Dr. Michael Marsalli is a leading Chilean orthopaedic surgeon specializing in shoulder and elbow surgery, with over ten years of experience managing complex traumatic, sports-related, and degenerative shoulder conditions. He leads the Shoulder and Elbow Unit at Clínica Universidad de los Andes in Santiago, Chile, one of the country's most prestigious academic medical centers, where he implements treatment protocols grounded in the best available scientific evidence.
His professional approach is built on three pillars — expertise, empathy, and excellence — combining high-volume surgical experience with patient-centered care focused on pain relief, functional recovery, and improved quality of life.
In terms of leadership, he served as President of the Chilean Shoulder and Elbow Society (2025), where he promoted knowledge dissemination and best practices at the national level. He is an active member of the Chilean Society of Orthopaedics and Traumatology (SCHOT) and the Latin American Shoulder and Elbow Society (SLAHOC).
His academic contributions include peer-reviewed publications in international journals and book chapters, reflecting his commitment to advancing the field. Beyond clinical practice, he serves as High Performance Physician for Chile Rugby and as a Medical Trainer for World Rugby in South America, applying his expertise in elite sports medicine.
His practice integrates cutting-edge surgical techniques with a compassionate, evidence-based approach, positioning him as a reference figure in shoulder surgery across Chile and Latin America.

Dr. Marsalli's research interests are centered on shoulder surgery, with a particular focus on the pathology, biomechanics, and surgical management of conditions affecting the rotator cuff, glenohumeral instability, and shoulder girdle fractures.
A significant body of his work addresses rotator cuff tears, including the diagnostic accuracy of MRI signs for subscapularis lesions, the relationship between acromial anatomy and cuff ruptures, and the management of instability following rotator cuff repair. His research on glenohumeral instability further explores the outcomes of arthroscopic capsulolabral reconstruction and the complex presentation of terrible triad injuries of the shoulder, for which he proposed an original classification system with prognostic implications.
In the field of shoulder fractures and acromioclavicular pathology, his studies have examined surgical outcomes of proximal humeral fractures treated with locked plating and intramedullary nailing, as well as the complications and secondary pathologies following arthroscopic acromioclavicular joint reconstruction. He has also investigated clavicle fracture management, comparing acute versus delayed surgical repair.
Additionally, Dr. Marsalli has contributed to reverse shoulder arthroplasty research, analyzing how different implant designs influence key geometric parameters such as distalization and lateralization angles.
A further area of interest encompasses sports medicine and injury epidemiology, particularly in rugby, alongside the development of digital health tools, including a mobile application for shoulder pain diagnosis in primary care settings.

Dr. Michael Marsalli has developed a solid teaching career at the Faculty of Medicine of Universidad de los Andes, where he currently serves as Head of the Shoulder Surgery Fellowship Program. In this role, which he has led since 2023 at Clínica Universidad de los Andes — and previously held from 2017 to 2021 at Hospital del Trabajador — he has dedicated full-time direct clinical mentorship to subspecialty trainees, preparing the next generation of shoulder surgeons to the highest standards of excellence and scientific evidence.
At the undergraduate level, he has contributed to the training of interns and fourth-year medical students at Universidad de los Andes (2023–2025). At the postgraduate level, he has served as invited faculty in Sports Medicine diplomados at Universidad Católica (2012–2018) and Universidad del Desarrollo (2015), and in medical communication courses at Universidad de los Andes (2022–2025). He also taught in the Orthopaedics and Traumatology residency program at Universidad Andrés Bello (2016–2021), holding the rank of Assistant Professor.
Complementing his academic work, he has served as a Medical Trainer for World Rugby in South America, directing and delivering courses at both national and international levels (2013–2015), contributing to medical education in elite sport on an international scale.