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Dr. Julián Varas is a General Surgeon and Associate Professor at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, where he also serves as Vice Chair of the Center for Experimental Surgery and Simulation. A global leader in surgical education and simulation, Dr. Varas is dedicated to reducing human error through innovative training methods, combining rigorous research with cutting-edge technology.
He has been internationally recognized for his contributions, receiving Best International Research awards from SAGES and other surgical societies around the world. His academic work has led to the development of over 18 validated simulation training programs across various surgical disciplines, proving that well-trained residents can surpass traditionally trained surgeons in technical proficiency.
Dr. Varas is the founder and CEO of C1DO1, a pioneering educational platform born as an official spin-off from his university. Originally designed for surgical skill acquisition, the platform has now expanded to more than 70 disciplines—including engineering, nursing, and computer science—reaching over 16,000 trainees worldwide.
With visiting professorships at UCSF and McGill University, as well as participation in innovation accelerators like Y Combinator and MassChallenge, Dr. Varas bridges academia, clinical practice, and tech entrepreneurship. His patented methodologies and AI-driven training tools are redefining the future of medical education.
He is also a frequent keynote speaker, TED Talk presenter, and active member of numerous global surgical societies. His mission is clear: to democratize access to high-quality training, anywhere and anytime.