Best surgeons in Romania: TOP 4 doctors

Prof. Dr. Cătălin Copăescu is Romania’s first surgeon recognized for excellence in metabolic and bariatric surgery. He holds both European (IFSO-EC) and American (SRC) certifications. He received these titles in 2011 and 2014. His achievements led to Ponderas Hospital becoming the only Center of Excellence in Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery in Southeast Europe.

Dr. Copăescu is the Director of the Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence at Ponderas Academic Hospital. He performs over 1,000 minimally invasive procedures each year. His expertise includes laparoscopic and robotic-assisted surgeries for metabolic, colorectal, and hernia conditions. With 25 years of experience, he is also a leader in surgical education. He directs several hands-on courses and international workshops every year.

Degrees and academic background:

• MD Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy “Iuliu Hatieganu”, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
• Senior Consultant in General Surgery
• Consultant in Emergency Medicine
• PhD University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Carol Davila”, Bucharest, Romania
• Assistant Professor “Titu Maiorescu” University, Faculty of Medicine 2012 - 2014
• Surgeon of Excellence in Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, SRC accreditation
• (Surgical Review Corporation)
• Surgeon of Excellence in Minimal Invasive Surgery, SRC accreditation (Surgical
• Review Corporation)
• Surgeon of Excellence in Breast Surgery, SRC accreditation (Surgical Review
• Corporation)
• Laparoscopic level I and II accreditation
• Oncologic Surgery accreditation
• General Ultrasound accreditation
• Diagnostic and Therapeutic Digestive Endoscopy accreditation

Membership in medical societies:

• Romanian Society of Surgery SRC
• Romanian Association of Endoscopic Surgery ARCE
• Romanian Society for Metabolic Surgery RSMS
• European Association for Endoscopic Surgery EAES
• International Federation for Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders (IFSO)
• European Society of Breast Specialists (EUSOMA)
• European Society of Surgical Oncology (ESSO)
• Fields of interest:
• Laparoscopic gynecologic oncology surgery, laparoscopic colorectal surgery,
• laparoscopic bariatric and metabolic surgery, laparoscopic hernia surgery

Certifications:

• Doctor in Medicine –Thesis Title: Method of prevention of gastric migration after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy - 2022
• Certification for Oncological Surgery - Ministry of Health of Romania – 2021
• Surgeon of Excellence in Minimally Invasive Surgery - Accreditation by Surgical Review Corporation – United States of America - 2021
• Master Surgeon in Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery - Accreditation by Surgical Review Corporation – United States of America -2020
• Fellow of the European Board of Surgery – Division of Minimally Invasive Surgery – U.E.M.S. and E.A.E.S. Award after examination -2019
• Surgeon of Excellence in Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery – Accreditation by Surgical Review Corporation – United States of America - 2019
• FUSETM Certification, Society of American and Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons – 2019
• Certification for Laparoscopic Surgery – Advanced Techniques 2nd Level – Ministry of Health of Romania - 2017
• Interests:
• Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery for Obesity, Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease, Hiatal Hernia, Abdominal Wall Hernias (inguinal, umbilical, epigastric, femoral, incisional), Colorectal Disease, Gynecological Disease.

Courses:

• “Minimally invasive techniques for Colorectal Pathology”, LAPCO Romania Masterclass, 23-24th 2023, Bucharest, Romania
• “Fluorescence - Let’s see the invisible and improve outcomes in surgery”, 24th November 2021, Barcelona, Spain
• “1st CEMA Bariatric Summit”, January 17-18th 2020, Istanbul, Turkey
• “SAGES Fundamental Use of Energy Program (FUSE)”, U.S.A., Course and Examination, Kryterion Testing System, 29th October 2019, Bucharest, Romania
• “New trends in minimally invasive abdominal wall surgery EAES”, 12-15th June 2019, Sevilla, Spain
• “1st European Robotic Hernia Repair Workshop”, Prof. Konstantinos Konstantinidis, 6th- 7th May, 2019, Athens, Greece
• “Revisional Surgery for Weight Regain”, 23rd World Congress of IFSO, September 26th, 2018, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
• “Laparoscopic colon surgery”, 2018, Kepler University, Linz, Austria
• “Complex Abdominal Wall Reconstruction”, December 6th-7th, 2017, Exeter, United Kingdom
• “Surgeon Technology Summit-Suturing and Sealing Devices”, November 29th-30th, 2017, North Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
• “Robotic-assisted surgery for pelvic pathology”, June 30th- July 1st, 2017, Bucharest, Romania
• “Advanced Laparoscopic Colon and Rectal Surgery”, April, 1st-4th, 2015, Bucharest, Romania
• “Advanced Workshop on Gastric Cancer", November 20th-21th, 2014, Bucharest, Romania
• “Laparoscopic techniques in the repair of abdominal wall defects” (hands-on course), March 18th-20th,2013, Bucharest, Romania
• “Minimally Invasive Techniques in Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery” (hands-on course), December 14th,2012, Bucharest, Romania
• “EAES Laparoscopic Lower Gastrointestinal Surgery Course” (hands-on course), November 12th -15th, 2012, Cuschieri Skills Centre – University of Dundee, Scotland, United Kingdom
• “EAES Laparoscopic Upper GastrointestinaI Surgery Course” (hands-on course), March 8th -11th, 2011, Cuschieri Skills Centre – University of Dundee, Scotland, United Kingdom
• “Laparoscopic techniques in Gynecological surgery – basic and advanced techniques Course” (training on simulator and swine models), November 17th -19th, 2010, Bucharest, Romania
• “Getting Started in Laparoscopic Surgery – Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy and Other Fundamental Techniques Course” (training on simulator and swine models), March 4th -6th, 2009, Bucharest, Romania
• “Modern technologies in Thoracic surgery”-Thoracoscopy, VATS and mechanical sutures devices workshop, November 2008, Bucharest, Romania

Publications:

• “Reconstruction of the phreno–esophageal ligament (R-PEL) prevents the intrathoracic migration (ITM) after concomitant sleeve gastrectomy and hiatal hernia repair”. Authors: Ionut Hutopila, M. Ciocoiu, L. Paunescu, Catalin Copaescu in “Surgical Endoscopy”, January 2023
• “Hiatal Hernia is more frequent than expected in bariatric patients. Intraoperative findings during Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy “. Authors: Ionut Hutopila, Catalin Copaescu in “Chirurgia”, No.6, 2019, Bucharest, Romania
• “Re-sleeve gastrectomy – An efficient revisional bariatric procedure – 3 years results”.
• Authors: Simona Filip, Ionut Hutopila, Catalin Copaescu in “Chirurgia”, No.6, 2019, Bucharest, Romania
• “Gastroesophageal Reflux Before Metabolic Surgery”. Authors: Ionut Hutopila, A. Constantin, Catalin Copaescu in “Chirurgia”, No.1, 2018, Bucharest, Romania
• “Laparoscopic Spleen Preserving Distal Pancreatectomy with Splenic Vessels Preservation” – technique with DVD movie. Authors. V. Tomulescu, I.Hutopila, C.Copaescu Chirurgia 2018, Bucharest, Romania
• “Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease and Obesity”. Authors: C.Copaescu, I.Hutopila, chapter in Textbook of Pathology and Esophageal Surgery, coordinator Prof. Dr. Silviu Constantinoiu, Bucharest, 2017
• Presentations:
• “Stomach position after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy”. Authors: I.Hutopila, M. Ciocoiu, L.Paunescu, C.Copaescu. The ARCE 2022 - The XIth National Congress of the
• Romanian Association for Endoscopic Surgery, September 28th– October 1st ,2022, Timișoara, Romania
• “Bariatric Surgery in Obese Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease”. Authors: I.Hutopila, S.Grigoruta. The VIIth Congress of Royal Club of Physicians, October 11-16th 2021 – online, Bucharest, Romania
• “Bariatric Surgery complications in COVID -19 Pandemic – a nightmare for general surgeons” Authors: I.Hutopila, C.Copaescu. The XXX th edition of National Surgery Congress – online, November 5th-7th, 2020, Romania
• “Early Migration of the GEJ After LSG?”. Authors: I.Hutopila, Ciocoiu, Paunescu, C.Copaescu. The 11th National Symposium of Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery, November 23, 2019, Bucharest, Romania
• “Robotic TAR Advantages to the Laparoscopic Approach?”. Authors: I.Hutopila, C.Copaescu. The 10th National Congress of the Romanian Association for Endoscopic Surgery, 21-23 November 2019, Bucharest, Romania
• “Abdominal Wall Robotic Surgery”. Author: I.Hutopila. The IVth Congress of Royal Club of Physicians, October 11-13th, 2018, Bucharest, Romania
• “Two years results of Narbona – Arnau Procedure to control the Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease after Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy”. Authors: I.Hutopila, C.Copaescu. The 9th National Symposium of Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery, November 25th,2017, Bucharest, Romania
• “Strategies for Abdominal Hernia Repair in Morbidly Obese Patients”. Authors: I.Hutopila, M.Buza, S.Filip, C.Copaescu. The 9th National Congress of the Romanian Association for Endoscopic Surgery, November 23-25th, 2017, Bucharest, Romania
• “An option for the treatment of Hiatal Hernia and Gastroesophageal Reflux after Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy - Narbona-Arnau laparoscopic technique”. Authors: I.Hutopila, C.Copaescu. The 25th International Congress of the European Association for Endoscopic Surgery (EAES), June 14-17th, 2017, Frankfurt, Germany
• “Improvement /remission of the Metabolic Syndrome after Bariatric Surgery”. Authors: I.Hutopila. Prevention and Treatment of Diabetes Complications Conference, November 11th, 2016, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova
• “Treatment of stenosis after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy”. Authors: I.Hutopila. World Congress of International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic, August 26-29th,2015, Vienna, Austria
• “Revisional Surgery after Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric By-Pass for Hypoglycemia”. Authors: I. Hutopila,B. Smeu, S. Filip, M. Priboi, I. Balescu, S. Velici, I. Banescu, C. Copaescu. The 23rd EAES International Congress, Bucharest, Romania, 2015
• “A particular solution for Total dehiscence of the esophagus-jejunal anastomosis after Laparoscopic Revisional Surgery”. Authors: I. Hutopila,B. Smeu, S. Filip, M. Priboi, I. Balescu, B. Banescu,S.C. Velici,C. Copaescu. The 23rd EAES International Congress, 2015, Bucharest, Romania,
• “Active Search for Hiatal Hernia in Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy- a Surgical Protocol”. Authors: I. Hutopila, B. Smeu, M. Priboi, I. Balescu, S. Velici, C. Copaescu, The 7th National Symposium of Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery, Bucharest, Romania, 2015
• “Laparoscopic Rectal Resection for Deep Infiltrating Endometriosis”. The IVth National Congress of Coloproctology, October 2nd-4th,2014, Bucharest, Romania
• “Laparoscopic proximal gastric resection for gastro-gastric fistula after laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass”. Authors: I.Hutopila, S.Filip, M.Priboi, B.Smeu, C.Copaescu. The XXIst International Congress of the European Association for Endoscopic Surgery (EAES), June 19th - 22nd,2013, Vienna, Austria
• “Laparoscopy after Open Vertical Banded Gastroplasty”. Authors: I.Hutopila. The IVth National Symposium of Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery, December 15th, 2012, Bucharest, Romania
• “Laparoscopic Redo Gastric Banding to Gastric Bypass”. Authors: I.Hutopila, C.Copaescu. The IVth National Symposium of Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery, December 15th, 2012, Bucharest, Romania
• “Laparoscopic Treatment of Giant Hiatal Hernia”. Authors: I. Hutopila, C.Copaescu. The XXVIth edition of National Surgery Congress, May 23rd-26th, 2012, Timisoara, Romania
• Co-author at over 40 Conference presentations.

Membership in Organizations:

• Romanian College of Physicians
• Romanian Society of Surgery
• Romanian Association for Endoscopic Surgery and Other Interventional Techniques (RAES) Romanian Society for Metabolic Surgery (RSMS)
• International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders (IFSO) European Association for Endoscopic Surgery (EAES)