About Dr. Christodoulou
Dr. Christodoulou is a preliminary general surgery resident at the University of Pennsylvania. Born and raised in Nicosia, Cyprus, he was selected for military training in Crete, Greece, after which he completed his military service as a second lieutenant. Subsequently, he attended medical school at the University of Cambridge, UK, having been awarded a scholarship from the Cyprus State Scholarship Foundation. At Cambridge, he earned a Master of Arts in Pharmacology under the mentorship of Shield Professor of Pharmacology J. Michael Edwardson. Before joining Penn Surgery, Dr. Christodoulou completed his internship at Royal Papworth Hospital and Cambridge University Hospitals. During his intern year, he also undertook an observership in Surgical Oncology at Stanford Medicine, where he was inspired by the exceptional standards of healthcare in the US. His research experience spans plastic and reconstructive surgery outcomes, vascular surgery, orthopedic surgery, and general surgery. Dr. Christodoulou aims to pursue a career in academic surgery, with ongoing research interests focused on surgical outcomes.
Education
2023 - 2025
Resident Doctor
Royal Papworth Hospital & Cambridge University Hospitals, Cambridge, UK
2017 - 2023
MA (Cantab.) MB BChir
University of Cambridge
Societies
2024
Full General Medical Council (GMC-UK)
Registration with a license to practice: GMC Ref: 8002433
Awards
2017 - 2023
Scholarship for medical degree at the University of Cambridge based on academic performance
Awarded by the Cyprus State Scholarship Foundation
2022
Grant to present at the World Orthopaedic Research Congress ICORS 2022, Edinburgh, UK
Awarded by Christ’s College, University of Cambridge, UK
2022
Top 10% in Year 5 Single Best Answer Exam Paper
University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, UK
2022
Top 10% in Year 5 Short Answer Questions Exam Paper
University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, UK
Research
Throughout medical school and his intern years in Cambridge, UK, Dr. Christodoulou actively engaged in diverse research projects across several surgical specialties, including plastic and reconstructive surgery, vascular surgery, orthopedic surgery, and general surgery. He has authored multiple systematic reviews and meta-analyses published in peer-reviewed journals and has presented his findings at international conferences. Dr. Christodoulou is proficient in statistical analysis using R and has collaborated with researchers, including Dr. Rafael Malgor, Director of the Robert B. Rutherford Fellowship in Vascular Surgery, Dr. Christodoulos Kaoutzanis, Director of Breast Reconstruction at the University of Colorado Hospital, and Professor Wasim Khan from the University of Cambridge.
Publications
Peer-Reviewed Original Research Publications
- Lacona, R., Christodoulou, N., Lobos, H.M. and Malakounldes, G., 2018. Incarcerated wandering spleen in a congenital hernia of the cord: First case report. Clin Pediatr OA, 3(4), pp.1-3.
- Kapetanos, K., Asimakopoulos, D., Christodoulou, N., Vogt, A. and Khan, W., 2021. Chronological age affects MSC senescence in vitro—a systematic review. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 22(15), p.7945
- Christodoulou, N., Asimakopoulos, D., Kapetanos, K., Seah, M. and Khan, W., 2023. Principles of management of hand fractures. Journal of Perioperative Practice, 33(11), pp.342-349.
- Christodoulou, N., Wolfe, B., Mathes, D.W., Malgor, R.D. and Kaoutzanis, C., 2023. Vacuum-assisted closure therapy for the management of deep sternal wound complications: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery.
- Vogt, A., Kapetanos, K., Christodoulou, N., Asimakopoulos, D., Birch, M.A., McCaskie, A.W. and Khan, W., 2023. The Effects of Chronological Age on the Chondrogenic Potential of Mesenchymal Stromal Cells: A Systematic Review. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 24(20), p.15494.
- McCranie, A.S., Christodoulou, N., Wolfe, B., Malgor, R.D., Mathes, D.W., Winocour, J., Jason, W.Y., Kalia, N. and Kaoutzanis, C., 2024. The Use of Flaps for Management of Deep Sternal Wound Complications–A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery
- Yiallourou, A., Pantavou, K., Markozannes, G., Pilavas, A., Georgiou, A., Hadjikou, A., Economou, M., Christodoulou, N., Letsos, K., Khattab, E. and Kossyva, C., 2024. Non-genetic factors and breast cancer: an umbrella review of meta-analyses. BMC cancer, 24(1), p.903.
- Christodoulou, N., Secanho, M., Kokosis, G., Malgor, R.D., Winocour, J., Jason, W.Y., Mathes, D.W., Kaoutzanis, C. Capsular contracture in breast reconstruction: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery
- Haas, E.*, Christodoulou, N.*, Secanho, M., Kokosis, G., Malgor, R.D., Winocour, J., Yu, J.W., Mathes, D.W. and Kaoutzanis, C., 2025, January. Capsular Contracture After Breast Augmentation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. In Aesthetic Surgery Journal Open Forum (p. ojaf003). Oxford University Press.
Editorials, Reviews, Chapters
- Christodoulou, N., Secanho, M., Kokosis, G., Malgor, R.D., Winocour, J., Yu, J.W., Mathes, D. W., Kaoutzanis, C., 2025, March. Reply to the Letter to the Editor about the article “Capsular contracture in breast reconstruction: A systematic review and meta-analysis”. In Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery, 102, p. 520-521.
Oral Presentations
- Kapetanos, K., Asimakopoulos, D., Christodoulou, N., Vogt, A., Khan, W. Chronological Age Affects MSC Senescence In Vitro-a Systematic Review. Oral poster presentation at the World Orthopaedic Research Congress ICORS 2022, Edinburgh, United Kingdom; 6th – 9th of September 2022.
- Yiallourou, A., Pantavou, K., Markozannes, G., Georgiou, A., Hadjikou, A., Economou, M., Pilavas A, Christodoulou, N., Letsos, K., Khattab, E., Kossyva, C., Constantinou, M., Theodoridou, M., Piovani, D., Tsilidis, K., Bonovas, S., Nikolopoulos, G. Environmental risk factors for breast cancer: an umbrella review of meta-analyses. Oral presentation at the 9th Panhellenic Conference of Forum of Public Health and Social Medicine, Heraklion, Crete, Greece; 20th – 22nd of October 2023
- Mazzola Poli de Figueiredo, S., Theis, C., Christodoulou, N., Andrade Nunes, V., Marcolin, P., Graziani e Sousa, A. Is mesh fixation necessary in retromuscular ventral hernia repair? A meta-analysis. Oral presentation for the upcoming AHS 2025 Annual Meeting, Nashville, TN, USA, 4th – 6th September 2025
Poster Presentations
- Haas, E.*, Christodoulou, N.*, Secanho, M., Kokosis, G., Malgor, RD., Winocour, J., Yu, J.W., Mathes, D.W., Kaoutzanis, C. Capsular contracture after breast augmentation: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Poster Presentation at the 2nd Mediterranean Conference of Plastic Surgery Innovations, Grand Resort Lagonissi, Athens Riviera, Greece; 31st of August 2024 – 2nd of September 2024
- McCranie, A.S., Christodoulou, N., Wolfe, B., Malgor, R.D., Mathes, D.W., Winocour, J., Jason, W.Y., Kalia, N., Kaoutzanis, C. The Use of Flaps for Management of Deep Sternal Wound Complications–A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Accepted for Poster presentation at the upcoming BAPRAS Congress 2024: International, ICC Wales, Newport, Wales, United Kingdom; 4th to 6th of December 2024
- Christodoulou, N., Wolfe, B., Mathes, D.W., Malgor, R.D., Kaoutzanis, C. Vacuum-assisted closure therapy for the management of deep sternal wound complications: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Accepted for Poster presentation at the upcoming BAPRAS Congress 2024: International, ICC Wales, Newport, Wales, United Kingdom; 4th to 6th of December 2024
- Christodoulou, N., Secanho, M., Kokosis, G., Malgor, R.D., Winocour, J., Jason, W.Y., Mathes, D.W., Kaoutzanis, C. Capsular contracture in breast reconstruction: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Accepted for Poster presentation at the upcoming BAPRAS Congress 2024: International, ICC Wales, Newport, Wales, United Kingdom; 4th to 6th of December 2024
- Haas E*, Christodoulou N*, Secanho M, Kokosis G, Malgor R.D, Winocour J, Yu J.W, Mathes D.W, Kaoutzanis C. Capsular Contracture After Breast Augmentation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus 40th Annual Research Forum. Aurora, CO, USA. December 10, 2024
- Haas E*, Christodoulou N*, Secanho M, Kokosis G, Malgor R.D, Winocour J, Yu J.W, Mathes D.W, Kaoutzanis C. Capsular Contracture After Breast Augmentation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Mountain West Society of Plastic Surgeons Annual Meeting 2024. Olympic Valley, CA, USA. March 6-9, 2025