Dr. Valentin Calu is an eminent surgeon with a wealth of education and professional experience in the fields of surgical medicine and oncology. He obtained his Ph.D. in General Surgery from Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Romania in 2009, following a rigorous course of study that laid the foundation for his career.
Dr. Calu possesses an extensive array of competencies in surgical practice, underscored by his diverse certifications and significant clinical experience. His proficiency in laparoscopic surgery dates back to 2002, complemented by subsequent certifications in hepatic and transplant surgery (2010), oncologic surgery (2016), and hepato-bilio-pancreatic surgery (2019) from esteemed institutions such as Fundeni Clinical Institute and Alexandru Trestioreanu Oncological Institute in Bucharest, Romania.
Dr. Calu’s clinical and operative activities in general and thoracic surgery are noteworthy, with an average of over 300 surgical interventions annually. His medical expertise spans a broad spectrum, including laparoscopic colorectal surgery, open colorectal surgery for advanced cases, minimally invasive transanal surgery, and laparoscopic surgery for benign digestive conditions such as gallstones, hiatal hernia, achalasia, and appendicitis. Moreover, he demonstrates proficiency in both laparoscopic and open abdominal wall surgery for hernias and incisional hernias, as well as expertise in oncologic surgery, hepatobiliary pancreatic surgery, and endocrine surgery involving the thyroid, parathyroid, and adrenal glands.
Dr. Calu’s comprehensive skill set and clinical acumen position him as a versatile and accomplished surgeon, capable of addressing a wide range of surgical challenges with precision and expertise. Additionally, he holds a Master’s Degree in Public Health and Health Services Management, demonstrating his commitment to holistic patient care and healthcare system improvement.
With a solid educational background, Dr. Calu has seamlessly transitioned into various roles within academia and clinical practice, contributing significantly to both fields. Since 2002, he has been actively involved in surgical care at Elias Emergency University Hospital, where he has served as a General Surgeon, Senior General Surgeon, and currently as a Consultant Surgeon.
Moreover, since 2013, Dr. Calu has dedicated himself to the education and mentorship of future surgeons, holding positions as a Lecturer, and later Associate Professor, as well as Ph.D. advisor at Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Bucharest, Romania. His involvement in minimally invasive surgery is demonstrated through his participation in the LapCo Romania program for laparoscopic colorectal surgery, where he serves as a National Trainer. He has also organized several courses on laparoscopic surgery for students and residents.
Selected publications from PubMed
Frailty, physiological reserve, and surgical resilience: toward a dynamic stress-recovery model.
Cudnik R, Barone M, Marano L, Gargarella S, Duka R, Molchanov R, Girnyi S, Cwalinski T, Al-Balas M, Vashist Y, Cobianchi L, Malerba S, Prete FP, Testini M, Calu V, Aladashvili A, Mahawar K, Isik A, Boccardi V
Aging Clin Exp Res. 2026 Jul 20 doi: 10.1007/s40520-026-03461-w.
Artificial Intelligence Applications in Gastric Cancer Surgery: Bridging Early Diagnosis and Responsible Precision Medicine.
Malerba S, Vladimirov M, Goyal A, Dulskas A, Baušys A, Cwalinski T, Girnyi S, Skokowski J, Duka R, Molchanov R, Jovanovic B, Ciarleglio FA, Brolese A, Gonfa KB, Demmo AT, Dambrauskas Z, Pérez Bonet A, Testini M, Prete FP, Calu V, Calomino N, Jain V, Karamarkovic A, Polom K, Abou-Mrad A, Oviedo RJ, Vashist Y, Marano L
J Clin Med. 2026 Mar 13;15(6) doi: 10.3390/jcm15062208.
Education and training of surgical residents in upper gastrointestinal surgery: a European survey.
Popa C, Schlanger D, Aiolfi A, Elshafei M, Theodorou D, Skrobic O, Simic A, Gisberz S, Bona D, Bonavina L, Education Training in Foregut Surgery (ETFS) European Collaborative Group, Abate E, Abdelsamad A, Achim F, Alfieri R, Balla A, Borbely Y, Boyle N, Brisinda G, Bruni PG, Butt WT, Calì M, Calini G, Calu V, Cammarata F, Campanelli G, Castoro C, Cavalli M, Chamzin A, Chirica M, Chooklin S, Cillara N, de Cillia M, Cristina S, D'Acapito F, Van Daele E, Dalmonte G, Daunia V, De Bernardi S, Dejeu V, Depypere L, Enciu O, Ferraz F, Figueiredo GMS, Forcignanó E, Freire J, Fumagalli U, Gatti F, Gheorghe M, Ghioldiş AC, Giuffrida M, Gockel I, Griffiths EA, Grimminger P, Gronnier C, Gutschow C, Hasnaoui A, Heidsiek T, van Berge Henegouwen MI, Hilário S, Hoara P, Ioannidis A, Ioannidis O, Kapiris S, Kelty C, Kollmann D, Korkolis D, Kristo I, Kykalos S, Lázaro A, Lehmann T, Levy J, Lipham J, Lombardo F, Manara M, Marano L, Markar S, Mega M, Monig S, Morandi E, Mulita F, Muller BP, Novia M, Oddi FM, Paireder M, Peltrini R, Pinotti E, Podda M, Popescu R, Predescu D, Reitano E, Riegler M, Rosati R, Schizas D, Schlottmann F, Schoppmann S, Shabat G, Sipitco N, Sotiropoulou M, Tebala GD, Tirelli F, Toma EA, Triantafyllou T, Uzunoglu Y, Vanommeslaeghe H, Veselinović M, Yang W, Zehetner J
Updates Surg. 2026 Feb;78(1):55-62 doi: 10.1007/s13304-025-02362-3.
Evaluating the Role of Robotic Surgery Gastric Cancer Treatment: A Comprehensive Review by the Robotic Global Surgical Society (TROGSS) and European Federation International Society for Digestive Surgery (EFISDS) Joint Working Group.
Marano L, Cwalinski T, Girnyi S, Skokowski J, Goyal A, Malerba S, Prete FP, Mocarski P, Kania MK, Świerblewski M, Strzemski M, Suárez-Carreón LO, Herrera Kok JH, Polom K, Kycler W, Calu V, Talento P, Brillantino A, Ciarleglio FA, Brusciano L, Cillara N, Duka R, Pascotto B, Azagra JS, Calomino N, Testini M, Abou-Mrad A, Oviedo RJ, Vashist Y
Curr Oncol. 2025 Jan 31;32(2) doi: 10.3390/curroncol32020083.
Evaluating Postoperative Morbidity and Outcomes of Robotic-Assisted Esophagectomy in Esophageal Cancer Treatment-A Comprehensive Review on Behalf of TROGSS (The Robotic Global Surgical Society) and EFISDS (European Federation International Society for Digestive Surgery) Joint Working Group.
Vashist Y, Goyal A, Shetty P, Girnyi S, Cwalinski T, Skokowski J, Malerba S, Prete FP, Mocarski P, Kania MK, Świerblewski M, Strzemski M, Suárez-Carreón LO, Kok JHH, Calomino N, Jain V, Polom K, Kycler W, Calu V, Talento P, Brillantino A, Ciarleglio FA, Brusciano L, Cillara N, Duka R, Pascotto B, Azagra JS, Testini M, Abou-Mrad A, Marano L, Oviedo RJ
Curr Oncol. 2025 Jan 28;32(2) doi: 10.3390/curroncol32020072.
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