Emmanuel Papakostas studied medicine at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, receiving his medical degree in 1993. He received his orthopaedic specialization diploma in 2004 and has worked in the private sector in Greece until early 2020 when he joined Aspetar Hospital, one of the leading Centers, worldwide, in the field of Orthopedic Sports Surgery and Sports Medicine.
During and after residency he attended several international meetings in the field of sports orthopaedics and cartilage repair, being awarded several national and international fellowships. His work as a young investigator on ankle ligament injuries was awarded the Einjar Ericsson FIMS Award in 2002.
He became an ICRS (International Cartilage Regeneration and Joint Preservation Society) full member in 2005 (one of the first two Greeks), being a committee member, chairman and now member of General Board. He is also a member of European Society of Sports orthopaedics Knee surgery and Arthroscopy (ESSKA), International Society of Arthroscopy Knee surgery and Orthopaedic Sports medicine (ISAKOS) and of several other societies in the field of Sports Medicine and Sports Orthopaedics.
His sports background (national and international level athletics) made him focus on sports injuries prevention and treatment and especially cartilage defects having been inspired by the ICRS.
He served as head team physician of professional football teams and consultant surgeon for several clubs and national associations, being actively involved in 2004 and 2008 Olympics.
Currently, Dr Papakostas is working in ASPETAR, an institution covering A to Z multidisciplinary services in Sports pathologies. He is the clinical lead on cartilage regeneration and joint preservation unit, building progressively a Center of Excellence.
During the last 20 years Dr Papakostas wrote chapters in Sports Medicine and Sports Orthopaedics books (12), published papers in peer reviewed journals (26) and presented more than 150 papers and lectures in national and international congresses as an invited speaker.
