News “Knees present an ongoing challenge”
Dr. med. Stefan Preiss has been an esteemed expert at Schulthess Klinik for two decades. For the past 16 years, he has been shaping the largest knee reference centre in Switzerland as Head of Knee Surgery. In this interview, he tells us about his fascination with knee surgery, the importance of trust and why Schulthess Klinik means so much to him personally as well as professionally.
Dr. Preiss, you’ve been working at Schulthess Klinik for 20 years. Why did you make that career move at the time?
Well, it was always my goal to work at Schulthess Klinik. I was working as a senior consultant at another hospital, but I knew I didn’t want to stay there for long. I contacted Dr. Munzinger, who was Head Doctor at Schulthess Klinik at the time, and told him that I would be interested in applying for the next consultant or senior consultant vacancy that came up. Two years later, I was offered the position of Senior Consultant on the hip/knee team. I happily accepted the job even though it meant taking a temporary step backwards in my career. Looking back now, it was the best decision I could have made.
You have personal ties to Schulthess Klinik as well as your professional ones, don’t you?
Yes, I grew up right next door to the old Schulthess Klinik building on Neumünsterallee. I became acquainted with the hospital as my childhood neighbour – and we were reunited when I returned as a knee patient at the age of 18. So I’ve had a close emotional connection to this place for a long time. My father was a sports surgeon in Zurich, but he referred me to Schulthess Klinik for my surgery because he didn’t want to operate on his own son. The hospital already had an impressive reputation all that time ago.
Would you say that Dr. Munzinger, the former Head Doctor, had a big influence on you?
Absolutely. Dr. Munzinger taught me what it means to be courageous and push the boundaries from time to time. He gave me the freedom to make my own decisions as a surgeon, with plenty of flexibility but also clearly defined limits. I can’t tell you what a profound difference that support made to me. Dr. Munzinger took an individualistic approach to surgery. He didn’t believe in one-size-fits-all solutions and instead performed bespoke operations on each and every patient. That mindset had a huge impact on me.
What made you specialise in knee surgery?
I was influenced partly by my family and partly by my own experiences as a patient and young surgeon. My father and grandfather were both surgeons, so my interest in a career in medicine came from them. I struggled with several serious knee injuries myself as a young person playing sport. And so I got to know the joint intimately and found I was fascinated by it. Pretty much every single operation is technically challenging. Mechanically speaking, the knee is extremely complex. And that’s reflected in surgery performed on the joint.
What do you love most about your work at Schulthess Klinik?
Here, there’s just as much of a focus on the human touch as on the quality of the medical treatment we offer. We pride ourselves on our patient care and our highly efficient, optimised processes – but it’s also a priority for me that every patient feels as though they’re being treated as a person. A short conversation and a few thoughtful words is all it takes to build trust. And that trust is the key to us doing our job well. For me, this humanity is not an added bonus. It’s a critical part of the healing process. I want people to know that I’m taking them seriously and prioritising their health and wellbeing.
How would you describe the philosophy behind knee surgery at Schulthess Klinik?
We have our very own Schulthess philosophy in the Knee Surgery Department and it goes back to the 1970s. It is passed down from generation to generation, with a focus on precision, innovation and the need to adapt each operation to the specific requirements of the individual patient. We keep developing new methods, while endeavouring to follow meaningful new trends and working together as a team to continually improve our treatments. It’s our commitment to ongoing optimisation – in terms of technology and our own skills –that makes us stand out from the crowd.
How important is the charitable side of the hospital to you?
Very important. The hospital is a foundation, so we don’t have to distribute our profits. Instead, we can reinvest any financial gain back into our research, infrastructure and patient care. That gives us the scope to improve our quality, but it also creates a special kind of culture. Our Foundation’s Patient Assistance Fund helps people who wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford the surgery they need. It’s so fulfilling to be part of an institution that is based on such wholesome values.
How do you cope with the stress and pressure that comes with such an intense job?
There’s no doubt that my job is challenging. Every minute is accounted for from first thing in the morning to the end of the day, often without a break. I travel a lot – for work but also for leisure. Whenever I have the chance, I relax by spending time with my family, doing exercise and talking to people. You know, that’s what I really enjoy about my work too. I love talking to people whether they’re patients or friends. That human connection comes first for me every time.
What still fascinates you about knee surgery 20 years down the line?
The knee is a fascinating joint with so much potential. Every operation is a new challenge. And perfection is always out of our reach – we aim for it every time but know that every knee is unique. And that’s never going to change. It’s that unique nature combined with the need for precision that absolutely fascinates me about knee surgery. It keeps me focused and motivates me to try my best every day.
Dr. med. Stefan Preiss
Dr. med. Stefan Preiss has been Head of Knee Surgery at Schulthess Klinik since 2008. He worked as a consultant and senior consultant at several hospitals in Switzerland before that and completed fellowship stays in the USA. He started working at Schulthess Klinik in 2004, taking on the role of Senior Consultant for the Joint Centre before being promoted to Head of Knee Surgery in 2008. Alongside his day job at the hospital, he has also been Head Doctor for the Grasshopper Club football team in Zurich and he helps to train young orthopaedic surgeons.
Knee Surgery Department at Schulthess Klinik
As Switzerland’s largest reference centre for knee endoprosthetics and revision surgery, the Knee Surgery Department at Schulthess Klinik performs around 850 knee replacement operations every year. The department also offers axial corrections and complex ligament reconstructions alongside prosthetics, combining medical expertise, state-of-the-art technology and a patient-focused strategy based on exceptional quality of care and a distinct human touch in a medical setting.
