Prof. Dr. Dimitar Raykov is an orthopaedist-traumatologist, Vice-Rector for Career Development at Medical University “Prof. Dr. Paraskev Stoyanov"–Varna and Head of the Clinic of Orthopaedics and Traumatology at UMHAT “Saint Marina"–Varna. Prof. Raykov applies his expertise gained through long-term experience in Bulgaria and Austria, shares his medical practice and presents his team at international conferences in Canada, the USA, Portugal, Hungary, Sweden, Poland, Morocco, Switzerland, Greece, Slovenia and Denmark.
He devotes his time and attention to his students, colleagues, patients, as well as to his team of talented professionals at the Clinic of Orthopaedics and Traumatology at UMHAT “St. Marina"–Varna.
Prof. Dr. Dimitar Raykov was born in 1963. He graduated with honours and was awarded with a Gold Medal from the First Language High School with English Language Teaching-Varna, and then continued his education as a student in Medicine at the Medical University, where he studied within the period 1984-1990. After graduating he started his professional career as a physician at a rural health centre.
From 1992 to 1994 he worked as an orthopaedist-traumatologist in several polyclinic centres in the city of Varna. In 1995 he started working as an orthopaedist-traumatologist at the Centre for Emergency Medical Care - Hospital “Saint Anna"-Varna. He obtained a speciality in Orthopaedics and Traumatology in May 1997. Following a competition in 1997, he was appointed an attending physician at the Clinic of Orthopaedics and Traumatology at Medical University-Varna, and subsequently after a competition he was selected as an Assistant-Professor.
Between 2003-2007 he completed a series of specialisations in Austria in the following areas:
1: Ultrasound Diagnosis and Treatment of Hip Dysplasia in Children – Stolzalpe AKH, under the guidance of the founder of the Graf Method, Dr. Reinghard Graf.
2: Knee Arthroscopy, Hip and Knee Endoprosthesis, Essentials of Spinal Stabilisation, Treatment of Musculoskeletal Deformities in Children – Allgemeines Krankenhaus der Stadt Wien
3: Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy in Orthopaedics – Stosswellenzentrum-Wien (Dr. Wolfgang Shaden), Austria
Promptly after that he introduced the acquired knowledge and methods in Bulgaria, thus, helping thousands of parents and children to prevent distortions and hip dislocation; for the first time in our country he has presented the applications of extracorporeal shock wave therapy in Orthopaedic practice, which has rapidly gained popularity as an alternative to injection and surgical treatment.
In 2008 Prof. Raykov successfully defended a dissertation entitled “Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy Applied for Diseases and Injuries of the Limbs" and was awarded the scientific degree “Doctor of Philosophy" (PhD) in Medicine at MU-Varna. In 2010 he was habilitated as Associate Professor at the Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology at MU-Varna. In June 2017 he successfully defended a dissertation on “Conservative Treatment of Idiopathic Clubfoot. The Ponseti Method – Approved Standard", for which he was awarded the scientific degree “Doctor of Sciences" (DSc). He was elected to the academic position of Professor in February 2018.
Prof. Raykov dedicates time and resources to sharing his expertise, being a mentor and scientific supervisor to orthopaedic traumatologists who are at the beginning of their professional development. He was elected the Vice-Rector for Career Development at Medical University “Prof. Dr. Paraskev Stoyanov"–Varna by a full majority in 2023.
Prof. Raykov's main professional areas of interests and specialisations lie in the following areas:
Ultrasound Diagnosis and Treatment of Hip Dysplasia in Children – Stolzalpe AKH Dr. Reinghard Graf) – Austria; Knee Arthroscopy, Hip and Knee Endoprosthesis, Essentials of Spinal Stabilisation, Treatment of Musculoskeletal Deformities in Children – AKH Wien, Universitätsklinikum; Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy in Orthopaedics – Stosswellenzentrum – Wien (Dr. Wolfgang Shaden), Austria; Osteosynthesis in Bone Fractures in Children and Adults.
Prof. Raykov is a member of the Bulgarian Orthopaedic and Traumatological Association (BOTA), of the Board of Directors of the Paediatric Orthopaedics Section of BOTA, he is Deputy Chairman of the Society for Treatment of Foot Diseases; member of the European Federation of National Associations of Orthopaedics and Traumatology (EFORT), of the International Society for Medical Shockwave Treatments (ISMST), of the Federation of European Societies for Surgery of the Hand (FESSH), of the International Federation of Societies for Surgery of the Hand (IFSSH), of ISMUS – International Society for Musculoskeletal Ultrasound; member of the Management Board of the Bulgarian Association “Ultrasound in Medicine" – section Orthopaedics; regional consultant in Orthopaedics and Traumatology for North-east Bulgaria, member of the Editorial Board of the journal “Orthopaedics and Traumatology", member coordinator for Bulgaria of the American Austrian Foundation (AAF) for providing employment and qualification to medical professionals based in Vienna, Austria.
Prof. Raykov has numerous contributions in the form of presentations and posters to international and national congresses, conferences and symposia in Canada, the USA, Portugal, Hungary, Sweden, Poland, Macedonia, Morocco, Greece, Slovenia, Denmark, Austria. He has participated in joint interdisciplinary studies, projects and publications in the field of Paediatric Oncohaematology, Scintigraphic and Echographic Diagnostic Imaging in Orthopaedics and Traumatology. He is the author of a monograph entitled “Enthesopathies in Orthopaedic Practice". He is the Chairman of the State Examination Board for the speciality of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, a peer reviewer of seven monographs, a scientific supervisor to 15 doctoral students, eight of whom are subject to doctoral defence over the next two years.
