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Top of Page About Charity Dinner 25 anni Contact Us Untitled Passion & Compassion "What we do is just a drop in the ocean, but if we didn't do it the ocean would have one drop less" Mother Teresa of Calcutta ABOUT US Our Mission G.I.C.A.M. (Groupe International Chirurgiens Amis de la Main) is a Swiss Foundation, based in Lugano, which was founded and has been operating in the surgical field since 1998, particularly in Asia, Africa and South America. The mission of G.I.C.A.M. is the organization of humanitarian programs in the field of Hand Surgery, Orthopedics and Reconstructive Microsurgery. The professionals who participate in the missions are orthopedic or plastic surgeons, anesthetists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and nurses who come from all over the world. Our commitment is to carry out surgical operations and guarantee continuous care at the service of the smallest and poorest, often victims of social ghettoisation, civil wars and famines. For this reason, most interventions are carried out giving priority to women and children. Our work, with an immediate and tangible result, gives the greatest possible number of children affected by burns or congenital malformations for which they are not responsible the opportunity to have a chance in life and provides as many adults with the possibility of returning to the normality of their lives. life after accidents or traumatic events. About ABOUT FUNDRAISING How to support us It is possible to make spontaneous donations as benefactors of our Foundation and some personalized partnerships are available. Furthermore, every year we organize a Charity Dinner whose participation fee goes entirely to GICAM in support of the missions of our team of specialists. ​ Our next Charity Dinner will be held on November 24th in Lugano, please see the information below. Charity Dinner CHARITY DINNER NOVEMBER 2024 7.30-11.00 pm GRAND HOTEL VILLA CASTAGNOLA, LUGANO a passion which has guided us for 26 years Our success begins with your participation. Press release LAST CHARITY DINNER $100 contribution allows our Surgeons to operate on 1 child in the world. Charity Dinner: CHF 150.00 / € 160.00 ("Gala2024") To support us for the Charity Dinner and through a donation in every moment, you can make a wire transfer to: GICAM (Gruppo Internazionale Chirurghi Amici della Mano), Via Lavizzari 4, 6900 Lugano; UBS Bank. IBAN for wire transfers in EUR: CH63 0024 7247 1668 1760 T IBAN for wire transfers in CHF: CH36 0024 7247 1668 1701 D BIC/SWIFT: UBSWCHZH80A Info and assistance: management@gicamfoundation.org Friends of GICAM Sponsors 26 years of GICAM For a quarter of a century, we've kept a suitcase packed and ready to embark on journeys of hope for the most vulnerable women and children. Our mission goes beyond mere surgery; it's about rebuilding futures, restoring livelihoods, and breathing new life into those who've felt all hope slip away. Driven by 26 years of unwavering passion and boundless compassion, we've dedicated ourselves to uplifting the lives of those in challenging circumstances. Through the darkest of times, we've been a beacon of light, offering solace and a promise of a better future. As we celebrate the 26th anniversary of GICAM, we reflect on our journey marked by relentless dedication and unwavering commitment. Eighty missions embarked upon, seventy-five thousand heartfelt visits made to both children and adults, and ten thousand transformative surgeries performed. Each number is a testament to our enduring resolve and the profound impact we've had on countless lives. 25 anni GICAM in numbers 86 missions 75'650 visits to children 10'510 surgeries SUBSCRIBE Sign up here to receive updates on our upcoming events, initiatives, and other communications. Subscribe now By providing us with your email, you consent to our privacy policy regarding data processing. Subscribe Contact Us

<< Return to TEAM page Guido Bagatta Membro Guido Bagatta is an Italian journalist, television and radio host, known for his versatility in the media. Starting in the 1980s, he embarked on a career as a commentator, commentating on over 1000 events, including the first NFL American football game on Channel 5 and several NBA and Superbowl basketball finals. Since February 2022, he has inaugurated "Guido dalle 7", the first Italian "radiocast", available in streaming on all platforms. Furthermore, since 2018 he has been the face of Italian basketball for the Warner Bros. Discovery group. In September 2022, he returned to Radio Deejay, hosting several weekend time slots, including 7-8pm with GiBi Show. Since 2023, he has been part of the Advisory Committee of the GICAM Foundation

<< Return to the TEAM page Member of the Council President Gian Marco Lepri, a professional with extensive experience in the financial sector, has gone through several significant stages in his career. Born on 30 April 1953 and graduated in Commerce in Bellinzona, Lepri began his career as a manager at UBS Ticino, contributing to the local financial scene until 2009. Subsequently, he broadened his professional horizon by taking on senior roles at the Private Bank Maerki & Baumann in Zurich, where as General Director until 2016. His experience in these prestigious financial institutions has certainly enriched his skillset and made him a valuable financial advisor. In addition to his commitment to the banking sector, Lepri actively contributed to the management and direction of GICAM where he held the role of General Director until March 2023. His leadership has certainly influenced the path of this organization. Currently, Lepri holds the role of President on the GICAM Advisory Board, demonstrating his constant presence and influence in the financial sector even after leaving his previous position.

GICAM News & Newsletter Newsletter July 2024 (click here) News

<< Return to the TEAM page Alejandro Badia Area manager Latin America Alejandro Badia, MD, FACS, FRCSI is a hand and upper extremity surgeon, author and healthcare entrepreneur in Doral (Miami), Florida. Badia studied physiology at Cornell University and obtained his medical degree at NYU, where he also trained in orthopedics. A hand fellowship at Alleghany General Hospital in Pittsburgh was followed by an AO trauma fellowship in Freiburg, Germany. He runs an international hand fellowship, served on the review board of a hand surgery techniques journal, and previously organized a yearly Miami meeting for surgeons /therapists devoted to upper limb arthroscopy and arthroplasty. This international meeting was held at the renowned Miami Anatomical Research Center ( M.A.R.C. ) which Badia co-founded in 2005. In 2008 he created the Badia Hand to Shoulder Center, having previously co-founded the Miami Hand Center, and Surgery Center at Doral. In 2010 he launched OrthoNOW®, the first immediate orthopedic care center in south Florida, later franchising the concept which can now be licensed to orthopedic colleagues and healthcare systems and currently seeking the optimal strategic healthcare partner. He is past president of the International Society for Sport Traumatology of the Hand (ISSPORTH) is a member of several orthopedic societies (AAOS, ASSH, AAHS, EWAS), honorary member of more than 10 international hand surgery and arthroscopy associations, and served as honored professor at the prestigious Philadelphia Hand Course in 2012. Having lectured in all seven continents he is currently focused on improving healthcare delivery in the orthopedics and sports medicine realm. Dr Badia has outlined his journey and delved into the major challenges and hurdles of delivering healthcare in the U.S. through his Amazon best-selling book, “Healthcare from the Trenches” published during the Covid19 pandemic. Dr. Badia joined the GICAM team ten years ago and has been responsible for the Latin America missions, bringing value through his medical expertise.

Marco Lanzetta President << Return to the TEAM page Marco Lanzetta Bertani is an internationally renowned hand surgeon and microsurgeon based in Lugano, Switzerland. Since 1998, he has served as the Founder and President of the GICAM Foundation. In this capacity, he has led more than 50 surgical camps across 12 countries. His involvement with the African continent began in 1981 and 1983 when he dedicated time to building wells in Burundi. In 1988, as a young doctor, he engaged in humanitarian work in Benin and Togo before relocating to Australia with his wife and two-month-old son. He received training in hand surgery and reconstructive microsurgery in Australia, France, and Canada. From 1996 to 2006, he held the position of Director at the Microsearch Foundation in Sydney, Australia. Presently, he serves as the International Scientific Coordinator of the Italian Institute of Hand Surgery and the National Center for Arthritis. Additionally, he is an Adjunct Professor of Hand Surgery and Microsurgery at the University of Canberra, Australia, and Professor of Hand Surgery at Ludes University, Lugano, Switzerland. In 1998, he performed the world's first hand transplantation, followed by the first bilateral hand transplantation in 2000. That same year, he conducted the first hand transplants in Italy. He has been honored with numerous international awards, including the Knightwood of the Republic of Italy in 2002 and the "Numero Uno" award by the Italian Embassy in Switzerland in 2022. Marco Lanzetta Bertani is also a prolific author, having penned over 200 books, chapters, and scientific articles. He has been invited as a Visiting Guest Professor of Hand Surgery in countries such as Argentina, Australia, Canada, Romania, Greece, Turkey, Thailand, Japan, Venezuela, and Finland. In addition to his professional endeavors, he is an advocate for veganism and a dedicated triathlete, having qualified twice for the X-Terra World Championships in Hawaii in 2015 and 2017. He is fluent in English, Italian, French, and Spanish.

<< Return to the TEAM page Flavio Mazzoni Member of the Council Flavio Mazzoni has worked in various professional sectors (since 1980), starting as an internal auditor and then with managerial roles in medium and large international groups. Since 1990 he has been active in the Swiss fiduciary sector, gaining recognized experience in corporate and tax consultancy. He has spent the last 22 years of activity at one of the most important fiduciary companies in the market, distinguishing himself as a manager of outstanding quality and as a member of the Board of Administration of various companies and Foundations. Since 2016 he has been a member of the GICAM Board of Directors. In 1973 Flavio obtained a diploma as an accountant and commercial expert. He also holds an analyst and programmer diploma from EDP Zurich. Throughout his professional activity, he is always careful to keep himself updated. He has attended multiple administration, accounting and compliance courses, in addition to the SUPSI Tax Law course. An Italian native speaker, he speaks and writes fluently in English, French, Spanish and has good knowledge of Portuguese

Antonio Mandrà Member << Return to the TEAM page Long-standing family office professional; CEO and General Manager of VECO Group (www.vecogroup.ch ), expert in tax, corporate and family matters, in Switzerland and internationally, in particular with a view to succession planning and generational transition.

<< Return to the TEAM page Giovanni Scattola Consigliere Giovanni Scattola joined the board of directors of the GICAM Foundation in June 2023. Graduated in Electronic Engineering from the Polytechnic of Milan in October 1988, he immediately joined the Pirelli group at the Pirelli Coordinamento Pneumatici company in November of the same year as responsible for the tire sector of the Quality System. In this role he managed the definition of company rules and procedures valid for all units of the tire group in compliance with the Total Quality System adopted at the time, the definition of quality standards on the finished product and their auditing. After three years of activity at corporate level, in January 1991, he was transferred to Pirelli Armstrong Tire Corporation at the American operating unit in Hanford (USA). In the Hanford plant he first held the role of process quality manager and subsequently more demanding roles, moving to the responsibility of managing the final controls department and then being promoted to manager of the Semi-finished Products Division. In January 1995 GS returned to Italy called to take care of the family company (Unitable s.p.a.) which operates in the table furniture sector. In the 6 years spent in the Pirelli GS group he developed significant international experience which he carried over into the activity of the family company, pushing it to open up to export markets that had essentially never been addressed until then. In 2020 Unitable s.p.a. becomes the object of the attention of the Thun group and GS, with the collaboration of its family members, is responsible for managing the sale to Thun s.p.a. of Unitable s.p.a. which will materialize in January 2021. Since then Giovanni Scattola has held the role of Executive Advisor for the top management of Thun s.p.a. with the aim of facilitating hand over operations and supporting the definition of internationalization strategies.

Francesca Catto Member of the Council << Return to the TEAM page Francesca joined GICAM as sales manager and member of the board of directors in 2015. She deals with the management of GICAM's suppliers and orders, ensuring that each mission is equipped with the necessary material. With a degree in economics and solid experience as a DACH Operations Manager in the orthopedic sector, he has managed warehouses in several countries and coordinated the distribution of instruments and prostheses in hospitals in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Currently, he holds the position of Sr Manager for Italy, Spain, France, Switzerland, UK at a Swiss-based medical oncology company specializing in home therapy for terminally ill patients, where he manages a team of nurses and technicians in each country.