Independently Verified Medical Reviewer
Dr. Marcelo C. DaSilva, MD, FACS, FICS
Senior Medical Reviewer for MesoCare.org
Medical Director of Thoracic Surgery, AdventHealth Cancer Institute
Triple board-certified thoracic surgeon and founder of the Mesothelioma International Treatment Program at AdventHealth; pioneer in hyperthermic intraoperative chemotherapy (HIOC) and 3D thoracic procedures, with more than 25 years of experience in mesothelioma care.
At a glance
- Years practicing: 34+ (since 1992)
- Publications: 50+
- Board certifications: 4 (triple-certified in thoracic surgery)
- Based in: Orlando, FL
Areas of expertise
- Malignant mesothelioma (pleural and peritoneal)
- Thoracic surgical oncology
- Hyperthermic intraoperative chemotherapy (HIOC)
- Minimally invasive and robotic thoracic surgery
- 3D thoracic procedures
About Dr. Marcelo C. DaSilva
Dr. Marcelo C. DaSilva is the Medical Director of Thoracic Surgery at AdventHealth Cancer Institute in Orlando, Florida, where he founded the Mesothelioma International Treatment Program in 2019. He is a triple board-certified thoracic surgeon specializing in mesothelioma surgery, minimally invasive thoracic procedures, and thoracic surgical oncology.
Before joining AdventHealth, Dr. DaSilva served as a thoracic surgeon at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, Chief of Thoracic Surgery at Care New England, and a Lecturer in Surgery at Harvard Medical School. A pioneer in heated intraoperative chemotherapy (HIOC) for pleural mesothelioma and 3D robotic thoracic procedures, he has collaborated on mesothelioma research with Dr. David Sugarbaker and Dr. Raphael Bueno.
He received his medical degree from Universidade Gama Filho (Brazil) in 1990 and completed an elite trauma and critical care fellowship at Penn State, where he was awarded the Bristol-Myers Squibb Scholars of Surgery award.
Dr. DaSilva is one of a small number of U.S. surgeons specializing in both pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma. He brings more than 25 years of clinical experience to the independent medical review of our content.
Education & training
- Medical Degree — Universidade Gama Filho Medical School, Brazil (1990)
- Fellowship — Trauma & Critical Care — Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
- Thoracic Surgery Training — Brigham and Women’s Hospital / Harvard Medical School
Research focus
Hyperthermic intraoperative chemotherapy (HIOC) for pleural mesothelioma, minimally invasive and robotic thoracic surgery, mesothelioma survival outcomes after pleurectomy/decortication, and 3D thoracic procedure innovation. Browse publications on PubMed.
What Dr. DaSilva reviews on MesoCare
Every medical page on MesoCare is independently reviewed for clinical accuracy before publication. Dr. DaSilva reviews the following sections:
- Understanding mesothelioma — symptoms, types, diagnosis
- Treatment options — surgery, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, clinical trials
- Asbestos exposure — where exposure happened and how it affects health
- Support resources — practical guidance for patients and caregivers
Professional memberships
- International Society of Heart and Lung Transplantation
- International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC)
- International Society of Surgery
- Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS)
- European Society of Thoracic Surgeons
- Brazilian Society of Thoracic Surgery
Awards & recognition
- Bristol-Myers Squibb Scholars of Surgery Award (Penn State)
Compensation disclosure
Dr. DaSilva is independently compensated for his medical review services. This disclosure is provided in accordance with health content transparency standards. His role is to verify medical accuracy — he does not provide legal counsel and has no financial relationship with case outcomes or referral arrangements on MesoCare.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Dr. Marcelo DaSilva?
Dr. Marcelo DaSilva is a triple board-certified thoracic surgeon and the Medical Director of Thoracic Surgery at AdventHealth Cancer Institute in Orlando, Florida. He founded the Mesothelioma International Treatment Program at AdventHealth in 2019 and has more than 25 years of clinical experience treating mesothelioma patients.
What is Dr. DaSilva’s role at MesoCare?
Dr. DaSilva serves as the Senior Medical Reviewer for MesoCare.org. He independently verifies the medical accuracy of content across our mesothelioma, treatment, exposure, and patient-support sections.
What makes Dr. DaSilva qualified to review mesothelioma content?
Dr. DaSilva is one of a small number of surgeons in the United States specializing in both pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma. He is a pioneer in heated intraoperative chemotherapy (HIOC) for mesothelioma, has collaborated with leading researchers including Dr. David Sugarbaker and Dr. Raphael Bueno, and previously held appointments at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
Where does Dr. DaSilva practice?
Dr. DaSilva practices at AdventHealth Cancer Institute in Orlando, Florida, where he serves as Medical Director of Thoracic Surgery. He leads the Mesothelioma International Treatment Program, which he founded in November 2019.
Editorial approach
Every medical page on MesoCare is independently reviewed for clinical accuracy. Start with the section most relevant to your situation.
MesoCare.org is sponsored by Danziger & De Llano, LLP and is informational only. Nothing on this page is medical or legal advice. Speak with your clinical team about treatment and a licensed attorney about legal questions.