At MUSME, the temporary exhibition Stories of HEART and COURAGE takes visitors on a journey through the lives of scientists, doctors, and surgeons who placed their expertise, experience, and sense of responsibility at the service of science, choosing to go beyond the “known” to explore the unknown.
Here, courage is not the absence of fear, but the ability to face it when something greater is at stake: the intellectual courage to challenge theories considered immutable, and the courage to take the decisive steps needed to accomplish deeds never attempted before. Two inseparable dimensions, especially in the medical and surgical fields, where every decision demands awareness, caution, and vision.
From William Harvey’s discovery of blood circulation to the first heart transplant in Italy, performed in Padua in 1985 by Vincenzo Gallucci, these stories show how “heart” and “courage,” also linked by a common root, are expressions of a profound, human, and responsible choice, capable of crossing the boundary.
The exhibition itinerary
The exhibition itinerary guides visitors on a journey into the heart, through science, history, and innovation. It opens with a section dedicated to the functioning of the cardiovascular system which, through exhibits, interactive models, and immersive installations, allows visitors to understand the physiological and symbolic complexity of the heart.
This is followed by the historical section, focused on the scientific revolution of William Harvey, who studied in Padua and in the seventeenth century discovered the circulation of blood. Manuscripts and ancient volumes recount the decisive role of Padua and its University in the birth of modern medicine, as well as the intellectual courage that transformed the way the human body is studied.
The heart of the exhibition is dedicated to the first heart transplant performed in Italy in 1985 by Professor Vincenzo Gallucci. Historical artifacts, technologies such as the heart–lung machine and the ECMO system, together with audio testimonials from transplant recipients and donors’ families, offer a profound reflection on the value of organ donation.
The exhibition concludes with the most recent achievements of Paduan cardiac surgery, led by Professor Gino Gerosa, which have marked new frontiers in heart transplantation and opened concrete prospects for the future of medicine.
Exhibition curated by
MUSME Foundation
Main partner
Supporting partners
With the contribution of
Technical sponsors
Technical sponsors
With the patronage of
Scientific Director: Prof. Gino Gerosa, University of Padua – Director of the V. Gallucci Cardiac Surgery Center, AO Padua
General Coordinator: Prof. Vincenzo Milanesi, University of Padua – Vice President of the MUSME Foundation
Scientific Committee
Prof. Annalisa Angelini, University of Padua
Prof. Cristina Basso, University of Padua
Prof. Domenico Corrado, University of Padua
Prof. Vincenzo Tarzia, University of Padua
Prof. Gaetano Thiene, University of Padua
Prof. Francesco Tona, University of Padua
