Dr. Michael Akbar

Medical Degrees

• Studies in Human Medicine (Graduation) — Free University of Berlin (Freie Universität Berlin), Berlin, Germany, 1993–1999
• MS / Doctorate Thesis (Dr. med.) — Medical School Benjamin Franklin, Free University of Berlin, May 2002 (Thesis: “Molecular Biological Studies on the Expression of Endothelial Calcium-Activated Potassium (BKCa) Channel Subunits”)
• Habilitation in Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery — University of Heidelberg, January 2017 (Topic: Pathological changes of the shoulder joints in long-term paraplegics with complete wheelchair dependence)
• Universitätsprofessur (Univ.-Prof. Dr. med.) — University of Heidelberg

Fellowships & Special Training

• Specialist Certification in Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery, October 2008
• Additional Qualification in Special Trauma Surgery, October 2013
• Additional Qualification in Special Orthopaedic Surgery, July 2016
• Additional Specialist Title in Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, August 2020
• Lautenschläger Scholarship (University of Heidelberg) — Clinical-Scientific Stay at Spinal Deformity Service, Hospital for Joint Diseases, New York University School of Medicine (Prof. F. Schwab; V. Lafage), 2012/2013
• International Practical Year — Kantonsspital Aarau (University of Zurich), University of California San Diego (UCSD) Spinal Surgery (Prof. S. Garfin), Inselspital Bern Rheumatology (Prof. M. Seitz)

Certifications & Accreditations

• Berlin Medical Council (Ärztekammer Berlin) — Registered Specialist in Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery
• Basic and Master Certificate of the German Spine Society (DWG) — December 2014 (Master Certificate January 2015)
• Member, German Spine Society (DWG)
• Member, EUROSPINE — The Spine Society of Europe
• Advisory Board Member, Bundesverband Skoliose-Selbsthilfe e.V.
• FOCUS List of Top Physicians for Spinal Surgery — since 2021

Current Affiliation

• Surgical Medical Director — MEOCLINIC Berlin, Friedrichstraße, Berlin-Mitte, Germany (since May 2020 – Present)
• Founder & Head — Clinic for Spinal Diseases and Therapies at MEOCLINIC Berlin (since April 2020)
• Section for Complex Spinal and Scoliosis Surgery — Clinic for Neurosurgery and Spine Therapy, Helios Klinikum Berlin-Buch (Head Physician PD Dr. Yu-Mi Ryang) (since April 2020)
• Founder & Consultant — EXPERTS FIRST – The Bone Docs, Heidelberg (private practice, since 2020)
• Lecturer (HeiCuMed) — University of Heidelberg, Medical Faculty (Present)

Past Affiliations

• Heidelberg University Hospital — Head of the Spine Surgery Centre, Clinic for Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery; Surgical Responsibility for the Clinic for Paraplegiology (June 2015 – March 2020)
• Heidelberg University Hospital — Senior Physician, Spine Surgery Section, Centre for Orthopaedics, Trauma Surgery and Paraplegiology, Clinic for Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery (Director Prof. V. Ewerbeck), since October 2008
• Heidelberg University Foundation Orthopaedic Clinic — Assistant Doctor, Department of Orthopaedics I+II (Director Prof. V. Ewerbeck; Director Prof. H. J. Gerner), 2001–2008
• Heidelberg University Foundation Orthopaedic Clinic — Civil Service as Assistant Doctor, 2001–2002
• Surgical Clinic and Polyclinic I, Benjamin Franklin University Hospital, Free University of Berlin (Prof. H. J. Buhr) — Junior Doctor, March 2000 – February 2001
• Free University of Berlin — Medical Studies, October 1993 – November 1999

Academic & Research Roles

• Universitätsprofessor (Univ.-Prof. Dr. med.) — University of Heidelberg
• External Lecturer (HeiCuMed) — Heidelberg Curriculum Medicinale, Medical Faculty, University of Heidelberg
• Author of multiple peer-reviewed publications in “Der Orthopäde”, “Spinal Cord” and “Zeitschrift für Orthopädie und Unfallchirurgie”
• Speaker at DWG, EUROSPINE and German Spine Congress meetings
• Active educator and mentor for orthopaedic and spine surgery residents
• Court-engaged expert witness on spinal disorders

Key Achievements

• 10,000+ independently performed spinal surgeries
• FOCUS List of Top Physicians for Spinal Surgery — since 2021
• Master Certificate of the German Spine Society (DWG)
• Vernon L. Nickel Award — American Orthopaedic Rehabilitation Association (ORA), May 2010, for the work “Prevalence of Rotator Cuff Tear in Paraplegic Patients Compared to Controls — A Case-Control Study”
• 3rd Poster Prize at the 10th German Spine Congress, Frankfurt am Main, for “The Sagittal Profile of the Cervical Spine in Patients with Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis”
• Lautenschläger Scholarship — University of Heidelberg (Spinal Deformity Service, Hospital for Joint Diseases, New York University School of Medicine), 2012/2013
• Publication Prize 2005 — Orthopaedic University Clinic Heidelberg Foundation