The Fondazione Paola Giancola Graduation Award goes to Edoardo Sostero, a young doctor trained at Insubria and now specialising in Zurich

Dr Edoardo Sostero, who graduated with honours in Medicine and Surgery from the University of Insubria, has received the «Fondazione Paola Giancola» Graduation Award for the 2023/2024 academic year. The award was presented by Professor Matteo Tozzi, President of the Master’s Degree Programme in Medicine and Surgery, as part of the prizes promoted by the School of Medicine and the degree programme to recognise the best theses and support young doctors in their scientific and professional development.

The «Fondazione Paola Giancola» Award is intended for a graduate in Medicine and Surgery from the University of Insubria who has discussed the best thesis on a topic related to tumours of the pleura, chest or lung. The call for applications is rooted in the work of the Fondazione Paola Giancola, an organisation established in 2001 in memory of Professor Paola Giancola, who died prematurely from pleural mesothelioma. Founded by lawyer Biagio Giancola and his family, the Foundation promotes and supports scientific research in oncology, with particular attention to the study, prevention, early diagnosis and treatment of pleural and lung cancers, including through the funding of research projects, the organisation of seminars and conferences, and the awarding of graduation prizes.

Dr Sostero received the award for his thesis, «Coronary Atherosclerosis as an Incidental Finding within the Lung Cancer Screening», a work considered particularly valuable for the originality of its approach, methodological accuracy and clinical relevance. The research is set within the context of the prevention and early diagnosis of the main diseases associated with cigarette smoking and analyses, through retrospective data from a low-dose CT lung cancer screening programme, the detection of coronary atherosclerosis as an incidental finding potentially useful for identifying subjects at high cardiovascular risk.

The motivation for the award highlights the study’s ability to use information collected within oncological screening to broaden prevention opportunities also in the cardiovascular field, promoting an integrated vision of patient health.

After graduating with honours from Insubria, Edoardo Sostero began his residency in Thoracic Surgery at the UniversitätsSpital Zürich, in Switzerland, where he carries out clinical and research activities in the field of thoracic and oncological diseases under the supervision of Professor Isabel Opitz, former President of the European Society of Thoracic Surgeons.

His career also stands out for his commitment to international healthcare cooperation. Sostero took part in a mission at Hargeisa Group Hospital, in the Republic of Somaliland, in collaboration with the AN-NYA Foundation. The experience was dedicated not only to surgical activity but also to the training of local staff, with lessons on suturing techniques at the University of Hargeisa and support for ultrasound courses for the Department of Surgery.

During the mission, the young doctor also contributed to a significant clinical and technological milestone: the performance of the first video-assisted thoracoscopy ever carried out in Somaliland. This achievement shows how innovation, collaboration and adaptability can foster medical progress even in settings with limited resources.

«With this award – Professor Matteo Tozzi underlines – the degree programme aims to recognise not only the scientific quality of a thesis, but also the profile of a young doctor who has been able to combine research, clinical activity, international training and a commitment to cooperation. Dr Sostero’s path is a meaningful example for students and future healthcare professionals».

The Fondazione Paola Giancola call is part of the study and graduation awards of the Medicine and Surgery degree programme at the University of Insubria, designed to promote merit, scientific research and the training of new generations of doctors. The dedicated page also includes the «Maria Cattoni» Graduation Award, established to encourage new graduates to contribute to scientific research in oncological surgery, and the «APS Erika Gibellini» Graduation Award, intended for the best master’s thesis on topics related to oncology, particularly paediatric or haematological oncology.