Presenting this year's keynote speakers!

For the second year in a row, Prof. Sica joins our conference—not only as a respected member of the presentation evaluation panel, but also as a keynote speaker ready to inspire young surgeons with a highly relevant talk:
“The Role of Research in a Surgical Career.”

Prof. Sica is a Professor of Surgery at the University of Rome Tor Vergata and Head of Gastrointestinal & Minimally Invasive Surgery at Policlinico Tor Vergata. Holding a Ph.D. in Microsurgery, he has completed training and research fellowships at Harvard, NYU, and Oxford.

His work centers on precision medicine and oncology, and he is an active representative of the European Society of Colorectal Surgeons. With more than 20 years of experience, he is a recognized leader in laparoscopic and robotic minimally invasive visceral surgery.

We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Ona Lapteva to the Vilnius Surgical Symposium for Young Surgeons — a neurosurgeon whose expertise, innovation, and compassion continue to shape the future of spine surgery in Lithuania and beyond.

Dr. Lapteva specializes in complex spine pathology, spinal deformities, and spinal cord oncology. Her work combines state-of-the-art surgical techniques — including next-generation anchoring implant systems — with evidence-based conservative care and multidisciplinary rehabilitation. This approach allows her to deliver safe, precise, and truly individualized treatment for every patient.

She is not only an exceptional surgeon, but also a mentor and role model for young doctors — a reminder that medicine requires both skill and humanity.

We are proud to welcome Dr. Mindaugas Kvietkauskas, MD, PhD as a Keynote Speaker at the Vilnius Surgical Symposium for Young Surgeons.

Dr. Kvietkauskas is an abdominal, hepatopancreatobiliary and transplant surgeon at Vilnius University Hospital Santaros Clinics, known for combining complex clinical surgery with forward-thinking experimental research. He has trained as a Clinical and Research Fellow in Austria, Germany, and the UK, working under renowned experts in liver and pancreatic surgery.
His expertise spans advanced liver and pancreatic surgery, organ transplantation, and the development of innovative organ preservation and machine perfusion technologies, with active scientific contributions shaping the field.

In his keynote lecture, “From Ice to Life: Developing an Experimental Liver Perfusion Platform for Clinical Translation”, Dr. Kvietkauskas will guide the audience through the journey from experimental models to real clinical application, showing how research-driven innovation can expand transplant possibilities and transform patient outcomes. A truly inspiring session for young surgeons eager to push boundaries, think scientifically, and shape the future of surgery.