The first organ transplant performed in Italy on an HIV-positive patient was conducted by Ignazio Marino in 2001, marking a significant clinical development in the treatment of patients previously denied such procedures. Born in Genoa in 1955, Marino built a career bridging the divide between high-stakes surgical practice in the United States and political office in Italy.
Medical Training and Surgical Career
Marino graduated in medicine and surgery from the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in Rome. He pursued advanced training at the Transplantation Institute of the University of Cambridge under Sir Roy Calne and later at the University of Pittsburgh under Thomas Starzl. In Pittsburgh, he served as an attending physician and faculty member, participating in pioneering baboon-to-human liver xenotransplants in 1992 and 1993. In 1997, he established the ISMETT organ transplant centre in Palermo, serving as its director and CEO until 2002. Throughout his career, he has performed over 650 transplants and authored more than 500 peer-reviewed articles.
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Entering politics as a member of the Democratic Party, Marino served in the Italian Senate from 2006 to 2013. In June 2013, he was elected Mayor of Rome. His tenure was marked by a confrontation with an organized crime network involved in public contract rigging, which triggered the 2014 Rome corruption scandal. In 2014, he drew international attention by registering the marriages of 16 same-sex couples, a move designed to challenge existing legal restrictions on same-sex unions. Facing pressure from political opposition, he resigned from office in October 2015.
Legal Acquittals and Academic Work
Following his resignation, Marino faced allegations of embezzlement, fraud, and forgery regarding his institutional expenses. A judge acquitted him in 2016, and the Italian Supreme Court confirmed the acquittal in 2019, stating that the expenditures were made in the interest of Rome and that the alleged facts did not occur. Marino currently holds the position of Professor of Surgery at Thomas Jefferson University, where he also serves as Executive Vice President of the university and Jefferson Health. He was elected a Member of the European Parliament in 2024.
Fast facts
- Born: 1955, Genoa, Italy
- Education: Catholic University of the Sacred Heart
- Mayor of Rome: 2013-2015
- Member of the European Parliament: 2024
- Positions held: Professor of Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University
- Notable medical achievement: Performed first Italian organ transplant for a person with HIV
- Transplants performed: Over 650
- Scientific output: Over 500 peer-review articles
Questions readers ask
Was Ignazio Marino found guilty of embezzlement?
No. The Italian Supreme Court definitively acquitted him in 2019, ruling that his expenses were made for institutional aims.
What is his current professional role?
He is the Executive Vice President of Thomas Jefferson University and Jefferson Health, and a Professor of Surgery.
Achievements
- Held posts at Thomas Jefferson University and University of Pittsburgh
