Dr. Jorge Esteban Foianini, MD, FACS, is a renowned surgeon with a distinguished career in both clinical practice and military service. He is currently based in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, where he serves as the Medical and General Director at Clinica Foianini, one of the country’s most prestigious healthcare institutions.
Dr. Foianini earned his Bachelor of Arts in History from Georgetown University in 1987 and continued his education with a Master of Science in Physiology. His medical training began at George Washington University and Georgetown University, where he completed his Doctor of Medicine degree in 1992. He completed his surgical internship and residency at the Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu, Hawaii, where he gained extensive experience in categorical surgery.
Dr. Foianini’s surgical career has spanned several countries, including the United States, Germany, and Bolivia. After completing his residency, he served as an attending surgeon in the U.S. Army, working in Germany at the US Army Hospital Heidelberg and with the 160th Forward Surgical Team in Landstuhl. During this time, he also held leadership positions, such as Chief of Endoscopic Surgery and Chief of Surgery at McDonald Army Community Hospital in Virginia. He later became an attending surgeon at the Portsmouth Naval Medical Center.
Dr. Foianini’s military service includes deployments to conflict zones, notably with the 160th Forward Surgical Team in Macedonia and Kosova during the late 1990s. His exemplary service earned him numerous military honors, including the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, and the NATO Medal.
Since 2002, Dr. Foianini has dedicated his career to improving healthcare in Bolivia. As the Medical and General Director of Clinica Foianini, he has been at the forefront of medical leadership, overseeing the hospital’s operations and ensuring the delivery of high-quality care. His expertise spans trauma surgery, general surgery, and endoscopic surgery.
Dr. Foianini is an influential figure in the global medical community. He has held key leadership positions, including serving as President of the Panamerican Trauma Society from 2022-2023, as well as Governor of the Bolivia Chapter of the American College of Surgeons from 2013-2019. He has also been actively involved in the International Workgroup of the American College of Surgeons and represented the Panamerican Trauma Society in the Global Alliance for the Care of the Injured under the World Health Organization.
In addition to his clinical and leadership roles, Dr. Foianini has significantly contributed to the academic and scientific community. He has authored numerous peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, with a focus on trauma surgery, antimicrobial resistance, and surgical education. His work has been published in prestigious journals such as the World Journal of Emergency Surgery, British Journal of Surgery, and the Journal of the American College of Surgeons. Dr. Foianini has also been a key translator and contributor to several editions of the “Advanced Trauma Life Support” textbooks, further extending his influence on trauma care and education globally.
Throughout his career, Dr. Foianini has remained dedicated to advancing trauma care in Latin America, working to develop quality improvement programs and trauma systems across the region. His efforts have been recognized internationally, and he continues to advocate for improved global surgical care, particularly in underserved regions.