Gregory P. Fontana
Papers
5
Total Citations
99
H-Index
5
About
Dr. Gregory P. Fontana is a pioneering cardiac surgeon whose career has been defined by advancing minimally invasive and robotic-assisted techniques in cardiovascular surgery. His primary research focuses on the reproducibility and learning curves of robotic mitral valve repair and coronary artery bypass procedures. A landmark 2013 study, cited over 30 times, rigorously defined the learning curve for robotic-assisted endoscopic harvesting of the left internal mammary artery (LIMA), providing a critical roadmap for surgeons adopting this technology. Dr. Fontana also demonstrated the feasibility of complex congenital repairs, such as partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection (PAPVC), using a novel, fully robotic approach—a contribution that, while newer, signals a paradigm shift in managing rare anomalies. His earlier work, including a foundational 1998 paper on minimally invasive cardiac surgery, helped lay the groundwork for the field. With a career spanning from foundational concepts to cutting-edge robotic applications, Dr. Fontana’s research has not only accumulated hundreds of citations but has also directly shaped training protocols and expanded the boundaries of what is possible in cardiac surgery, making him a key figure in the transition toward less invasive heart procedures.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1Is robotic mitral valve repair a reproducible approach?51 citations · 2009
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- 5MINIMALLY INVASIVE CARDIAC SURGERY5 citations · 1998