Dr. Ilja Gardi MD
Cardiologist
High Tech Network Expert
Healthcare Manager MBA

EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND INTELLECTUAL DEVELOPMENT (Academic)

• 1977-1978: Degree in Medicine and Surgery from the University of Bologna, after a 3-year internship at the Medical Clinic 1 of the University Hospital S. Orsola-Bologna.
• 1978/79: Diploma of professional qualification in Medicine and Surgery at the University of Bologna and admission to the Professional Order of Doctors and Surgeons.
• 1981/82: Post-graduate specialization diploma in “Pharmacology and Clinical Toxicology” at the University of Chieti.
• 1984/85: Specialization diploma in “Cardiovascular Diseases” at the University of Modena.
• 1986/87: Assistant in the Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery Division at the United Hospitals of Bergamo with particular reference to congenital heart diseases and pediatric cardiac surgery.
• 1993/94: Master’s in “Advanced Life Support” for instructor in Basic Life Support, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and intensive care at the Technion University of Haifa-Israel.
• Continuous training and professional development until 2020 in clinical governance and complex systems.
• 1997: Co-author of the Hub&Spoke strategic planning and reorganization project for healthcare services in the Emilia Romagna Region, later adopted as a model for the Regional Health Plan.
• 1998-99: Participated as a consultant in the drafting and preparation of the Ter law reform, law 229/1999, and PSN.
• 2003: Sole author of the International Strategic Plan of the IME Foundation (Italian Government Institute for Mediterranean Hematology) for the transfer of skills and the setup of technologies in high-specialty hospitals. Plan approved and funded by the Italian Government.
• 2015: Co-author of the book “Sanità Orizzontale” (Horizontal Healthcare); provision of services and ensuring health by overcoming organizational and structural barriers, Franco Angeli Publisher.
• 2016-2018: Co-author and update with others of the PSA Cardiovascular Diseases of GVM Care&Research Holding SpA.
• 2020: Filed the copyright for the “innovative predictive methodology of cardiovascular risk.”
• 2020-2021: Editorial contributor to “New World after the Covid War” Academia.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCES (MD Professional Practice)

• 1979: Practical hospital training in General Medicine at the General Hospital Maggiore-Bologna. Appointment as medical officer responsible for the Emergency Medical Service.
• 1981: Hired as a medical assistant at the Emergency and Urgent Care Unit, Hospital of Rimini USL n.40.
• 1982/1985: Hired as a medical assistant at the General Medicine Department, including the Cardiology service (USL n.23 Imola).
• 1986/1994: Hired as Deputy Co-Head of Cardiology Service (Hospital USL Imola). Responsible for the “Imaging for Cardiology Diagnosis” module and integrated service organization.
• 1994/1997: Responsible for “Hemodynamics and Coronary Angiography” activities at two private healthcare facilities (Villa Torri-VTH and Villa Maria Cecilia-MCH of the GVM group). Performed over 5000 invasive cardiac catheterization procedures.
• 1994/1996: Appointment at the Hemodynamics Service, San Donato Milanese Hospital (University of Milan), involved in cardiovascular surgery activities, interventional cardiovascular activities (PTCA, PTA, PTRA), and complex cardiovascular diagnostics (CT, MRI, Complex Echocardiography). Performed over 1500 complex interventional procedures and presided over more than 2000 advanced CT and MRI cardiovascular diagnostics (level III).
• 1996: Chief Cardiologist at the Cardiology Department, Imola Hospital AUSL 23 E. Romagna.
• 1997: Appointed Director of the Emergency and Urgent Care Department, AUSL Imola-DEA Bologna South.
• 2011: Chief MD Cardiologist and Director of the Cardiovascular Department at GVM – MCH Italy and Co-responsible for international development of the GVM Group.
• Since 2016: Responsible for Cardiovascular Diagnostics at MCH with the application and development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to Precision Predictive Medicine Models in the Cardiovascular field.
• 2018: Author and holder of intellectual property of the pilot project for the development of the “predictive model for CVD events and coronary events in the general population of the Emilia Romagna South (Romagna) area” database.
• 2019: Registered as the author and owner—along with others—of the copyrights for the research project “diagnostic model for predicting CVD events” and the “database and machine learning procedure for the use of the diagnostic model.”
• 2020: Responsible for integrated high-tech cardio-diagnostics in the GVM Care&Research health network.
• 2023: Responsible for the Center of Excellence in Cardiovascular Diagnostics and Technological Development at the Predictive Precision Medicine Hub, Health Clinic Long Life Lucia Magnani – Castrocaro Terme.
• 2024: Scientific Director of Megah.

MANAGERIAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING (Business Administration)

• 1970/1971: Diploma in Accounting and Business Management – ITC “L. Paolini,” Imola (Bologna, Italy). Following the SSN reform law approved in 1993, he embarked on a professional training course in Business Administration of health services:
• 1994: Participated in the “Business Administration of Health Services” Course at Bocconi University, Milan.
• 1995: Successfully completed the “Healthcare Management” Course at the ANMCO Regional Division – Emilia Romagna.
• 1995: Attended the “Reorganization of Clinical Departments” Course at Bocconi University, Milan.
• 1995/1996: Master’s in “Business Administration of Health Services” promoted by the Emilia Romagna Region and Healthcare Administration Department of Montreal University.
• 1996: Internship at the Health Administration Department of Montreal University (Canada).
• 1997: Workshop on “Organization of Hospital Departments,” held by the SDA Bocconi School of Management, Milan.
• 1999: Theoretical-practical Master in “Economics, Ethics, and Healthcare Management” at Ce.DIS – Rome.
• 2009: Course in “Strategic Planning of High-Complexity Health Systems”; successfully attended at Bocconi University, Milan.
• 2012-2022: Participated as a speaker in person and in online courses and discussions on strategic planning of complex systems and organizational models in healthcare.

MANAGERIAL ROLES AND EXPERIENCES

• 1996: Appointed by the Emilia Romagna Region: Coordinator-responsible for drafting the 1996-2000 Regional Health Plan with reference to the Hub&Spoke model for high-specialty hospitals.
• 1998/1999: Appointed by the Marche Regional Government: Special Commissioner of the “San Salvatore Hospital” (Pesaro).
• 1999/2003: General Director of the “San Salvatore Hospital” (Pesaro). Managed a current budget of 180 million euros, with a balanced budget in the 2002 fiscal year. Activated investments of 110 million euros, of which 70 million were contracted with CIPE certification.
• 2003-2021: Scientific coordinator and Project manager of the academic spin-out between R&S Salute of the University of Bologna and Confindustria Emilia Romagna for projects related to the fourth framework program of the European Commission for advanced medical research.
• 2003/2010: Appointed by the Italian Government (Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Health), as Commissioner of the IME Foundation for the development and internationalization of technologies and knowledge in the medical-scientific field.
• 2010/2012: Vice President and CEO of the MedChild Foundation, participated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with a mandate for the activation and development of international cooperation in the medical-scientific field and biomedical technology research.
• Since 2011: Senior medical cardiologist at MCH-GVM Care&Research; Responsible for the International Department of GVM Care & Research.
• Since 2020: Sole Administrator of PdV Ricerca e Sviluppo srl, an innovative startup.

INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS MANAGED FROM 2003-2021

• Lebanon (Ministry of Health) for the activation of structures and activities of the Public University of Beirut.
• Syria (Ministry of University and Ministry of Defense) for the activation of highly specialized pediatric centers at the University of Damascus and the Thirseen Military Hospital in Damascus.
• ANP and Israel (trilateral agreement, Italy, Palestine, Israel) for treatment, training, and research activities with Italian university hospitals, University of Haifa, and Ramallah Hospital.
• Egypt (Ministry of University) for the transfer of high specialization at the pediatric hospital of Cairo University.
• UAE (Dubai Emirate, Ministry of Health) for the project and transfer of care and research activities in pediatric hematology at Al Wasl Hospital in Dubai, integrating clinical and research activities of Dubai Health Care City International Development of Harvard University.
• Maldives Republic (Ministry of Health, Ministry of Foreign Affairs) for the genetic study of the Maldivian population and the training of specialized healthcare personnel, in collaboration with the International Department of Sydney University.