Prof. Francesco Basile is a full Professor of general surgery at the School of Medicine, University of Catania, Italy since 1992. Having received his MD degree from the University of Catania in 1978, Prof. Basile completed his specialization training in general surgery in 1983 and in thoracic surgery in 1988. He has spent long periods of time in many different countries and institutions (including Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Department of Surgery at Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, St. Mark’s Hospital in London) where he has had the opportunity to refine and develop advanced surgical techniques and carry out prestigious scientific collaborations. In 2017 – 2018 he has served as Rector of the University of Catania. His ongoing research interests are focused on the development and application of new technologies in various surgical specialties. Prof. Basile is the Editor in Chief of “Updates in Surgery”, the official journal of the Italian Society of Surgery, and a member of the editorial boards of several scientific journals. He has published more than 300 scientific articles, book chapters, and congress abstracts.