Between 2016 and 2018, I served as a board member and a member of the Health Council of the Turkish Triathlon Federation. For over 3 years, I have been the president of the Maraton Istanbul Sports Club, consisting of triathlon and road marathon athletes. I also hold the position of Health Council Chairman and a board member in the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Sports Club, which encompasses more than 20 sports (such as volleyball, basketball, wrestling, karate, taekwondo, swimming, athletics, ice hockey, archery, table tennis, badminton, etc.) and has more than 20 athletes who have qualified for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Since 2021, I have been a member of the Health Council of the Turkish Athletics Federation.
During the 2020-2021 season, I assumed the role of team doctor for the Super Lig team Karagümrük Sports Club. I am married and the father of 2 children.
Opr. Dr.Utku Erdem Özer
Opr. Dr.Utku Erdem Özer
After graduating from Istanbul University Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine in 2001, I began my education in Orthopedics and Traumatology in the same year after passing the Medical Specialty Examination (TUS). I have been closely involved with sports injuries and sports surgery since my time as a resident. Between 2010 and 2012, I gained experience in hand and microsurgery with the Manus Hand Group, and I have been practicing orthopedic surgery for over 20 years. Surgical treatment of sports injuries, hip and knee joint replacements, and orthopedic trauma are my main areas of interest.
While being an amateur runner and cyclist for over 10 years, in 2014, I actively started participating in triathlon races that combine these two disciplines with swimming. I have completed 10 Half-Ironman distance races, mostly abroad, and 2 Ironman distance races.
Through actively participating in sports, I have learned to approach sports injuries from the athlete's perspective in my professional experience. I aim to resolve differences in perspective between the athlete and the surgeon, and I apply this with the goal of optimizing both roles.
Opr. Dr.Utku Erdem Özer
I strive to resolve most sports injuries through non-surgical methods because I understand that for an athlete, whether professional or amateur, surgery often means a longer return to sports. Therefore, I focus on how the athlete can adjust their training, lifestyle, diet, and exercises for the earliest return to sports, and I plan their treatment accordingly.
One of the non-surgical methods is injection therapies, which I frequently perform in my practice with ultrasound guidance, precisely targeting the affected area, so to speak, hitting the bullseye. When surgery is unavoidable, I provide you with a rich experience in the operating room to help you return to sports and play.