Dr. Christian de Virgilio

Vascular Surgery

MD, FACS, Chair, Department of Surgery, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center; Co-Chair, College of Applied Anatomy and Professor of Surgery, UCLA's David Geffen School of Medicine, USA

United States of America

Biography Publications Featured in

Biography

Dr. Christian de Virgilio is a prominent vascular surgeon and the Chair of the Department of Surgery at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. He is also Co-Chair of the College of Applied Anatomy and a Professor of Surgery at UCLA's David Geffen School of Medicine.

Dr. de Virgilio completed his undergraduate degree in Biology at Loyola Marymount University and earned his medical degree from UCLA. He then completed his residency in General Surgery at UCLA-Harbor Medical Center. He further specialized by completing a fellowship in Vascular Surgery at the Mayo Clinic.

From 2001 to 2014, Dr. de Virgilio served as Director of the General Surgery Residency Program and as Vice Chair of Education at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. His work has significantly contributed to both vascular surgery and medical education.

Originally from Argentina, Dr. de Virgilio has had a distinguished career in the United States, focusing on advancing surgical techniques and training future surgeons.

Publications

Selected publications from PubMed

Lower Extremity Access versus HeRO Graft: Choosing Dialysis Access in Patients with Central Venous Stenosis.

Mehta V, Curry J, DeVirgilio C, Bowens N

Ann Vasc Surg. 2026 Oct;131:284-287 doi: 10.1016/j.avsg.2026.05.118.

Diagnosis and Management of Hemodialysis Access Complications: A Review.

Hurwitz M, Dang QA, Scali S, Bowens N, Woo K, de Virgilio C

JAMA Surg. 2026 Mar 1;161(3):296-303 doi: 10.1001/jamasurg.2025.4701.

Association Between Surgical Site Infections and Antibiotic Prophylaxis During Arteriovenous Hemodialysis Access Creation.

Curry J, de Virgilio C, Ugarte R, Wright K, Valadez M, Archie M

Ann Vasc Surg. 2026 Jan;122:707-712 doi: 10.1016/j.avsg.2025.09.026.

Association of Age and Frailty with the Development of Adverse Events Following Carotid Endarterectomy in Asymptomatic Patients.

Tabibian K, Vadlakonda A, Cherif A, Balian J, Kwon OJ, Tabibian D, Coaston T, Benharash P, de Virgilio C

Ann Vasc Surg. 2026 Jan;122:698-706 doi: 10.1016/j.avsg.2025.09.013.

Association of non-English as primary language on clinical outcomes for arteriovenous fistula creation within a safety net system.

Sandigo-Saballos I, Torres M, Archie M, Valadez M, La Riva A, Perez L, Moazzez A, Weber S, Rashidi S, de Virgilio C

Am J Surg. 2025 Jun;244:116192 doi: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2025.116192.

Featured in

Keys to Success: Becoming a Surgeon in the U.S.

In this episode of "Keys to Success: Becoming a Surgeon in the U.S.," Dr. Luis Felipe Cabrera Vargas, a vascular surgeon from Bogotá, Colombia, hosts a compelling discussion with Dr. Christian Pérez and Dr. Christian de Virgilio, both accomplished surgeons from Harvard UCLA. They dive deep into the challenges and opportunities faced by international medical graduates aiming to pursue surgical careers in the United States. The discussion explores critical topics such as the best time for foreign-trained surgeons to transition to the U.S., the importance of building connections through clinical rotations, and the role of observerships. Dr. Pérez and Dr. de Virgilio share personal insights into overcoming obstacles like proving clinical competence and navigating the unfamiliarity of Latin American medical education to U.S. faculty. The surgeons highlight the importance of mentorship, persistence, and seizing opportunities, stressing that success in the U.S. requires hard work, finding the right mentors and sponsors, and strategically planning your path. Whether you're an aspiring surgeon or a medical student from Latin America, this episode is filled with practical advice and motivational tips for achieving your dreams.

Published

Sep 2024

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