Giovanna Riccipetitoni

Prof. Giovanna Riccipetitoni is a specialist in Pediatric Surgery at Casa di Cura La Madonnina.

She earned her degree in Medicine and Surgery from the University of Ferrara in 1978. She obtained the Qualification for Chief of Pediatric Urology in 1981, a specialization in General Surgery from the University of Trieste in 1983, and a specialization in Pediatric Surgery from the University of Bologna in 1988.

Throughout her training, Prof. Riccipetitoni gained international experience with clinical roles and internships at renowned centers, including Hôpital La Timone in Marseille, Hôpital Necker in Paris, Booth Children's Hospital in Manchester, and Pediatric Urology units at Mayo Clinic Rochester, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, and Emory University in Atlanta. She also trained in Thoracic Surgery and Lung Transplantation at Pessac Hospital in Bordeaux.

She holds a European Board Certification in Pediatric Surgery (UEMS).

In 1993, she was appointed Chief of the Pediatric Surgery Division at the Cosenza Hospital and later became Director of the Maternal and Child Department in the same institution. She won competitions for the role of Director of Pediatric Surgery at multiple hospitals, including Ferrara, Naples-Santobono, and Milan. In 2007, she was appointed Director of Pediatric Surgery at Buzzi Children's Hospital, part of the Istituti Clinici di Perfezionamento (ICP) in Milan.

In 2009, she became Director of the Department of Pediatrics, and in 2011, she was named Director of the Department of Surgical Specialties and Pediatric Surgery at ASST Fatebenefratelli-Sacco in Milan. From 2020, she served as Director of the Pediatric Surgery Unit at the Policlinico San Matteo Foundation in Pavia for several years.

Prof. Riccipetitoni has held significant leadership roles in national and international societies, including Vice President of the Italian Society of Pediatric Surgery (1994-1995), President of the Italian Society of Pediatric Urology (2001-2003), Vice President of the Italian Association of Hospital Surgeons (ACOI) (2005-2008), and President of the European Pediatric Surgeons Association (EUPSA) (2017-2019).

She has maintained an active teaching role as a contract professor in Pediatric Surgery and Pediatrics at various universities, including the University of Milan, University of Milan-Bicocca, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, University of Ferrara, and University of Brescia. From 2005 to 2007, she served as Director of the ACOI Special School of Pediatric Surgery. She is currently Director of the II Level Master's Program in Transition Surgery and Congenital Malformations at the University of Pavia, a lecturer in multiple II Level Master's programs, and a mentor for EUPSA’s Mentorship Program.

In 2020, she was appointed Professor of Pediatric Surgery at the University of Pavia, where she has held the title of Emeritus Professor since 2023.

Her scientific contributions include 463 publications, with 130 articles in international impact factor journals and 20 book chapters. She is also an active reviewer for international peer-reviewed journals. Currently, she is involved in a research project at the Policlinico San Matteo Foundation in Pavia on cellular therapies for pediatric solid tumors, titled Dissecting Tumor Microenvironment in Solid Pediatric Cancer to Improve Adoptive T-cell Therapy.

Prof. Riccipetitoni specializes in pediatric (0-18 years) surgical treatment of:

• Common conditions: Hernias, hydrocele, undescended testicles, phimosis, umbilical hernias, abdominal pain, and soft tissue lesions.
• Gastrointestinal Surgery: Appendicitis, gastroesophageal reflux, pyloric stenosis, gallstones, intestinal malrotation, constipation, Hirschsprung's disease, anorectal malformations, congenital anomalies of the digestive tract, liver, bile ducts, and pancreas.
• Urological Surgery: Varicocele, hypospadias, epispadias, penile curvature, genital anomalies, reconstructive genital surgery, ureteropelvic junction obstruction, vesicoureteral reflux, megaureter, urethral valves, congenital kidney and urinary tract anomalies, neurogenic bladder, and urinary incontinence.
• Thoracic Surgery: Pulmonary malformations (CPAM), chest wall malformations, bullous lung disease, and thoracic tumors.
• Vascular Surgery: Lymphangiomas, hemangiomas, vascular malformations, and sclerotherapy treatments.
• Oncological Surgery: Pediatric solid tumors, including neuroblastoma, nephroblastoma, renal tumors, rhabdomyosarcoma, osteosarcoma, hepatoblastoma, teratomas, ovarian and testicular tumors, and sacrococcygeal teratomas.

She also performs transition surgeries (for patients aged 18-25 and beyond) for adolescents and young adults with congenital malformations, as well as prenatal counseling for fetuses diagnosed with congenital anomalies.

Prof. Riccipetitoni is highly skilled in minimally invasive surgical techniques, including laparoscopy, thoracoscopy, robotic surgery, and endourology.