Dr. Christian Palmaro

Dr. Christian Palmaro is a senior interventional cardiologist based at the Centre Cardio-Thoracique de Monaco (CCM), one of the most highly regarded cardiac centres in Southern Europe. With over 25 years of experience, Dr. Palmaro has built a distinguished career in coronary interventional procedures, cardiac imaging, and preventive cardiology, serving Monaco's resident population, its significant high-net-worth international community, and patients referred from across the French Riviera and the broader Mediterranean region.

The CCM is a specialist cardiac hospital affiliated with the Princess Grace Hospital Centre and is internationally recognised for its expertise in cardiac surgery and interventional cardiology. It draws patients from Monaco, the Alpes-Maritimes department of France, the Italian Ligurian coast, and internationally — positioning Dr. Palmaro in one of the most dynamic and internationally connected cardiac centres in Europe.

Dr. Palmaro trained at the Université de Nice Sophia-Antipolis Faculty of Medicine before undertaking his cardiology residency at the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nice and a specialist fellowship in interventional cardiology at the Hôpital Lariboisière in Paris. He subsequently spent a formative period at the Monaldi Hospital (Ospedale dei Colli) in Naples, Italy, gaining exposure to Southern European cardiac disease patterns and developing fluency in Italian, which he employs with his Italian-speaking Monégasque and Riviera patients.

Dr. Palmaro's philosophy of preventive cardiology is particularly well-suited to Monaco's affluent, health-conscious population, many of whom seek regular cardiovascular screening and proactive risk management. He integrates advanced cardiac imaging, lipid management, and lifestyle medicine alongside interventional procedures to provide a comprehensive cardiovascular service.

Dr. Palmaro earned his medical degree from the Université de Nice Sophia-Antipolis, Faculty of Medicine, graduating with distinction. He completed his cardiology residency at the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) de Nice, where he gained comprehensive training in general cardiology, echocardiography, and cardiac emergencies. He subsequently undertook a fellowship in interventional cardiology at the Hôpital Lariboisière in Paris — a leading French interventional cardiology centre — developing expertise in coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention. An additional observership at the Monaldi Hospital in Naples, Italy, broadened his exposure to coronary disease management in a Southern European clinical environment. He holds the Fellow of the European Society of Cardiology (FESC) designation and is credentialled in echocardiography and nuclear cardiology through the SFC certification programme. He maintains ongoing education through ESC congress participation and regular case review with CCM's multidisciplinary cardiac team.

Dr. Palmaro's interventional cardiology practice at CCM encompasses the full range of coronary diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. He performs coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for stable and unstable coronary artery disease, including primary PCI in acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). He uses intravascular imaging techniques — including IVUS and OCT — to optimise stent placement and assess lesion severity in complex anatomical situations.

In cardiac imaging, Dr. Palmaro is expert in transthoracic and transoesophageal echocardiography, cardiac stress testing (exercise and pharmacological), Holter monitoring for arrhythmia detection, and coronary CT angiography for non-invasive coronary assessment. He integrates these diagnostic tools comprehensively in his preventive cardiology practice.

Conditions he manages include coronary artery disease, atrial fibrillation and other arrhythmias, hypertension, heart failure, and metabolic cardiovascular risk. He has a particular interest in cardiovascular disease prevention in high-risk populations, including patients with diabetes, familial hypercholesterolaemia, and obesity — conditions prevalent in the sedentary, high-calorie dietary patterns of Monaco's affluent residents despite the Mediterranean climate and cultural context.

Dr. Palmaro has contributed over 40 peer-reviewed publications to journals including the European Heart Journal, Heart, and Archives of Cardiovascular Diseases. His research interests are centred on preventive cardiology in high-income Mediterranean populations, cardiovascular risk factor management strategies for Monaco and the French Riviera, and cross-border cardiac care between Monaco and adjacent French healthcare territories. He has collaborated with the CHU de Nice and the Institut Méditerranéen du Cancer on cardiovascular disease epidemiology studies and has participated in the SFC's national registries for acute coronary syndromes and atrial fibrillation. He also conducts outcome analyses of PCI results at CCM, contributing data to the French national GACI interventional cardiology registry.

CCM Monaco is well-established in serving international patients, and Dr. Palmaro is accustomed to working with patients of diverse nationalities residing in or visiting Monaco and the French Riviera. He conducts consultations in French, Italian, and English. French residents can access his services under the standard carte vitale and complementary insurance system; Monégasque residents access CCM through the Caisse de Compensation des Services Sociaux (CCSS). EU citizens from other member states may access cardiac care at CCM under S2 cross-border healthcare authorisations. Non-EU international patients, including those from Russia, the Middle East, and the United Kingdom, are regularly accommodated at CCM through its international patient services, with assistance for insurance billing, visa coordination where required, and translation support.

Dr. Palmaro has been recognised by the Association Monégasque des Médecins (AMM) with its Physician of Excellence Award for his sustained contribution to cardiac care in the Principality of Monaco. The Société Française de Cardiologie (SFC) recognised his scientific contributions at its annual congress. He holds the Fellow of the European Society of Cardiology (FESC) designation, awarded by the ESC in recognition of his clinical expertise and contribution to the cardiovascular scientific community. He serves on the CCM quality committee and has been involved in establishing Monte-Carlo's cardiovascular screening protocols for the Monégasque resident population.