National Doctor's Day
National Doctors’ Day is March 30, and we’re excited to spotlight Tommaso Hinna Danesi, MD, one of our renowned cardiac surgeons. Danesi conducted the first fully endoscopic valve replacement surgery in New England. As one of the few cardiac surgeons experienced in the procedure, he was uniquely qualified to take on this historic endeavor. And, soon after his arrival at the Brigham in 2023, he met Rose Landry.
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When Rose came to see Danesi, she had just found out she needed an aortic valve replacement. Her mother-in-law had gone through the same procedure and endured a difficult recovery. Needless to say, Rose wasn’t looking forward to it. But at her first appointment with Danesi, Rose could tell from his knowledge and compassion that he would change everything for her.
Danesi told Rose about the option of having a fully endoscopic valve replacement. Where a typical valve replacement requires the breastbone to be cut open completely or partially, Danesi’s team would instead insert surgical instruments and cameras through a tiny incision to replace the valve.
It would take a big team to pull off this complex feat—but if it was a success, it would make Rose’s recovery remarkably easier and go down as a milestone in New England medical history.
In January 2024, Rose became the first person in the region to undergo a fully endoscopic valve replacement. And, just three weeks later, she was able to take short walks and perform household tasks—significantly shorter than the roughly three month recovery window faced by patients who undergo the traditional procedure.
I can hardly believe and cannot adequately express how well my recovery has progressed and how good I feel.
After just four weeks, Danesi was impressed by how quickly Rose recovered. And, in the months that followed, they stayed in close contact as Danesi reached out frequently over phone and email to check on her.
Today, Danesi is proud of more than just making history. He’s proud that he played a large part in giving Rose her lifeback.
At the Brigham and across our Mass General Brigham system, doctors like Danesi strive to offer more than just exceptional care. They also offer understanding and compassion at every step along the way to treat the whole person—not just the illness. But they don’t do this work alone. Our entire team’s care, research, and training efforts are all powered by the generosity of this community.