Editorial Board

Editors in Chief

Salvatore Fabio Chiarenza
Director of Pediatric Surgery Unit, Regional Center of Pediatric Urologic and Minimally Invasive Surgery and New Technologies, AULSS 8, S. Bortolo Hospital, Vicenza, Italy

E-mail: fabio.chiarenza@aulss8.veneto.it | ORCID

Salvatore Fabio Chiarenza Pediatric Surgeon and Urologist graduated at Verona University, Italy. Chief of Department of Pediatric Surgery and Urology of San Bortolo Hospital Vicenza (Italy), Official Veneto Regional Center of Pediatric Minimally Invasive Pediatric Surgery and Urology. He  is associate professor of Pediatric Surgery at Federico II University of Naples . His main fields of interest is Pediatric Minimally Invasive Surgery and Urology. He was one of the  the founding  member of European Society of Pediatric Endoscopic Surgeons (ESPES) in wich covered a number of positions: Board Member, Treasurer,  Chairman of European Pediatric Minimally Invasive Surgery Guidelines, Chief of ESPES Educational Board.  He was also member, Secretary and President of Italian Society of Videosurgery in Children (SIVI). Actually President Elect of  Italian Society of Pediatric Surgeons (SICP) , main coordinator of Ethic Committee of the society. He is and was teacher in a large number of Masterclass and theoretical-pratical courses in Pediatric and Urologic Minimally Invasive Surgery  Leeds University, UK; Federico II University, Naples, Italy; IRCAD Strasbourg, France; Bologna University, Italy; Cairo Universities Al Azar, Alexandria, Egypt; Bucharest University, Romania; Aesculap Academy, Berlin, Germany). Honorary Member of Egyptian Association of Pediatric Surgeons (EPSA), full member of IPEG, ESPES, EUPSA, SICP, SIVI, SIUP. He was speaker, keynote speaker, moderator, and panelist in more than 250 national and international meetings and Congresses. He achieved a high level of experience in clinical research participating as principal investigator or co-researcher in more than 350 scientific papers including international congress presentations. 

Alessandro Frigiola
Department of Pediatric Cardiology, San Donato Hospital, Milan, Italy

E-mail: Alessandro.Frigiola@grupposandonato.it | ORCID

A graduate of the Pigafetta classical high school in Vicenza, he then continued his studies, graduating in 1970 with a degree in medicine and surgery from the University of Padua, where he specialized in childhood surgery. He then obtained a second specialization in Cardioangiosurgery at the University of Bologna. Since 1990 he has been chief first and then director of the pediatric and adult congenital cardiac surgery area. During his career he has performed more than 16,000 cardiac surgeries. In 1993, he founded the Cardiac Children in the World Association, which aims to foster the advancement of pediatric cardiology and cardiac surgery in the world and of which he is president. Since the beginning of his cardiac surgery career, he has been involved in international medical cooperation. He has done part of his training at numerous foreign centers including Hopital De La Timone in Marseille (3 years), Green Lake Hospital in Aukland, New Zealand, Sick Children Hospital in London, the Cardiothoracic Center in Monte Carlo, and Pessac Hospital in Bordeaux, France. For 30 years he has directed the Training Center at Policlinico San Donato in Milan, Italy, where he welcomes many young cardiac surgeons and cardiologists by organizing simulation courses in cardiology and cardiac surgery. Since 1984 to date, he has organized 450 surgical missions in 27 countries around the world teaching physicians and performing more than 3,000 cardiac surgeries on children and congenital adults. He has received numerous honors both in Italy and abroad. He is currently working to establish an international school for combating cardiovascular disease.

Luca Rosti
Sant'Anna Clinic, Sorengo, Switzerland

E-mail: luca.rosti@gmail.com

I received my medical degree from the University of Milan in 1984 and went on to specialize in Pediatrics and Neonatology at the same university. During my residency in Pediatrics, I worked on artificial pancreatic diabetes. In August 1987, I was a "visiting physician" at University Hospital in Birmingham, Alabama, USA. In 1988, I helped establish the Department of Cardiac Surgery-Pediatric Cardiology at IRCCS San Donato in San Donato Milanese, which specializes in the pre- and post-operative management of children with heart disease. This activity lasted until 2015. From 1991 to 1998, I worked at the Regina Elena Hospital in Milan, primarily in the Intensive Care Unit until February 1999, when I transferred to the Mangiagalli Clinic's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit until December. From January 2000 to the end of March 2000, I worked in the Buzzi Hospital's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in Milan. From 2000 to 2007, I was the director of the Neonatology Unit at the City of Pavia Clinic (Pavia), where I was in charge of organizing the birth point and managing healthy newborns with minimal pathology. From July 2007 to July 2011, I was the director of Neonatology at San Giuseppe Hospital in Milan, Italy, where I oversaw birth point organization, neonatology follow-up, and quality procedures (ISO and Joint Commission certifications). In addition, I was in charge of palivizumab in VRS infection prevention. From July 2011 to October 2016, I oversaw the Neonatology Service at the "La Madonnina" Clinic in Milan. Between October 2014 and July 2024, I worked as a neonatologist at the Sant'Anna Clinic in Sorengo, Switzerland. I have written numerous articles for national and international journals, as well as translated several texts from English, including some editions of the American Academy of Pediatrics' Handbook of Neonatal Resuscitation.

Andrew Balas
Biomedical Research Innovation Laboratory,Augusta University, GA, USA

E-mail: Andrew.Balas@augusta.edu | ORCID

Andrew Balas MD, PhD leads academic, national, and international initiatives to improve and expand innovative research in life sciences.  With the rapid growth of the research enterprise, including millions of new projects and articles every year, there is a pressing need for greater effectiveness in meeting societal needs and advancing global competitiveness. The Biomedical Research Innovation Laboratory of Andrew Balas explores how groundbreaking discoveries arise from the most productive biomedical research laboratories and how more discoveries could benefit public health. At a time when more than half of published research turns out to be either uninformative or non-reproducible, there is a great societal need to gain insight into the origins of reproducible scientific discoveries that transform public health. Current data science and meta studies include, among others, identifying best research practices of Nobel Laureates and other high impact scientists; developing methods to prevent research errors and ineffectiveness in the laboratory, and designing evidence-based organizational strategies to increase practically impactful research and development. Andrew Balas serves as Professor of Public Health at Augusta University, Vice President of the Friends of the NIH National Library of Medicine, elected member of the American College of Medical Informatics and elected member of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts. His credentials include over 110 publications, externally funded research in excess of 10 million dollars and publications that cumulatively attracted more than 11,000 citations.

 

Associate Editors

Massimo Agosti, Neonatology, Neonatal Intensive Care, and Pediatric Unit of Verbano, Filippo Del Ponte Hospital, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy

E-mail: massimo.agosti@asst-settelaghi.it| ORCID

Il Prof. Massimo Agosti è Direttore della Scuola di Specializzazione di Pediatria dell’ Università degli studi dell’Insubria, Direttore del reparto di Neonatologia e Terapia Intensiva Neonatale e ad interim del reparto di Pediatria, nonchè Direttore del Dipartimento Materno Infantile all’Ospedale Del Ponte di Varese. Attualmente riveste anche il ruolo di Coordinatore del Gruppo di lavoro “Percorso Nascita” e Membro della “Commissione Vaccini” della Regione Lombardia. È autore di numerosi articoli scientifici su riviste internazionali e attivo anche nell’ambito della ricerca in Pediatria e più in particolare in Neonatologia e Terapia Intensiva Neonatale. Tra i campi di interesse specifici: la prevenzione delle allergie alimentari; la nutrizione, con particolare riguardo alla promozione dell’allattamento materno; la Care del neonato patologico, sia nel corso della degenza che in seguito, attraverso appropriati sistemi integrativi di follow-up del neonato e della famiglia e valutazione dell’outcome psicofisico e neurologico e comportamentale del neonato prematuro e di basso peso.

Cosimo Bleve, Pediatric Surgery Unit, Regional Center of Pediatric Urologic and Minimally Invasive Surgery and New Technologies, AULSS 8, S. Bortolo Hospital, Vicenza, Italy
E-mail: cosimo.bleve@aulss8.veneto.it | ORCID

Cosimo Bleve (MD) is a Paediatric and Neonatal Surgeon working in the Pediatric Surgery Unit, Regional Center of Pediatric Urology and Minimally Invasive Surgery and New Technologies, at S.Bortolo Hospital, Vicenza, Italy. After medical graduation at Ferrara University, he obtained the specialty in Pediatric Surgery with top marks. He achieved a high level of experience in Pediatric Surgery working during his training period and after graduation in different National and International Centres of Pediatric Surgery (at Ferrara University Hospital, Buzzi Pediatric Hospital in Milan, at the Complex Pediatric Surgery and Pediatric Plastic Surgery Unit of the Hôpital S. Joseph, Marseille, France). Since 2014 he works in Pediatric Surgery Regional Center of Pediatric Urology and Minimally Invasive Surgery and New Technologies in Vicenza, achieving skills and experience in pediatrics and neonatal mininvasive surgery and urology. Dr. Bleve achieved experience in clinical research participating as co-researcher in experimental trial in collaboration with the U.O. of Medical Genetics, Departments of Reproduction and Growth at the Department of Experimental and Diagnostic Medicine of the University of Ferrara. His main research interests include Minimal Invasive Pediatric and Neonatal Surgery (abdominal and thoracic), congenital anomalies, neonatology, urology, Pediatric Plastic Surgery (chest malformation, vascular and lymphatic malformation), and paediatrics; ozone-therapy for skin lesions. Throughout his career, he has participated as principal or assistant surgeon in various humanitarian missions in developing countries. He has participated as principal or assistant surgeon in several paediatric and general surgical procedures, including those in minimally invasive surgery, neonatal surgery, pediatric oncologic. He has high national and international experience in his fields of interest, as team working, teaching and research. He has participated as principal investigator or co-researcher in more than 100 scientific papers including international congress presentation. Dr.Bleve was co-author in different books chapter in Pediatric Surgery and Pediatric Mininvasive Surgery and is currently reviewer of several national and international scientific journals. He is currently faculty member in European Congresses (ESPES) and Italian Congresses (SICP, SIVI) and International Congresses (IPEG, Egyptian); he organizes Department's meetings on relevant topics in Pediatric surgery. He was board member of SIVI (Società Italiana di Videochirurgia Infantile) from 2015 to 2017, and covered the roles of treasurer of SIVI from 2021. Additionally, he has been part of the scientific board of SICP (Società Italiana di Chirurgia Pediatrica) from 2021.

Magd Ahmed Kotb, Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Hepatology, Cairo University, Egypt

E-mail: magdkotb@kasralainy.edu.eg | ORCID

Professor Kotb graduated with excellent honors and received the M.B.B.CH., M.Sc. Pediatrics, and Medical Doctorate in Pediatrics, from Cairo University Egypt. Professor Kotb is known for the pioneer research and publications in biliary atresia, neonatal cholestasis and liver transplantation. Professor Kotb is the first to describe the aetiology of biliary atresia among Egyptian neonates “The Kotb disease”. Professor Kotb has recently published a preprint of olive oil's role in biliary atresia that revolutionizes the survival of native liver in biliary atresia.  Professor Kotb has over 80 publications with numerous citations and her publication in Pediatric Transplantation was recognized by Wiley Publishers as one of the most read and downloaded papers in 2018-2019.  Professor Kotb publications revealed the hepatotoxicity of ursodeoxycholic acid among Egyptian neonates with cholestasis across decades resulted in Ministry of Health policy changes and compulsory printing that ursodeoxycholic acid is contraindicated in Egyptian neonates with cholestasis, in the package inserts. Professor Kotb was the former Head of General Pediatrics Sub-division, Pediatrics Department, Cairo University Hospitals, Egypt. Professor Kotb was the Principal Founder and is currently Executive Editor of Pediatric Sciences Journal, is an Editorial Board Member of BMC Pediatrics and Associate Editor of La Pediatria Medica e Chirurgica. Professor Kotb was Former Associate  Editor of Medical Journal of Cairo University. Professor Kotb experience as the Former Coordinator of Paediatric Evidence Based Medicine Undergraduate Course, Cairo University, Former Principal Coordinator of Pediatrics training in Family Medicine Department, Cairo University and Former Director of Center of Social & Preventive Medicine, Cairo University has widened her experience scope in teaching, training, and research. Professor Kotb was the Former Principal Pediatric Hepatology Consultant of Wadi El Nil Program for Pediatric Orthotopic Living Related Liver Transplantation, Cairo, EgyptURL: http://scholar.cu.edu.eg/?q=magdkotb/publications

Nargis Albert Labib, Department of Public Health and Community Medicine,Cairo University, Egypt

E-mail: anargislabib@cu.edu.eg | ORCID

Prof. Nargis Albert is a professor of public health at Cairo University. She served as Chair of the Department for five years, beginning in 2005. She works in a number of international agencies, including WHO, UNICEF, and FAO. She has over 100 publications in internationally documented journals. She specializes in epidemiology for communicable and noncommunicable diseases. She chaired a number of international and national researchers, all of whom published in international journals. She is particularly interested in the epidemiology of infectious diseases.

Enrico La Pergola, Department of Pediatric Surgery, Azienda Ospedaliera Università di Padova, Padova, Italy. E-mail: enrico.lapergola@aopd.veneto.it | ORCID 

Enrico La Pergola (MD, PhD) is a Paediatric Surgeon at Padova University Hospital (Italy) with high national and international experience in his fields of interest, as well as deeply involved in patient care, colleagues support, team working, teaching and research. After medical graduation at Bologna University, he obtained the specialty in pediatric surgery with top marks. After that, he completed his PhD studies and Universitary second level master's degree in neonatal surgery. He has participated as principal or assistant surgeon in more than 4000 paediatric and general surgical procedures, including those in neonatal surgery, paediatric oncologic surgery, minimally invasive surgical procedures (like endoscopies) and kidney transplantation. His main fields of interests are minimally invasive surgery, gastroenterology and gastrointestinal endoscopy and surgery, paediatric hepatobiliary surgery, neonatal surgery and paediatric vascular accesses. He achieved a high level of experience in clinical research participating as principal investigator or co-researcher in more than 100 scientific papers including international congress presentation. He has been a research fellow at the Sick Kids Children Hospital of Toronto and at the King’s College Hospital of London. He is currently reviewer of several national and international scientific journals. With the aim of always being updated and practicing on an evidence base, he usually attends theoretical and practical courses, in Italy and abroad. Also, he organizes Department's meetings on relevant topics in paediatric surgery, being enthusiastically involved in the training of medical students and residents.

Fabio Mosca, Department of Clinical and Community Sciences, IRCCS Foundation Ca' Granda Hospital, Milan, Italy.

E-mail: fabio.mosca@unimi.it | ORCID

Sameh Shehata, Department of Pediatric Surgery, University of Alexandria, Alexandria, Egypt

E-mail: drsamehs@yahoo.com | ORCID

Prof. Shehata is a professor of the pediatric surgery department, faculty of medicine, University of Alexandria, Egypt. He is the president of the (WOFAPS) Foundation. Dr. Shehata is currently the head of the international relations office in Alexandria University. The past president of the IPEG Middle East chapter. The past president of the Egyptian Association of Pediatric Surgeons (EPSA). The past chairman of the pediatric surgery department, faculty of medicine, University of Alexandria, Egypt. Dr. Shehata is the innovator of the technique of laparoscopic traction for the intra-abdominal testis known as the Shehata technique, which is widely practiced in many centers worldwide. Dr. Shehata is the founder of the largest online pediatric surgery forum (The Pediatric Surgeon’s Lounge) where over 5000 pediatric surgeons worldwide are discussing and exchanging experiences every day. Dr. Shehata is on the editorial board of many national and international pediatric surgery journals including the JPS, Medicine, Annals of Pediatric Surgery, and the International Journal of Urology. He has shared as a speaker, keynote speaker, moderator, and panelist in more than 250 national and international meetings.

Francesca Vinci, Pediatric Surgery Unit, Regional Center of Pediatric Urologic and Minimally Invasive Surgery and New Technologies, AULSS 8, S. Bortolo Hospital, Vicenza, Italy
E-mail: francesca.vinci53@gmail.com | ORCID

Francesca Vinci is a dedicated resident in pediatric surgery, currently training to become a specialist in the surgical care of infants, children, and adolescents. After obtaining her degree in Medicine and Surgery from the University of Catania, she pursued a specialization in Pediatric Surgery at the University of Naples "Federico II". She is currently completing her residency at San Bortolo Hospital in Vicenza, Regional Center of Pediatric Urologic and Minimally Invasive Surgery and New Technologies, Italy. With a passion for improving the health and well-being of young patients, she has focused on developing a deep understanding of the unique challenges and complexities that pediatric surgery presents. From neonatal surgical interventions to managing congenital abnormalities and trauma cases, her commitment to providing compassionate, patient-centered care is evident in every aspect of their work. Throughout her residency, she has been actively involved in research and clinical practice, striving to stay at the forefront of medical advancements in pediatric surgery. She has participated in various surgical procedures under the guidance of experienced mentors, honing technical skills while learning the importance of teamwork and communication in the operating room. Her experience in working with multidisciplinary teams has also fostered a strong foundation in collaborative care, essential in treating young patients with diverse medical needs.

Editorial Board

Raul Abella, Department of Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
Aldo Agnetti, Department of Maternal and Child Health, University Hospital of Parma, Parma, Italy
Carlo Agostoni, Department of Pediatrics, San Paolo Hospital, Milan, Italy
Giuseppe Banfi, Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
Mario Barbarini, Neonatal Intensive Care and Neonatology Unit, Sant'Anna Hospital, Como, Italy
Graziano Barera, Laboratory of Pediatric Endocrinology and Department of Pediatrics, Scientific Institute H San Raffaele, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
Roberto Bellò, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Lecco Hospital, Lecco, Italy
Enrico Bertino, Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
Sergio Bernasconi, Department of Maternal and Child Health, University Hospital of Parma, Parma, Italy
Gianfranco Butera, Pediatric Cardiology, GUCH Unit and Cardiac Surgery, San Donato Hospital, Milan, Italy
Raffaele Calabrò, Fetal Cardiology Unit, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Federico II of Naples, and Pediatric Cardiology, Second University of Naples-Monaldi Hospital, Naples, Italy
Luciano Cavallo, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
Emma Cerini, Department of Pediatric Ecocardiography, Carlo Poma Hospital, Mantua, Italy
Massimo Chessa, Department of Pediatric Cardiology and Congenital Cardiopathies in Adults, San Donato Hospital, Milan, Italy
Mariarosa Colnaghi, Mangiagalli e Regina Elena Hospital, Milan, Italy
Giovanni Corsello, Department of Maternal and Child Health, University Hospital P. Giaccone-University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
Carlo Dani, Department of Neurosciences, Drugs and Child Health, University of Florence, Italy
Bruno De Bernardi, Department of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, Giannina Gaslini Children's Hospital, Genoa, Italy
Filippo de Luca, Pediatric Unit, G.Martino Hospital, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
Ciro Esposito, Pediatric Surgery School, University Federico II of Naples, Naples, Italy
Vassilios Fanos, Pathology and Neonatal Intensive Care, Infant Care and Nursery Unit, University Hospital of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
Pietro Ferrara, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Bio-Medical Campus, Rome, Italy
Vlasta Fesslova, Pediatric and Neonatology School, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
Monica Fumagalli, Pediatric Nursery School, Mangiagalli e Regina Elena Hospital, Milan, Italy
Alessandro Giamberti, Congenital Diseases from Infants to Adults School, San Donato Hospital, Milan, Italy
Maria Lorella Giannà, Department of Clinical and Community Sciences, IRCCS Foundation Ca' Granda Hospital, Milan, Italy
Mario Lima, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
Gianluca Lista, Clinical Institutions of Improvement, Milan, Italy
Guy Magalon, Plastic Surgery Service, de la Conception Hospital, Marseille, France
Giovanna Mangili, Department of Neonatal Pathology, Ospedali Riuniti di Bergamo, Bergamo, Italy
Gianantonio Manzoni, Pediatric Urology Unit, IRCCS Foundation Ca' Granda Hospital, Milan, Italy
Maurizio Marasini, Cardiology Unit, , Giannina Gaslini Children's Hospital, Genoa, Italy
Carlo Mazza, Neurosurgeon private practitioner, Verona, Italy
Emilio Merlini, Pediatric Urology Unit, Regina Margherita Hospital, Turin, Italy
Lorenzo Mirabile, Anesthesia and Intensive Care Unit, Meyer Pediatric Hospital, Florence, Italy
Halkawt Nuri, Duhok Hospital, Duhok, Iraq
Luigi Orfeo, Neonatology and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Gaetano Rummo Hospital, Benevento, Italy
Ezio Maria Padovani, Pathology and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, University Hospital of Verona, Verona, Italy
Fernando Maria Picchio, Pediatric Cardiology Unit, University of Bologna-Sant'Orsola Malpighi Hospital, Bologna, Italy
Giuseppe Pomà, Cardiovascular Center E. Malan, San Donato Hospital, Milan, Italy
Lorenza Pugni, Department of Clinical and Community Sciences, IRCCS Foundation Ca' Granda Hospital, Milan, Italy
Luca Antonio Ramenghi, Neonatal Pathology Unit, Giannina Gaslini Children's Hospital, Genoa, Italy
Giovanna Riccipetitoni, Pediatric, Surgical Pediatric and General Surgery School, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
Enrica Riva, Department of Pediatrics, San Paolo Hospital-University of Milan, Milan, Italy
Paola Roggero, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
Mauro Stronati, Neonatology Unit, Department of Maternal and Child Health, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
Alberto Giovanni Ugazio, Italian Society of Pediatrics, Rome, Italy
Luca Vaienti, Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
Alessandro Ventura, Clinical Pediatric Unit, Maternal-Child Burlo Garofolo Hospital of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
Lucio Zannini, Cardiovascular Surgery Unit, Giannina Gaslini Children's Hospital, Genoa, Italy
Giovanni Franco Zanon, Department of Maternal and Child Health, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
Gian Vincenzo Zuccotti, Clinical Pediatric Unit, Children's Hospital V. Buzzi, Milan, Italy