San Raffaele Hospital

San Raffaele Hospital (Ospedale San Raffaele) is one of Italy's most prestigious and internationally recognized healthcare institutions, located in Milan. Founded in 1971, the hospital is a clinical, research, and teaching center that combines advanced patient care with groundbreaking biomedical research through the Vita-Salute San Raffaele University. With 1,350 beds and over 5,000 employees, San Raffaele treats approximately 55,000 inpatients and over 1,500,000 outpatients annually, making it one of Italy's largest and busiest hospitals. San Raffaele holds JCI (Joint Commission International) accreditation and is designated as an IRCCS (Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico), Italy's highest recognition for clinical research hospitals. The hospital has been consistently ranked as one of the top hospitals in Italy and among the best in Europe. Cardiac Sciences at San Raffaele are among the most advanced in Europe, with the Department of Cardiac Surgery and the Interventional Cardiology unit performing thousands of procedures annually. Services include coronary artery bypass grafting, minimally invasive cardiac surgery, transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), complex coronary interventions, structural heart procedures, electrophysiology with ablation and device implantation, heart transplantation, and mechanical circulatory support. The department is internationally recognized for its pioneering work in minimally invasive cardiac surgery. Oncology at San Raffaele provides comprehensive cancer care through multiple specialized programs including medical oncology with precision medicine, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy, radiation oncology with advanced linear accelerators, surgical oncology using robotic-assisted techniques, bone marrow transplantation, and extensive clinical trial participation. The hospital's research programs in gene therapy and immunotherapy have led to breakthrough treatments. Neurosciences are a particular strength, with the Department of Neurology and the Department of Neurosurgery providing advanced care for brain tumors, cerebrovascular disease, movement disorders (San Raffaele is a European reference center for Parkinson's disease), multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, and spinal disorders. The Neuroscience Division integrates clinical care with cutting-edge research in neuroimaging, neurogenetics, and neuroimmunology. The Organ Transplant program performs kidney, pancreas, islet cell, and bone marrow transplants. San Raffaele is internationally renowned for its pioneering work in islet cell transplantation for type 1 diabetes. The transplant program maintains excellent outcomes and participates in national and international transplant networks. Orthopedics provides total joint replacement, arthroscopic surgery, sports medicine, spinal surgery, and complex trauma management, with access to robotic-assisted surgical systems. Fertility services offer IVF, ICSI, preimplantation genetic testing, and comprehensive reproductive medicine through the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics. Gastroenterology and Hepatology provide advanced endoscopic procedures, liver disease management, inflammatory bowel disease treatment, and pancreatic disease management. Robotic Surgery using the Da Vinci system is extensively utilized across multiple departments including urology, general surgery, gynecology, thoracic surgery, and ENT. Ophthalmology at San Raffaele is one of Italy's leading eye departments, providing cataract surgery, glaucoma treatment, retinal surgery, corneal transplantation, and refractive surgery. Spine Surgery covers the full spectrum of spinal conditions with microsurgical, minimally invasive, and robotic-assisted techniques. International patients benefit from San Raffaele's International Patient Office, which provides services in English, Arabic, Russian, French, and German. The office assists with treatment planning, visa support, airport transfers from Milan's airports, accommodation arrangements, and post-discharge coordination. Italy's healthcare costs are typically 30-50% lower than Switzerland or the United States, offering excellent value for world-class medical care. San Raffaele is located in Milan, approximately 25 minutes from Milan Linate Airport and 45 minutes from Milan Malpensa International Airport.