Biography

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Professor Santiago Horgan is Professor of Surgery at the University of California San Diego, where he serves as Chief of the Division of Minimally Invasive Surgery and Director of the Bariatric and Metabolic Institute (BMI). Additionally, he holds the roles of Vice Chair of Business Development, Director of the Center for the Future of Surgery (CFS), and is a Co-Founder and Board Member of the American Foregut Society. Professor Horgan's leadership at the BMI has led to pioneering advancements in surgical procedures, including numerous successful FDA trials.

Internationally renowned for his expertise in minimally invasive and robot-assisted surgery, Professor Horgan is a trailblazer in the treatment of morbid obesity and specializes in the surgery and physiology of the esophagus. His innovative techniques have significantly advanced the field of surgery with a focus on conditions such as gastroesophageal reflux, achalasia, esophageal cancer, and Barrett’s esophagus.

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As a pioneer in minimally invasivesurgery, Professor Horgan is among the first surgeons to utilize the da Vinci robot system for complex procedures, demonstrating unparalleled precision through small incisions. He has performed ground-breaking upper GI surgeries worldwide and is a leading figure in Natural Orifice Translumenal Surgery (NOTES), a cutting-edge approach that minimizes scarring and accelerates recovery time for patients.

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Under Professor Horgan's direction, UC San Diego has achieved several milestones, including the first Peroral Endoscopic Myotomy (POEM) procedure in the United States and the inaugural transgastric appendectomy. Notably, he established the world's first Center for Fluorescent Guided Surgery at UCSD and is at the forefront of utilizing indocyanine green (ICG) for gallbladder surgery.

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Being the Director of the Center for the Future of Surgery at UC San Diego, Professor Horgan collaborates with colleagues to advance scarless surgical techniques through research, development, and education. In 2019, he launched the Center for Microsurgery and the Hybrid Operating Room, solidifying UCSD as a global leader in surgical training and research.

Prior to his tenure at UC San Diego, Professor Horgan held leadership positions at the University of Illinois at Chicago, where he directed the Minimally Invasive and Robotic Surgery Department and co-directed the Swallowing Center. Recognized as one of America's Top Doctors by Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. in 2005, Professor Horgan continues to drive innovation and excellence in the field of surgery.