Orthopedic and traumatology specialist with extensive Croatian and international professional, scientific, and teaching experience.
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Assoc. Prof. Dr. Damir Hudetz
Specialist in Orthopedics and Traumatology
Born: 10.07.1972
Orthopedic and traumatology specialist with extensive Croatian and international professional, scientific, and teaching experience. Active and dedicated to treating patients with a special focus on knee diseases and injuries.
WORK EXPERIENCE
18.10.2024 – Present
Head of the Clinic for Orthopedics and Traumatology, KB Dubrava, Zagreb
Head of the department covering orthopedics, musculoskeletal trauma, and spinal surgery.
Work primarily with patients suffering from diseases and injuries of the knee, shoulder, hip, and ankle, sports injuries, and degenerative changes. Knee reconstructive surgery and joint preservation surgery.
01.05.2021 – Present
Orthopedic Specialist Consultant, SB Sv. Katarina, Zagreb
Head of the Clinic for Orthopedics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Osijek
Working with patients primarily in the area of knee, shoulder, hip, and ankle diseases and injuries, sports injuries, and degenerative changes. Knee reconstructive and joint preservation surgery.
01.03.2021 – 19.05.2022
Orthopedic Specialist, Department Physician, KB Sv. Duh, Zagreb
Focus on diseases and injuries of the knee, shoulder, hip, and ankle, sports injuries, and degenerative changes. Knee reconstructive and joint preservation surgery.
01.12.2019 – 26.02.2021
Leader of the Orthopedic Team, Clinic for Orthopedics and Traumatology, KS BaselLand, Basel, Switzerland
Primarily working with knee diseases, sports injuries, and degenerative changes. Treatment of trauma patients of the musculoskeletal system. Leading and educating orthopedic and trauma surgery residents. Knee reconstructive and joint preservation surgery.
01.09.2018 – Present
Associate Professor, University Libertas, Zagreb
Participates in teaching physiotherapy students (exercises, seminars, lectures, mentoring).
12.06.2012 – Present
Associate Professor, Faculty of Medicine, University J.J. Strossmayer, Osijek
Participates in teaching medical students (exercises, seminars, lectures, mentoring).
01.05.2015 – 30.11.2019
Head of Orthopedic Department, SB Sv. Katarina, Zagreb
Work focused on knee, shoulder, hip, and ankle diseases and injuries, sports injuries, and degenerative changes. Knee reconstructive and joint preservation surgery.
Leading a team of doctors and medical staff, organizing the professional work of the orthopedic department.
16.10.2010 – 30.11.2019
Orthopedic Specialist, Department Physician, KB Sv. Duh, Zagreb
Focused on knee, shoulder, hip, and ankle diseases and injuries, sports injuries, and degenerative changes. Knee reconstructive and joint preservation surgery.
01.05.2007 – 15.10.2010
Orthopedic Specialist, Department Physician, Clinic for Traumatology, Zagreb
Work with patients suffering from knee, shoulder, hip, and ankle diseases and injuries, sports injuries, and degenerative changes. Knee reconstructive and joint preservation surgery. Trauma on call.
01.05.2007 – 15.10.2010
Subspecialization and Research, Promotio Foundation, Kantonsspital Bruderholz & University Hospital Basel, Switzerland
Subspecialization in orthopedic knee surgery. Research on implant infections in animal model "tissue cage". Research in cartilage tissue biomechanics.
01.01.2001 – 25.10.2005
Specialization in Orthopedics and Traumatology, Clinic for Traumatology Zagreb
Specialized in orthopedics and traumatology (KB Merkur, KBC Zagreb, KB Dubrava). Education and work as a physician during specialization with trauma on call.
14.02.2019 – Present
Founder, VideoReha d.o.o., Zagreb
Head of the development department. Development of an IT platform for musculoskeletal rehabilitation.
19.02.2013 – 28.01.2022
Founder, 3IT d.o.o., Dugo Selo
Head of the development department. Development of IT solutions for hospital information systems and rehabilitation IT platforms.
01.01.1994 – 01.01.2001
CEO, Huno Sport d.o.o., Zagreb
Manager of trade and wholesale of sports equipment with agency management.
EDUCATION
1998 – 2009
PhD in Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zagreb
Dissertation defended on 12.05.2009: “The influence of biofilm on staphylococcal infection around steel and titanium implants.”
2001 – 2005
Specialist in Orthopedics, Clinic for Traumatology Zagreb
Passed specialist exam on 25.10.2005 and received license for independent work in orthopedics by Croatian Medical Chamber.
1991 – 1998
Doctor of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zagreb
Medical degree.
LANGUAGES
Native: Croatian
Foreign languages: German (C1), English (C2), French (A2)
COMMUNICATION SKILLS
Good ability to adapt to multicultural environments gained through work in various hospitals abroad. Worked as an orthopedic surgeon and researcher in Switzerland and as a visiting orthopedic surgeon in the Persian Gulf region (Kuwait, UAE, Qatar), Southeastern Europe (Macedonia, Bulgaria, Romania), and Pakistan.
ORGANIZATIONAL AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS
As head of the Orthopedic Department at SVK, responsible for a team of orthopedic specialists, anesthesiologists, physical medicine and rehabilitation specialists, as well as medical staff (technicians and physiotherapists) at the highly advanced and regionally recognized Special Hospital Sv. Katarina.
Confirmed organizational skills as co-founder of 3IT d.o.o., a start-up company dedicated to innovative rehabilitation solutions.
Director of the successful company Huno Sport d.o.o. during medical studies.
PROFESSIONAL SPECIALIST SKILLS
Knee surgery: arthroscopy, ligament reconstruction (ACL, PCL, collateral ligament injuries), patellofemoral joint, cartilage reconstruction, arthroplasty, osteotomies, fractures. Internationally recognized expertise demonstrated through invited lectures and teaching surgeries.
Shoulder surgery: arthroscopic procedures, arthroplasty, fractures.
Arthroscopy: knee, shoulder, ankle, hip.
Sports and general musculoskeletal trauma.
Mentor of doctoral and master theses: postgraduate studies (Faculty of Medicine Zagreb, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture Zagreb, Faculty of Kinesiology Zagreb, University Libertas).
DIGITAL SKILLS
Independent user in communication, data processing, content creation, and security maintenance (iOS, MS Office).
Innovation in digital rehabilitation, followed the development process from project to finished product TRL 8.
SCHOLARSHIPS
07/2010
Cleveland Clinic Scholarship, USA
Education and experience exchange scholarship awarded to 20 orthopedists worldwide at Cleveland Clinic Orthopedics and Traumatology.
01.05.2006 – 30.04.2007
Promotio Foundation Scholarship, Basel, Switzerland
Scholarship for scientific project and subspecialization in orthopedics at University Hospital Basel and Kantonsspital Bruderholz.
01.09.2002 – 01.04.2003
ESK Scholarship, Basel, Switzerland
Swiss government scholarship for postgraduate orthopedic specialization and research.
SCIENTIFIC ACTIVITIES
Published 36 papers in international peer-reviewed journals, including 25 original research articles in stem cell applications in orthopedics, anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, complex knee injuries, cartilage reconstruction, and implant infection. 11 review articles in the same fields.
Presented over 100 professional lectures and 60 poster presentations at international congresses and symposia since 2002.
Published 5 chapters in professional books on sports traumatology, sports medicine, medical biochemistry and laboratory medicine, cartilage repair.
SCIENTIFIC PROJECTS
Participated in numerous projects including:
- Gene therapy of mineralized tissues, Ministry of Science, Education and Sports, Croatia
- Tissue Cage Implantation in mice, University Hospital Basel
- EU FP7 Bio-Comet cartilage tissue engineering project
- Principal investigator of CartiHeal clinical trial for cartilage defect treatment
- Principal investigator of tendon-bone healing in ACL reconstruction funded by Croatian Ministry of Science
- EU Horizon 2020 Bio-Chip cartilage tissue engineering project
- EU Horizon ENCANTO cartilage tissue engineering project (2024-2029)
TEACHING ACTIVITIES
Faculty of Medicine Osijek: teaching medical students orthopedic courses since 2012, anatomy in German since 2021.
Faculty of Medicine Zagreb: teaching elective subjects “Traffic Trauma” and “Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation” since 2010. Postgraduate teaching since 2012.
Faculty of Medicine Split: taught orthopedics in 2011/2012 academic year.
University Libertas Zagreb: lecturer in physiotherapy master’s program.
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
Croatian Orthopedic Society:
President since 12/2021
Board member 2012–2016
Vice-president 2017–2021
Project leader for "Orthopaedics a la carte" educational platform
President of SEEFORT Congress in Dubrovnik, 2017
UEMS: Croatian delegate in EBOT since 2013
EFORT: Croatian delegate since 2013
Member of international societies ESSKA, ICRS, EFORT, AGA
AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS
2007 Youngest honorary member of the Orthopedic Clinic Bruderholz, Basel, Switzerland
2009 First prize for scientific poster at World Orthopaedic and Traumatology Association conference, Pattaya, Thailand
2014–2020 Recognized among best orthopedic surgeons in Croatia by najdoktor.com portal
