SIR ALFRED CUSCHIERI, WORLD FAMOUS SCIENTIST, PROFESSOR OF SURGERY AT SANT’ANNA SCHOOL, RECEIVED HONORARY DEGREE OF “BIONICS ENGINEERING” FROM UNIVERSITY OF PISA
The University of Pisa awarded the honorary degree of Bionics Engineering to Prof. Dr. Sir Alfred Cuschieri, world famous surgeon, professor of surgery at Sant’Anna School, and faculty member of Translational Medicine PhD Programme. The founder of Aboca Group, Valentino Mercati, also received the honorary degree of “Microbial and Plant Biotechnology” at the Pisa University’s graduation ceremony.
The opening ceremony speech was given by the Rector Massimo Mario Augello and first part was dedicated to Sir Alfred Cuschieri; Professor Luigi Landini, president of the Bionics Engineering MSc programme, explained the special recognition by reason of their outstanding contributions; Professor Emeritus Franco Mosca, who recently was awarded the prestigious “Campano d'Oro”, pronounced the Laudatio. After the awarding of honoris causa degree diplomas by the rector Augello, Sir Alfred Cuschieri gave his keynote address "Nanotechnology for health care".
Sir Alfred Cuschieri, was born in Malta, his parents were Italian and Maltese (his father was from Florence), he graduated with honors from the Medical School of the Royal University of Malta, and established his academic career in UK. Sir Alfred, was created a baronet by Queen Elisabeth II in 1987. His research interests include minimal access therapy, endoscopic surgery, technology and micro-robotics, ergonomics, nanotechnology and nanoscience. He is Chief Scientific Advisor to the Institute of Medical Science and Technology (IMSaT) – Scotland, the Institute assembles groups of more than 50 physicists, engineers, life scientists and clinicians.
He invented several surgical and medical devices, some of which have been named after his name "Cuschieri", such as single-access laparoscopic surgery instruments. Professor Alfred Cuschieri has partnered with the General Surgery School in Pisa since 1987, teaching the discipline of surgery to medical students in the operating room and lecturing on the progress and achievements of the minimally invasive surgery he pioneered. Since 2003, he has been a professor of surgery at the Sant'Anna School, where he received the distinguished scholar award ( "chiara fama”).
Cuschieri has become a leading authority for the Italian Ministry of Education and the Center of Excellence for Computer Assisted Surgery, "EndoCAS" - University of Pisa.
