Mr Francesco Di ChiaraConsultant thoracic surgeon in Oxford
Professional statement
Mr Francesco Di Chiara MS THOR (Hons), FEBTS, MD is a highly accomplished Consultant Thoracic Surgeon with extensive expertise in advanced minimally invasive surgery. He has been a substantive consultant since 2016, practising at the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, where he specialises in the treatment of thoracic endometriosis, thoracic outlet syndrome, rib fractures, lung cancer, and catamenial pneumothorax, as well as performing complex diaphragmatic procedures.
Renowned for his pioneering contributions, Mr Di Chiara introduced uniportal VATS (Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery) at multiple institutions, including Oxford University Hospitals, where he also lectures on anatomy to medical students. He has performed complex procedures using this innovative, single-incision technique and serves as a proctor for advanced minimally invasive thoracic surgery, sharing his expertise with peers internationally. He also enhanced the ERAS programme for better return to full activity post-operatively.
Mr Di Chiara qualified from the world-renowned Padua Medical School and then undertook extensive surgical training in cardiac, thoracic surgery, lung transplantation, and robotic surgery in both Italy and the United Kingdom. He specialised in thoracic surgery with full honours and distinction. His UK training included prestigious and high-volume centres such as the Royal Brompton Hospital in London, as well as institutions in Birmingham and Plymouth. He further honed his skills as a visiting fellow at leading international centres, including the Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital and West China Hospital in Chengdu.
His clinical interests include chest wall surgery, where he has led innovative approaches. He successfully integrated his unit into a national randomised control trial (RCT) on rib fracture management, funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), and is the principal investigator for Oxford University Thoracic Surgery in this trial.
Collaborating as a researcher with a leading U.S.-based company, he developed innovative techniques and devices for rib fracture repair and mentored surgeons around the world in chest wall trauma management, aiming to revolutionise the field with new minimally invasive techniques.
Among his groundbreaking achievements, he performed the first allograft sternal and clavicular replacement in the UK. Most importantly, he invented and perfected a new minimally invasive technique for thoracic outlet syndrome, which he pioneered. This innovative procedure uses a single very small incision in the chest to treat thoracic outlet syndrome without the need to dissect the nerves of the brachial plexus, thus reducing the risk of nerve injury. Additionally, it eliminates the need for a postoperative chest drain, further demonstrating his commitment to innovation.
Mr Di Chiara is a board member of the European Board of Cardiothoracic Surgery (EBCTS) and an examiner for the European Board of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. His expertise extends to performing complex surgeries, including sleeve lobectomies, chest wall resections, and segmentectomies using his uniportal technique. He works closely with a multidisciplinary team to implement enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols, ensuring optimal outcomes for his patients.
Renowned for his pioneering contributions, Mr Di Chiara introduced uniportal VATS (Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery) at multiple institutions, including Oxford University Hospitals, where he also lectures on anatomy to medical students. He has performed complex procedures using this innovative, single-incision technique and serves as a proctor for advanced minimally invasive thoracic surgery, sharing his expertise with peers internationally. He also enhanced the ERAS programme for better return to full activity post-operatively.
Mr Di Chiara qualified from the world-renowned Padua Medical School and then undertook extensive surgical training in cardiac, thoracic surgery, lung transplantation, and robotic surgery in both Italy and the United Kingdom. He specialised in thoracic surgery with full honours and distinction. His UK training included prestigious and high-volume centres such as the Royal Brompton Hospital in London, as well as institutions in Birmingham and Plymouth. He further honed his skills as a visiting fellow at leading international centres, including the Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital and West China Hospital in Chengdu.
His clinical interests include chest wall surgery, where he has led innovative approaches. He successfully integrated his unit into a national randomised control trial (RCT) on rib fracture management, funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), and is the principal investigator for Oxford University Thoracic Surgery in this trial.
Collaborating as a researcher with a leading U.S.-based company, he developed innovative techniques and devices for rib fracture repair and mentored surgeons around the world in chest wall trauma management, aiming to revolutionise the field with new minimally invasive techniques.
Among his groundbreaking achievements, he performed the first allograft sternal and clavicular replacement in the UK. Most importantly, he invented and perfected a new minimally invasive technique for thoracic outlet syndrome, which he pioneered. This innovative procedure uses a single very small incision in the chest to treat thoracic outlet syndrome without the need to dissect the nerves of the brachial plexus, thus reducing the risk of nerve injury. Additionally, it eliminates the need for a postoperative chest drain, further demonstrating his commitment to innovation.
Mr Di Chiara is a board member of the European Board of Cardiothoracic Surgery (EBCTS) and an examiner for the European Board of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. His expertise extends to performing complex surgeries, including sleeve lobectomies, chest wall resections, and segmentectomies using his uniportal technique. He works closely with a multidisciplinary team to implement enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols, ensuring optimal outcomes for his patients.
Clinics
John Radcliffe Hospital
Oxford, Headley Way, Headington, OX3 9DUMedical insurances accepted
Credentials
Professional experience
- 19 years of experience
- Consultant thoracic surgeon, John Radcliffe Hospital (present)
Subspecialties
- Sarcoma
- Chest wall surgery
Professional memberships
- European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery
Education
- Fellowship, European Board for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery
- Master of Thoracic Surgery, University of Padova (2013)
Teaching posts
- Lecturer of anatomy, Oxford University Medical School
Positions in organisations
- Member of the examination board, European Board for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (2016 – present)
- Director of the Thoracic Surgery Fundamentals Course of the European Society for Cardiothoracic Surgery
Publications and conferences
- Mr Di Chiara's published research can be accessed on ResearchGate.
Languages spoken
- English
- Italian
Registration number: 7317640
Reviews
All reviews are from real patients and have been verified by our Customer Service department to ensure they meet our guidelines. Rules of the service
- Would you recommend this doctor?
- Treatment of the doctor
- Treatment of the staff
- Waiting time
- Condition of facilities
- I was referred in July 2025 and seen in August, but waited over 10 weeks despite being told I’d hear back within 2 weeks, and chased six times to receive a surgery date. The surgery was cancelled 6 days later. I was told my insurance would not cover costs, despite my insurer confirming it would, and was pushed toward self-funding £13,000. Communication was poor throughout with no updates given, and I felt pressured and misled. I ultimately sought treatment elsewhere after significant delays.
- I was treated by Doctor Di Chiara at the John Radcliffe Hospital for a uniportal VATS first rib resection. His surgical skill and expertise in Thoracic Outlet Syndrome are exceptional. The procedure was performed flawlessly, my recovery was smooth with minimal scarring and no complications. His outstanding humanity and compassion truly set him apart. I will always be grateful for his care. Highly recommended.
- I was treated by this surgeon for recurrent pneumothoraces via VATS, I was very pleased with the dedication, knowledge and support given, as well as the skill involved in the radical surgery undertaken to remove confirmed endometriosis from pleura and diaphragm
- I was diagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome and under Mr. Di Chiara's care I had a first rib resection (uniportal VATS) in Feb 2025. I am hugely grateful to him for this minimally-invasive life changing surgery which he pioneered and for his commitment to ensuring my wellbeing.