Abdominal, tumour and robotic surgery
Prof. Dr. med. Michael Linecker
Doctor, surgeon
FMH Surgery German Board-Certified Specialist in General Surgery German Board-Certified Specialist in Visceral Surgery, additional qualification: Advanced Visceral Surgery European Board of Surgery Qualifications: Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery (EBSQ HPB), Transplant Surgery (EBSQ TX), Surgical Oncology (EBSQ Surg Onc)
My path began in Austria and took me through medical school in Innsbruck to surgical specialization at the University Hospital Zurich, with a focus on liver, pancreas, and complex oncological surgery. I subsequently headed the Liver Surgery/Liver Transplantation program at the University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein in Kiel for four years. My scientific interest lies in regenerative liver surgery – from doctoral studies to professorship.
Focus area Complex oncological surgery, Liver and pancreatic surgery, Transplant surgery, Minimally invasive, laparoscopic, and robot-assisted surgery, General surgery
Languages German, English
Career
| 2025 | Attending Surgeon (Belegarzt), Hirslanden Klinik Aarau Klinik Hirslanden and Hirslanden Klinik Im Park, Zurich |
| 2021 - 2025 | Senior Consultant Surgeon, Head of Liver Surgery / Transplantation Department of General, Visceral, Thoracic, Transplantation, and Pediatric Surgery University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein (UKSH), Campus Kiel, Head: Prof. Dr. Becker |
| 2021 - 2025 | Lead Surgeon for Organ Procurement (liver, kidney, pancreas), German Organ Transplantation Foundation (DSO) |
| 2018 - 2020 | HPB and Transplant Fellowship, Department of Visceral and Transplant Surgery, University Hospital Zurich, Head: Prof. Dr. Clavien |
| 2017 - 2018 | Deputy Senior Consultant, Department of Visceral and Transplant Surgery, University Hospital Zurich, Head: Prof. Dr. Clavien |
| 2016 - 2017 | Deputy Senior Consultant, Department of General, Visceral and Vascular Surgery, Cantonal Hospital Baden, Head: Prof. Dr. Nocito |
| 2016 | Resident, Surgical Intensive Care Unit, University Hospital Zurich, Head: Dr. Steiger |
| 2012 - 2016 | MD-PhD Program, Faculty of Science, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich Dissertation: “Exploring Novel Strategies for Improved Outcomes of Surgery on Fatty Liver” |
| 2009 - 2012 | Resident, Department of Visceral and Transplant Surgery, University Hospital Zurich, with rotations in Thoracic Surgery and General Surgery (Spital Uster) |
| 2003 - 2009 | Medical studies, Medical University of Innsbruck |
Diplomas
| 2024 | Appointment as Adjunct Professor, Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel |
| 2024 | European Board of Surgery Qualification (EBSQ) in Surgical Oncology, Leipzig |
| 2023 | Additional Qualification in Advanced Visceral Surgery, Bad Segeberg |
| 2022 | EBSQ in Transplant Surgery (Organ Donation, Liver and Kidney Transplantation), Prague |
| 2022 | German Board Certification in Visceral Surgery, Bad Segeberg |
| 2021 | EBSQ in Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery (HPB), Zurich |
| 2021 | German Board Certification in General Surgery, Bad Segeberg |
| 2019 | Habilitation (Venia Legendi) in Surgery, University of Zurich, “Associating Liver Partition and Portal Vein Ligation for Staged Hepatectomy (ALPPS) – A stepwise evaluation of a new surgical procedure” |
| 2018 | PhD (Dr. sc. nat.), University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, “Exploring Novel Strategies for Improved Outcomes of Surgery on Fatty Liver”, Supervision: Prof. Dr. Clavien |
| 2018 | Swiss Board Certification in Surgery FMH |
| 2017 | Swiss Surgical Board Examination, Bern |
| 2009 | Doctor of Medicine (MD) Medical University of Innsbruck, Thesis: “Pancreas Retransplantation: Outcome and risks for graft loss”, Supervision: Dr. Biebl, Prof. W. Mark |
Research
My research focuses on hepato-pancreato-biliary surgery and surgical oncology.
A particular emphasis lies on the advancement of surgical techniques for complex liver conditions – including patients with insufficient future liver remnant volume or fatty liver disease. I investigate innovative strategies to enhance liver regeneration and improve postoperative liver function. The overarching goal is to reduce surgical risks and further optimize outcomes in challenging operative scenarios.
Publication list:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=Linecker+m
Awards
- Prize of the Association of Research in Surgery (ARS), Swiss Society of Surgery (SGC) 2017
- Clinical Research Award, University Hospital Zurich 2016
- Young Investigator Award, European Society for Organ Transplantation (ESOT), Brussels 2015
- Award for “International Research Collaboration”, University Hospital Zurich 2014
- Award for “Achievement and Collaboration”, University Hospital Zurich 2013