Fernando Villagrá

Dr. Fernando Villagrá is a cardiovascular surgeon specializing in pediatric cardiac procedures. He has authored over 100 articles in international journals throughout his career. Dr. Villagrá directs the Children's Cardiac Surgery Service at Hospital Universitario HM Montepríncipe.

Specialization and Approach

Dr. Villagrá treats heart conditions in newborns and children. He treats congenital heart diseases like Tetralogy of Fallot and septal defects. The doctor performs open-heart surgeries and valve reconstructions. Additionally, he treats pediatric arrhythmias using specialized surgical methods.

Conditions Treated

• Atrial and ventricular septal defects
• Tetralogy of Fallot
• Atrial fibrillation
• Atelocardia — a congenital heart defect where parts of the heart are missing or underdeveloped
• Aortic valve stenosis

Procedures Performed

• Plastic surgery for cardiac valves
• Open heart surgery
• Atrial and interventricular septal defect surgery
• Heart cryoablation — a procedure using extreme cold to treat irregular heart rhythms
• Coronary angioplasty and angiography

Professional Experience

Dr. Villagrá has held leadership roles at major Spanish medical centers. He has led the Congenital Heart Disease Unit since 1982. The doctor directed surgical services at Hospital Universitario La Paz for eight years.

• 1999–Present — Head of Children's Cardiac Surgery, Montepríncipe University Hospital
• 2007–2015 — Head of Children's Cardiovascular Surgery, Hospital Universitario La Paz
• 2013–2015 — Head of Child Heart Surgery, Canary Islands Health Service
• 1987–2007 — Head of Children's Cardiac Surgery, Hospital La Zarzuela
• 1977–2007 — Infant Cardiac Surgeon, Ramón y Cajal Hospital
• 1972–1977 — Cardiovascular Surgery Resident, Puerta de Hierro University Hospital
• 1973–1974 — Cardiovascular Surgery Resident, University of Connecticut

Education and Advanced Training

Dr. Villagrá earned his medical degree from the Complutense University of Madrid in 1972. His doctoral thesis received the Outstanding Cum Laude distinction from the Autonomous University of Madrid in 1977. He completed his residency at Puerta de Hierro University Hospital. The doctor also trained at the University of Connecticut in the USA.

• 1972 — ECFMG Certification for medical practice in the United States
• 1975 — Coronary surgery training at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation
• 1975 — Balloon pump training at Massachusetts General Hospital
• 1978 — Congenital heart surgery residency at the Mayo Clinic
• 1978 — Congenital heart surgery training at the University of Alabama in Birmingham
• 1978 — Congenital heart surgery training at Children's Hospital Medical Center, Boston
• 1985 — Heart transplantation training at Harefield Hospital, England
• 1989 — Pediatric arrhythmia surgery at Academisch Ziekenhuis Maastricht
• 1991 — Pediatric arrhythmia surgery at Hospital Pitié-Salpêtrière and Hospital Marie-Lannelongue
• 1995 — Myocardial protection training at UCLA School of Medicine
• 1998 — Transposition of the Great Arteries surgery at Hôpital Enfants de la Timone
• 2002 — Congenital heart surgery training at Children's Hospital Medical Center, Boston

Research and Editorial Roles

Dr. Villagrá serves on editorial boards for several medical publications. These include the Spanish Journal of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery. He has presented more than 100 communications at medical congresses. Journals like the European Journal COR EURO-PAEU-M and Spanish Annals of Pediatrics feature his work.

Memberships

• Spanish Society of Cardiology
• Spanish Society of Cardiovascular Surgery
• International Society for Heart Transplantation
• Society of Pediatric Cardiovascular Surgery Aldo Castañeda
• International College of Angiology
• Société Européenne de Cardiologie
• European Society for Cardiovascular Surgery