Dr. Stefan Schmidl
Chief at the Center for Joint Replacement
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Vita
- 2003 - 2009 Medical studies at the Friedrich Schiller University of Jena
- 2010 - 2013 Clinic for Trauma, Hand, and Reconstructive Surgery University Hospital Jena
- 2013 - 2017 ENDO-clinic Hamburg
- 2017 - 2025 Senior Physician, ENDO Clinic Wuppertal, specializing in endoprosthetics
- Seit Mai 2025 Chief, Sportklinik Hellersen
With Dr. Stefan Schmidl, the Sportklinik Hellersen has added another top specialist to its team of doctors. More than ten years ago, he began focusing on endoprosthetics and has since devoted himself intensively to this field, both surgically and scientifically. As an expert in primary and revision hip and knee endoprosthetics, his professional career has taken him to some of the most renowned endoprosthetics centers in Europe.
“It's great when you can help other people through your work.
Manual work is also my passion, and as an endoprosthetist, I'm fortunate to be able to combine both activities in my job.”
Dr. Stefan Schmidl
Chief, Center for Joint Replacement
Dr. Stefan Schmidl has a clear goal: to improve the mobility and thus the quality of life of his patients in the long term. A particular focus of his work is on robot-assisted endoprosthetics. Since May 2025, he has not only been working as Chief at the Sportklinik Hellersen, but also heads the robotics center at the specialist clinic, which opened in the spring of this year. Here, state-of-the-art technology and excellent surgical expertise come together.
3 questions for ...
Dr. Stefan Schmidl
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Dr. Schmidl, what makes a positive working environment?
Respectful and collegial interaction is particularly important to me. I value flat hierarchies where tasks are clearly defined, as well as an open culture of error management. It is important to me that issues can be clarified directly and honestly in personal conversations — this not only promotes cooperation, but also trust within the team.
Where so you see the future of modern medicine?
In endoprosthetics, long-term findings are of central importance. Only after 15 to 20 years does it become clear how durable and successful a joint replacement really is — that's when the wheat is separated from the chaff.
I very much hope that robotics, and artificial intelligence in particular, will be developed to such an extent in the near future that we will be able to evaluate the data obtained today in a targeted manner. The vision is that, even before the operation, we will be able to use individual parameters — such as anatomy, ligament tension, or previous surgeries — to precisely predict which individual fine adjustments are optimal for the respective patient or procedure. This would allow me to determine preoperatively how many degrees I need to change the leg axis or vary the rotation of the implants, depending on the patient's individual anatomy and the tension conditions in the knee joint measured live, in comparison with the existing data from many patients who have undergone surgery.
How do you prepare for complex operations?
Careful preparation is crucial for complex operations. This includes a comprehensive medical history of the patient, followed by thorough preoperative diagnostics and examination. X-rays, old implant records, and information about previously implanted prostheses play an important role. In cases of painful artificial joints, we always perform a joint puncture to rule out infection. This preoperative exclusion of infection is essential, as it has a significant impact on the further course of treatment. Logistical preparation is equally important. This includes having special implants available and, if necessary, ordering loan instruments. All these steps must be carefully planned and coordinated in advance to ensure that the operation runs smoothly and the patient receives the best possible care.
