Director of the Department of Retroperitoneoscopy and Minimally Invasive Surgery of the Digestive System, Athens Metropolitan Hospital, Greece.

Dr. Kechagias is a double-certified surgeon after board certification in General Surgery from Athens, Greece, and in Digestive Surgery from Tampere University Hospital, Finland. He studied medicine at Padova University, Italy, and at Oulu University, Finland, with a graduation thesis based on clinical research from both Universities. He was awarded a Ph.D. degree from Athens University hospital based on his studies in acute diverticulitis. In an earlier career, he fulfilled surgical fellowships in renowned European university hospitals, including UMC Utrecht, Karolinska Stockholm, Rudolfstiftung Vienna, Tor Vergata Rome. His research is focused on clinical studies in visceral surgery and in the development of minimally invasive procedures. Dr. Kechagias has introduced innovations in posterior retroperitoneoscopic techniques for removing large tumors.