Thalia Petropoulou is a Board Certified Specialist Consultant Colorectal Surgeon and has an International Clinical and Academic career between Greece and the UK. She is an Expert in Robotic and Laparoscopic Colorectal (Minimally Invasive) Surgery. She is the only Greek Member of European Academy of Robotic Colorectal Surgery.
She is a member of the Royal College of Surgeons of England (FRCS). At present, she holds a substantial Consultant Colorectal post in Athens, Greece.
She holds the only one International Robotic Colorectal Fellowship in Greece, and is officially qualified to perform Minimally Invasive procedures using the da Vinci Surgical System.
She also has a key interest in Augmented Reality and Artificial Intelligence and she participates in the most exciting and innovative research groups in the world involving the latest technological advances in cancer surgery, inflammatory diseases of colon and rectum and advanced surgical techniques.
She believes in a multi-disciplinary, patient centered approach, to ensure accurate assessment, diagnosis and personalized treatment, for the highest quality of care, with the most evolved surgical techniques.
Miss Petropoulou is also involved in global collaborations.
Currently, her center is the only Greek Center participating in the 2 European multicentre studies (MIRAST/RESET) for Robotic Colorectal Surgery; these involve experienced surgeons in 40 centres across Europe and will try to amplify the evidence on the benefits of Robotics, in right colectomies and rectal resections in high risk patients.
Academic experience
Thalia Petropoulou has graduated from the University of Athens Medical school in 2007, first of her class (Grade: Excellent/ Distinctions).
She was subsequently awarded a general surgical PhD from the same university, graduating with honours too.
In June 2019, she has been awarded the prestigious board certification of the Royal College of Surgeons of England.
In May 2020 she qualified as a member of the European Academy of Robotic Colorectal Surgery; she is the first Greek Surgeon to be a member of the Academy, which has only 76 members across the whole Europe.
Clinical Experience
Surgery
She has undertaken a 6-year general surgical residency in Athens Aretaieio University hospital, one of Greece’s highest volume Academic cancer centres.
She has then continued her career in the UK working across the country’s main colorectal hubs:
During this period, she has performed more than 1000 Colorectal Operations, both Laparoscopic and Robotic, which makes her one of the most experienced Minimally Invasive Colorectal Surgeons in Greece.
From 09/15 to 07/16 she worked in Yeovil Hospital, as post CCT colorectal fellow; she worked with ERAS UK society president Nader Francis where she has established her subspecialty interest.
From 08/16 till 08/17 she worked in Freeman Hospital, as a post CCT advanced rectal cancer fellow, alongside the RCS president for Postgraduate education and LAPCO trainer where she optimised her laparoscopic technique.
From 10/17 till 03/19 she worked in Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, where she completed an International Davinci Robotic Colorectal Fellowship alongside Europe’s renowned Intuitive proctor Shwan Amin. This is an established International Fellowship and she is the only surgeon, in Greece holding this certification, which officially qualifies her to perform minimally invasive procedures using the da Vinci Surgical System
In Sheffield she has also gained experience in Transanal Endoscopic Microsurgery, as it is the regional center for early rectal cancer surgery using trans-anal endoscopic microsurgery. This technique allows the removal of early rectal cancer and spares the patient the need for a stoma (colostomy).
Hernia Surgery
Thalia Petropoulou also has an interest in hernia surgery and offers laparoscopic and robotic (keyhole) hernia surgery for all different types of hernia
Endoscopy
Apart from her surgical training, Thalia Petropoulou is a JAG accredited endoscopist. She is certified for both diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopy (EMR, ESD)
Quality improvement
She is committed to Enhanced Recovery after Surgery, resetting the post-operative protocols in 2 of the busiest Colorectal Cancer specialist centres in the UK.
Train the Trainer Award
She has completed an International Train the Trainer Robotic Course, from ALSGBI, in UK, allowing her to obtain the skills needed for training surgeons in Robotic Colorectal Surgery.
Current projects
She is currently participating as an experienced Robotic Surgeon, with her centre in Athens, in the 2 European multicentre studies MIRAST/RESET- Her centre is the only Greek institution participating in these studies; these involve experienced surgeons in 40 centres across Europe and will try to amplify the evidence on the benefits of Robotics, in right colectomies and rectal resections in high risk patients.
She is working in research projects for Robotic Colorectal Surgery and she is continuously being invited around Europe in the most prestigious meetings to serve as an International speaker and present her experience for Robotic Colorectal Surgery.
Augmented Reality and Artificial Intelligence
She also has a key interest in Augmented Reality and Artificial Intelligence and she participates in the most exciting and innovative research groups in the world involving the latest technological advances in cancer surgery, as well as innovative surgical platforms (Proximie, Touch Surgery) offering the highest standards of care for her patients.
Innovative techniques
Thalia Petropoulou is pushing the limits of Minimally Invasive Surgery and performing new, for Greece, and Innovative techniques, that only few surgeons worldwide are already performing.
She has been involved in Complete Mesocolic Excision Initiative from the European Society of Coloproctology and has been chosen, along with a few other experienced surgeons to participate in the program for spreading and amplifying the technique, across Europe.
In November 2019, she performed the first robotic complete mesocolic excision in Greece. Read more
She is also keen in exploring and expanding the benefits of NOTES (Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery), which could expand, even more, the benefits of Minimally Invasive Surgery in the group of ‘’high risk’’ patients.
She performed the first robotic NOTES in Europe and for which she has been awarded the bronze award for innovation in surgery in HBA 2022. Read more
SILS (Single Incision Laparoscopic & Robotic Surgery) is another area of her expertise and uses it when indicated.