A patient lost 150 pounds in three years and kept it off. People traveled from five hours away for their surgery appointments. Surely these are signs of success for a doctor who has journeyed far in pursuit of his dream.
Ioannis Raftopoulos, the new medical director of bariatric surgery at Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center in Hartford, left his native Greece for medical training in the U.S. and has stayed for his career.
The 37-year-old Athens native spent six years at the Aristotelio University of Thessaloniki Medical school in Greece before spending a mandatory two years in the military. Raftopoulos worked as a general practitioner for a unit in the Greek Air Force.
Raftopoulos, a father of one and West Hartford resident, completed his one-year fellowship at Western Pennsylvania Hospital/ Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh.
Raftopoulos most recently held a staff position at the University of Pittsburgh Medical center and an assistant professor of surgery post at the University of Pittsburgh.
“I would have three to six surgeries a week there,” he said. “Although I loved my time there I’m looking forward to a more administrative role at Saint Francis. I’m going to be making decisions, bring in ideas that I think will help patients do better. The hospital pays attention to the quality of care and the needs of the patients with less focus on business. At the University of Pittsburgh, everything is a number. Saint Francis Hospital and I have the same philosophy of taking care of patients.”
Raftopoulos also hopes to join UConn Medical Center as an associate professor.
“I’d love more opportunities to teach students and residents,” he said. “It’s a different relationship and level for students; it’s very important when you are working with them on their first surgeries.”n
Emily Boisvert is a Hartford Business Journal staff writer.
