João Espregueira-Mendes

In 1998, João made his application for the direction of the Orthopaedics and Traumatology department at São Sebastião Hospital in Santa Maria da Feira, where he conceived and organized from scratch, the entire Orthopaedics service. In 2005, he begins to teach at Minho University, being the head of the department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology. It is also in this year that Clínica do Dragão is inaugurated, a health project created to meet all the medical needs of major specialties, with a particular focus in Orthopaedics and Traumatology and Sports Medicine, represented by Espregueira Mendes Sports Centre. The clinic acquires the international certification of ESSKA - European Society of Sports Traumatology, Knee Surgery and Arthroscopy - and ISAKOS - International Society of Arthroscopy, Knee Surgery and Orthopaedic Sports Medicine. João Duarte Espregueira-Mendes was the first Portuguese president of this scientific society (2012-2014) and during his mandate he accomplished the creation, among other achievements, of the ESSKA Foundation in Luxembourg, the Journal of Experimental Orthopaedics, the ESSKA Academy and the Porto Award prize. In 2012, João Duarte Espregueira-Mendes is named an honorary member of the Portuguese Society of Arthroscopy and Sports Traumatology (SPAT), the Bulgarian Orthopaedics and Traumatology Association (BOTA) and the Spanish Society of the Knee (SEROD). In 2013, the Clínica do Dragão, Espregueira-Mendes Sports Centre receives the most important international recognition, which sums up his excelling services, developed worldwide in the field of Sports Medicine: the FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence certificate. FIFA has thus distinguished Clinic under direction of Professor João Espregueira-Mendes, which became the first to receive such recognition in the Iberian Peninsula and a unique case in Portugal. Along his life, João Duarte Espregueira-Mendes has been deeply involved in his community and the city of Porto, being actively involved in several social and beneficiary events. He sponsors "Lar Luisa Canavarro" (former "Abrigo Maternal do Dr. João de Espregueira Mendes") and "Espaço João Espregueira-Mendes" art gallery in FC Porto museum.

João Duarte Espregueira-Mendes was born in Porto, on the 5th of March 1960. He spent his early life in Porto dedicated to the practice of tennis, mini golf and submarine star fishing. Initiated his studies at the École Française de Porto and completed his undergraduate studies at the António Nobre High School. In 1985, João Duarte Espregueira-Mendes finishes his MD degree at Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto having, since early, conjugated his professional activity with the academic career. Respecting the family tradition, the eldest son of João Manuel Ortigão Duarte Espregueira-Mendes represents the third orthopaedic generation of Espregueira-Mendes’ family, following the steps of his father and his grandfather João de Espregueira-Mendes. In 1995, he held Ph.D. exams in Orthopaedics and Traumatology at the same faculty with the thesis entitle “Chronic lesions of the anterior cruciate ligament”. In the same year, he was approved with distinction and commendation within the speciality of Orthopaedics, achieving a final perfect score by unanimity (20/20).