

Both our Research and Medical Teams benefit from a wide range of Advanced Biomedical Technology that GSD provides:

142 High-technology Operating Theatres
8 DA VINCI Robots
18 Hemodynamic Monitors
134 Beds in Intensive Care
27 MRI Scanners
121 Diagnostic Radiation Devices
23 Mammography Units
13 High Energy Accelerators
33 Computerized Axial Tomography (CAT) Scanners

DIABETES RESEARCH INSTITUTE

San Raffaele Diabetes Research Institute (DRI) has been the first center in the world (in 1990) to perform pancreatic islet transplantation to treat patients with type 1 diabetes. Today, with a history of more than 200 patients and 400 cell infusions, the Diabetes Research Institute is a leading center worldwide for the implementation and enhancement of this experimental treatment, which aims at recreating the function of insulin-producing cells in a host organ like the liver. The main objectives of DRI researchers working on islet transplantation are improving the procedure to guarantee cells engraftment, finding new and affordable beta cells sources (using stem cells) and controlling immune response after transplant to avoid degeneration of the newly transplanted cells.

Nowadays diabetes is one of the most challenging public health issues. In 2007 Ospedale San Raffaele, which has always focused on treatment of diabetes and research, took up the challenge and established the Diabetes Research Institute (DRI).

Our institute is composed of 7 basic research units, 6 clinical groups and 2 facilities and is a world-class center for the study, prevention and cure of diabetes. We aim at finding out NEW CURES for an increasingly spread disease through many clinical programs developed along with basic research lines and projects. We also cooperate with internal and external teams, including international groups.

SAN RAFFAELE TELETHON INSTITUTE FOR GENE THERAPY (SR-TIGET)

San Raffaele Hospital is the only hospital in the world, which can currently treat the adenosine deaminase deficiency- severe combined immunodeficiency (ADA SCID) with gene therapy, better known as ‘bubble babies’ syndrome. Strimvelis is the first life-saving treatment in the world using ex vivo gene therapy for ADA SCID.

SR-Tiget is an internationally renowned center, which develops new technologies for gene transfer and gene editing.

In line with its translational nature, SR-Tiget commits itself to establish strategic alliances with pharmaceutical multinational corporations (GlaxoSmithKline and Biogen), with whom it cooperates to translate research into therapies for all patients who need them.

Orthopedic & Trauma Center: top center for locomotor system diseases

With the largest number of admissions in Lombardy, our Ortho & Trauma Center is a renowned entity for all orthopedic surgery (hand, shoulder, hip, knee, foot & ankle). It is highly specialized in spine surgery, reconstructive and maxillofacial surgery, and prosthetic surgery.

Strimvelis: First gene therapy with stem cell

The Gene Therapy Center is the first and only center in the world that can treat Severe Combined Immunodeficiency due to Adenosine Deaminase deficiency (ADA-SCID), also known as “bubble babies” syndrome. Strimvelis is the first life-saving treatment in the world using ex vivo gene therapy for ADA-SCID.

CONTACT OUR INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT

Our International Patients Office is your link to the excellent and tailored healthcare services offered by GSD. Patients and their family members are assisted throughout every step of planning their visit: