Head of Foot Surgery Dr. med. Pascal Rippstein

My interest in foot and ankle surgery was sparked during my time as an assistant doctor at the University Hospital of Bern, and this specialist area has had me gripped ever since. At the time, a broad knowledge of this field was something which could only be gained abroad, which is why I took the opportunity to spend a year working with and learning from renowned foot and ankle surgeons in the USA and France in 1994 to complete my training.

On my return to Switzerland, I was able to implement the expertise I had gained abroad and, little by little, I succeeded in establishing foot and ankle surgery as a stand-alone department at the specialist orthopaedic Schulthess Klinik in Zurich. In the beginning, the foot and ankle department was just a two-strong team, comprising myself and my secretary.  Today, the department boasts 25 members of staff, and I have the pleasure of leading the team with pride and joy as Departmental Head.

The early days were incredibly exciting – a pioneering phase when I was able to introduce new surgical techniques to Switzerland. It wasn’t just a case of passing my expertise straight on to my Assistant Physicians and Consultants; I also had the chance to teach others in Switzerland and across the globe as part of various courses and talks. Over the years, I have been able to support lectures and talks in my role as a board member and President of the Swiss Foot and Ankle Society.

My extensive experience makes it possible for me to work with international companies with the aim of developing special instruments and implants – something that has indeed been achieved, with two ankle prostheses having been produced as a result of this partnership.

In spite of, or perhaps even because of the more than 11,000 feet I have operated on throughout my career, the world of foot and ankle surgery still fascinates me. I particularly enjoy the fact that individual patients are not only able to regain their mobility, but that the aesthetics can often be restored too.