Research & Teaching
Academically anchored.
Habilitation at the University of Bern. Senior Researcher at Inselspital, Bern University Hospital. Co-Principal Investigator of an AO Spine International Project. Steering Member of the AO Spine Knowledge Forum Trauma & Infection. More than 70 publications in PubMed-indexed peer-reviewed journals.
Why academic spine surgery?
Surgical practice benefits directly from active scientific engagement with the discipline: classification systems, indication criteria and outcome data continue to evolve, and only those who help shape the current evidence can translate it confidently into the consultation. My academic focus therefore lies precisely where most clinical decisions are difficult — in osteoporotic vertebral fractures, in thoracolumbar trauma classification, and in the question of which procedure truly benefits a given patient.
Research focus
- Management of osteoporotic thoracolumbar vertebral fractures — conservative versus operative treatment
- Classification and outcome of thoracolumbar injuries
- Quality of indication in spine surgery
- Endoscopic and minimally invasive procedures — long-term outcome
- Patient-reported outcome measures (PROM) in spine surgery
Externally funded projects
- AO Spine International Project — Co-Principal Investigator. Multicentre study on the management of osteoporotic thoracolumbar vertebral fractures. Total volume approximately CHF 800,000.
- Additional competitive funding totalling around CHF 242,000, awarded for clinical and translational projects.
Publications
More than 70 publications in PubMed-indexed peer-reviewed journals — including European Spine Journal, Global Spine Journal, The Spine Journal, Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma, Brain & Spine — together with book chapters and a peer-reviewed surgical teaching video. The full, continuously updated list is accessible through the following profiles:
International appointments
- AO Spine — Steering Member, Knowledge Forum Trauma & Infection
- Programme Committee, AO Spine Global Spine Congress 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026
- AO SpineWeek Melbourne 2023 — Faculty
- AO Spine Fellowship in deformity surgery, Budapest 2021
- Reviewer for several international peer-reviewed spine surgery journals
Teaching
Around 1,000 hours of curricular teaching at the University of Bern. Member of the Examination Board, Clinical Skills Training (3rd semester). Hands-on teaching in the operating theatre and in the consultation rooms at Inselspital and Sonnenhof.
- Member of the Examination Board, Clinical Skills Training (3rd semester), University of Bern
- Lectures and seminars in orthopaedics and trauma surgery
- Habilitation lecture and venia legendi (Privatdozent) since November 2023
- Supervision of doctoral and master's theses
- International faculty work for AO Spine
Lectures and congresses
Regular invited lectures and faculty contributions at national and international congresses, including the Global Spine Congress, EUROSPINE, the annual meeting of the German Spine Society (DWG) and AO SpineWeek. Enquiries regarding lectures, chairing or workshops are welcome.
Cooperation in research or teaching?
For enquiries regarding clinical studies, multicentre projects, doctoral topics or faculty engagements — please get in touch directly by email.
Get in touch