Todd D. Francone
Newton Wellesley Hospital, Harvard University, Massachusetts General Hospital
Papers
8
Total Citations
285
H-Index
5
About
Todd D. Francone is a leading colorectal surgeon and researcher whose work is reshaping how we train surgeons and perform minimally invasive cancer surgery. He is best known for spearheading the validation of the Fundamentals of Robotic Surgery (FRS) Skills Curriculum, a landmark, multi-institutional randomized controlled trial that proved the effectiveness of a standardized, proficiency-based training program for robotic surgery—a study that has garnered over 200 citations and is now a cornerstone of surgical education. Dr. Francone’s research consistently demonstrates the superiority of minimally invasive approaches, particularly in rectal cancer, where his work has shown better pathologic and clinical outcomes compared to open surgery. He has also made significant contributions to understanding healthcare resource utilization, showing that minimally invasive surgery reduces costs and hospital stays without compromising care. With over 280 citations across his most influential papers, Dr. Francone’s impact is clear: he is not only advancing surgical technique but also providing the evidence needed to drive value-based care. His work on robotic Kono-S anastomosis and plastic bag extraction further highlights his commitment to refining every aspect of surgical practice. For students and researchers, Francone’s career exemplifies how rigorous clinical research can directly improve patient outcomes and set new standards in surgery.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1
- 2
- 3Proving the Effectiveness of the Fundamentals of Robotic Surgery (FRS) Skills Curriculum: A Single-blinded, Multispecialty, Multi-institutional Randomized Control Trial21 citations · 2020
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- 6Effect of Plastic Bag Extraction in Minimally Invasive Appendectomy5 citations · 2022
- 7
- 8Robotic intracorporeal Kono‐S anastomosis – a video vignette4 citations · 2021