"I was fascinated by the spine very early on -
and that's how it stayed. It allows us to walk upright
and gives us stability and agility. In other words:
The spine makes us human.
It is this fascination that has made me into a passionate doctor and researcher. Because I would like to help take the treatment options to the next level. As an experienced spine specialist, lecturer at the Elite University of Heidelberg, member of the German Spine Society and above all as your personal practitioner at EXPERTS FIRST.”
2020
Establishment of EXPERTS FIRST
05 / 2020
Surgical Medical Director of MEOCLINIC Berlin
04 / 2020
Clinic for spinal diseases and therapies in the MEOCLINIC Berlin
04 / 2020
Section Complex Spine and Scoliosis Surgery,
Clinic for Neurosurgery and Spine Therapy,
Helios Hospital Berlin-Buch (Head Physician PD Dr. Yu-Mi Ryang)
07 / 2016
Special orthopaedic surgery (additional qualification)
06 / 2015 – 03 / 2020
Head of the Spine Surgery Centre at the Clinic for Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery at the University of Heidelberg, surgical responsibility for the Clinic for Paraplegiology
01 / 2015
Basic and master certificate of the German Spine Society (DWG)
10 / 2013
Special trauma surgery (additional designation)
since 10 / 2008
Senior Physician Section Spine Surgery, Centre for Orthopaedics, Trauma Surgery and Paraplegiology, Clinic for Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery at the University of Heidelberg, (Director Prof. V. Ewerbeck)
10 / 2008
Specialist in orthopaedics and trauma surgery
2001 – 2008
Assistant doctor at the Foundation Orthopaedic University Clinic Heidelberg, Department of Orthopaedics I + II (Director Prof. V. Ewerbeck; Director Prof. H. J. Gerner)
2001 – 2002
Community service as an assistant doctor in the Foundation Orthopaedic University Clinic Heidelberg, Department of Orthopaedics I + II (Director Prof. V. Ewerbeck; Director Prof. H. J. Gerner)
03 / 2000 – 02 / 2001
Junior doctor at the Surgical Clinic and Polyclinic I of the Benjamin Franklin University Hospital of the Free University of Berlin (Prof. H. J. Buhr)
10 / 1993 – 11 / 1999
Study of human medicine at the Free University of Berlin, practical year: Kantonsspital Aarau, teaching hospital of the University of Zurich, orthopaedics (Dr. Ruflin) University of California, San Diego (UCSD), surgery and orthopaedics / spinal surgery (Prof. S. Garfin) Inselspital, clinic of the University of Bern, rheumatology (Prof. M. Seitz )
To continue to improve and contribute to developing both conservative as well as operative therapies to become successful treatments – I commit myself to this with deep conviction. To me, the fact that this commitment has also been recognised is an indication that I am doing the right thing and also taking research to the next level in the future.
01 / 2020
Member of the advisory board of the Bundesverband Skoliose-Selbsthilfe e. V. (Federal Association of Scoliosis Self-Help)
since 11 / 2018
Member of the advisory board of the magazine "Der Orthopäde" (The Orthopaedist)
03 / 2017
DSQ Research Award 2017 from the German Paraplegia Foundation
01 / 2017
Habilitation in orthopaedics and trauma surgery, Heidelberg University, topic: On the Pathological Changes to the Shoulder Joints in Long-Term Paraplegics with Complete Wheelchair Dependency
12 / 2015
3. Poster prize on the occasion of the 10th German Spinal Conference in Frankfurt am Main for the contribution: “The Sagittal Profile of the Cervical Vertebrae in Patients with Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis”
2012 / 2013
Lautenschläger scholarship from the University of Heidelberg with a clinical-scientific residence in a spinal surgery centre in New York (Spinal Deformity Service, Division of Spine Surgery in the Hospital for Joint Diseases of the New York University School of Medicine, Prof. F. Schwab; V. Lafage)
05 / 2010
Vernon L. Nickel Award from the American Orthopaedic Rehabilitation Association (ORA) for the work "Prevalence of Rotator Cuff Tear in Paraplegic Patients Compared to Controls. A Case-Control Study”
05 / 2006
Publication price 2005 of the Orthopaedic University Clinic of Heidelberg Foundation
05 / 2002
Inaugural dissertation to obtain a medical doctorate in the human medicine department at the Free University of Berlin: “Molekularbiologische Untersuchungen zur Expression der endothelialen Calcium-aktivierten Kalium-(BKCa)-Kanaluntereinheiten” (Molecular Biological Studies on the Expression of Endothelial Calcium-Activated Potassium (BKCa) Channel Subunits)
04 / 2000
Award of research grant from the German Society for Vascular Surgery and Meadox / Boston Scientific Germany
“It kind of runs in the family: My father built hospitals and clinics and often took me with him as a child, meaning I developed a certain affinity and fascination for my current profession at a very early age. In fact, I knew very early on that I wanted to take up a medical profession.”
“Commitment certainly comes first as far as I am concerned. I am there for my patients - with expertise, calmness and empathy. I take care of each and every one of them and don't leave anyone alone with their questions or complaints. People who come to me can be sure that I will do everything possible to determine the reason for their individual complaints and treat them correctly. Because I know very well: nothing is more important for the patient than professional answers with from the experts.”
“I am mainly a spinal surgeon - and that's why I am absolutely fascinated by the spine. Not only is it one of the most important parts of our skeleton, it allows us to stand up and walk. The spine makes us human, because standing and walking upright is actually only possible thanks to the special shape of the spine. Treating this multifaceted and demanding part of our body in people of all ages fascinates me every day.”
“After constant pain in the neck, back and upper arms and following unsuccessful physiotherapy and numerous examinations, the diagnosis finally came: It was a tumour in the cervical vertebra area. I quickly started to look for a sound second opinion - and fortunately I found it with Prof. Akbar. The advice that he gave and the subsequent operation were by far the best thing that could have happened to me in this situation. His approach is more than excellent: He treated me with maximum concentration and an incredible amount of empathy at the same time - and with considerable success.”
“When my daughter was four years old, she was diagnosed with early-onset scoliosis. As she got older, the deformity of her spine became worse. At eleven, the painful curvature of the spine was an alarming 60 degrees. The last chance – and very fortunate for us – was the operation by Prof. Akbar. The result? A really amazing improvement in the curvature, which is now only 16 degrees. During the difficult times, Prof. Akbar was not only an experienced practitioner for us, but also a good listener who took my daughter and her fears and me and my worries seriously. A big thank you - for the tremendous empathy which he showed at all times and the great expertise which has helped me and my daughter so much.”
