Michel Gagner, M.D., is a world renowned surgeon in the field of Minimally Invasive Surgery and the Chairman of the Department of Surgery at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach. Gagner has been consistently named as one of the top 100 minimally invasive surgeons in the country by New York Magazine. His innovations in laparoscopic surgical techniques in the early 1990’s are now considered mainstream surgical procedures throughout the world.
In 1992, advanced laparoscopic surgery was considered experimental surgery. Gagner successfully performed the first world laparoscopic adrenal tumor removal for Cushing Syndrome and pheochromocytoma in 1992. In 1992 and 1993 he performed the first world laparoscopic removal of pancreas tumors (distal and proximal). He then went on to perform the first world description of endoscopic neck surgery with parathyroid removals in 1995 and laparoscopic duodenal switch for severe obesity in 1999.
More recently, he was the co-surgeon for the first World transatlantic robotic gallbladder removal between New York City and Strasbourg, France in 2001. Gagner remains excited by the prospects of this evolving technology and hopes it will excite today’s medical students.
“Over the last decade the number of medical students pursuing surgery has declined. I believe it is one of the most rewarding and exciting fields of practice as you often see the immediate results of your intervention, where other specialties may not offer that.” Gagner believes that medical students have shied away from choosing surgery because of the lifestyle of night and weekend work associated with it. Gagner wants today students to know that most surgeons work in groups now. This allows for work schedule rotation and the ability to maintain a life-work balance.
Over the course of his 30 year career, Gagner has remained a committed academic. He has held the position of professor at a number of universities including the Weill Medical College of Cornell University and has co-authored four books on Minimally Invasive Surgery including, Controversies in Laparoscopic Surgery.
He is currently writing his fifth book with Dr. Eldo Frezza. They will present the 100-plus chapter book, International Principles of Laparoscopic Surgery, this fall in San Francisco at the American College of Surgeons conference.
Gagner hails from Montreal, Quebec, Canada. He obtained his Diploma in Health Sciences at the Seminaire de Sherbrooke in 1978 and his medical degree from the Faculté de Medecine de l’Universite de Sherbrooke in 1982. He did his surgical training at McGill University in Montreal from 1982-1988. He has also completed fellowships in hepatic surgery at Hospital Villejuif in Paris and hepto-pancreatico-biliary surgery at Lahey Clinic Medical Center in Burlington Massachusetts from 1989-1990.
During his residency, he also pursued his Ph.D., submitting a thesis on “Human Lipolysis in Sepsis” at the Royal Victoria Hospital, McGill University. He was motivated to pursue his Ph.D. because of his interest in understanding how fat cells behave during critical infections. His study led to the development of gastric bypass surgery techniques. His new procedure, development of the sleeve gastrectomy, differs from the “tummy pacemaker,” that regulates the sensation of hunger by electrodes.
Gagner began his current post as Chairman of the Department of Surgery at Mount Sinai Medical Center on February 4, 2008. Mount Sinai is one of only six statutory teaching hospitals in Florida with 21 residency and fellowship programs representing all major areas of medicine. In 2007, Mount Sinai was designated as one Americas Top Hospitals in Geriatrics by U.S. News & World Report.
Gagner has published over 150 journal articles and has been a visiting professor and surgical demonstrator in over 40 institutions in 25 countries. He has held prominent positions in more than 35 surgical societies, including honorary membership in the prestigious France Surgical Association, a society that has more than 100 year history. He has also been on the editorial boards of ten surgical journals.
While Gagner derives great satisfaction knowing his surgical innovations have had, and continue to have, a positive impact on millions of patients worldwide, this humble man remains proudest of his achievements as a father of three sons. “My greatest challenge has been to maintain balance between my personal life and my professional life. It often feels like I’m walking on a thread.” Gagner has much to be proud of as all of his children are multi-lingual and excel academically. His eldest son will follow in his steps this fall to pursue a future medical degree at his alma mater, McGill University. His middle child is awaiting acceptance to McGill University’s School of Business.
