Dr. med. Bernhard Christen, M.H.A.
Founder of the practice
I am the founder of the practice and an orthopaedic surgeon with over 30 years of professional experience. I have been intensively involved in joint prosthetics on the knee and hip since 1997 and this focus has also established me internationally as a specialist in this field.
I have ceased my active clinical work since the end of 2024, but I remain an important part of the team as a valued consultant. With my expertise, I supported the practice in the background with complex issues and strategic direction.
Participation in the SIRIS Board and the European Knee Society
I was President of the Swiss Society for Orthopaedics and Traumatology of the Musculoskeletal System (Swiss Orthopaedics) between 2012-2014 and am a founding and former board member of the European Knee Society EKS. I chaired the Swiss Knee Expert Group until mid-2020 and have been a member of the Advisory Board of the Swiss Prosthesis Register SIRIS since 2016, where I am responsible for the knee prosthetics chapter. I will continue these commitments in the future and am interested in contributing to the further development of modern orthopaedics.
Otherwise, I am delighted to be able to hand over the practice to my long-standing partner PD Dr. Tilman Calliess and know that our patients are in excellent hands with him.
Curriculum vitae
| 1976 | C-Matura Gymnasium Neufeld Bern |
| 1977-1982 | Medical studies at the University of Bern |
| 1982 | State examination |
| 1983-1992 | Various residency positions in internal medicine and general surgery, orthopedics at the Bürgerspital Solothurn and the Inselspital Bern |
| 1987 | Dissertation |
| 1992 | Specialist in orthopaedics and traumatology |
| 1992-1997 | Senior physician orthopaedics at the Bürgerspital Solothurn |
| 1996 | Fellowship Shoulder Surgery, Balgrist University Hospital, Zurich |
| 1997-2002 | Head Physician for Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Surgical Clinic, Bern Ziegler Hospital
Five-year fellowship in the field of knee arthrosis and knee prosthetics |
| 2002 | Master of Health Administration (M.H.A.) |
| since 01.11.2002 | Attending physician with practice at Salem-Spital Bern, since 01.07.2013 with own AG (Christenortho AG) |
| September 2018 | Transfer of Christenortho to articon, specialist practice for joint surgery, since 05.03.2021 articon AG |
| 01.09.2023 | Handover of responsibility for articon AG to PD Dr. Tilman Calliess, since then Senior Consultant (60%) |
Scientific CV and qualifications
Management experience
- Worked for many years as a doctor in military staffs, most recently as divisional doctor of Geb Div 10
- Continuous management position in the profession since 1992
- 1999 – 2001 part-time postgraduate studies in “Management in Healthcare” (NDS MiG IV) at the University of Berne
- Master of Health Administration (M.H.A.) end of 2002
- President of the Bernese Society of Orthopaedics(BGO) 2003-2009
- Board member of Swiss Orthopaedics, the Swiss Orthopaedic Society from June 2010 to June 2016, President from 2012 to 2014
- President of the Knee Expert Group of Swiss Orthopaedics January 2016 to August 2020
- Board Member of the European Knee Associates (EKA) May 2014 to January 2015, of the European Knee Society (EKS) January 2015 to December 2015
Current professional activities
- from 01.01.2025 Senior Consultant at articon AG in freelance work
- Attending physician at Salem Hospital
- Founding member of SportsClinic#1 AG and still a member of the Board of Directors
- Member of the Board of Trustees of the Montana Clinic in Berne since 2005
- Member of the Advisory Board of the Swiss Prosthesis Register SIRIS since 2016, responsible for the knee joint
- Member of the expert group of the Swiss Prosthesis Register SIRIS since 2016
- Member of the Knee Expert Group (EGK) of the Swiss Orthopaedic Society(Swiss Orthopaedics), President EGK January 2016 to August 2020
- Founding Member of the European Knee Society(EKS), Board Member January to December 2015
Memberships
- Orthopaedic Clinic Bern(OKB)
- Medical Council Salem Hospital Bern
- Bern Society of Orthopaedic Surgeons(BGO), President 2003-2009
- Bernese Association of Attending Physicians(BBV+)
- Bern City Medical District Association
- Medical Association of the Canton of Berne
- SOCA (Swiss Orthopaedic Club for Exchange and Continuing Education)
- Swiss Orthopaedics(Swiss Society for Orthopaedics and Traumatology), President 2012-2014
- Foederatio Medicorum Chirurgicorum Helvetica(FMCH)
- Swiss Association of General Practitioners(SBV)
- Swiss Medical Association(FMH)
- Betterdoc.org
- Academy of the Endoprosthetics Working Group(AE)
- German Society for Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery (DGOU)
- Founding member of the European Knee Society(EKS), Board member January to December 2015
About the person
Father of three grown-up children, a daughter and two sons, married for the second time. I am now a grandfather of five. I am passionate about skiing, play squash and floorball regularly and am increasingly trying my hand at golf. I get my energy from my family, my wife and traveling at home and abroad.
Interest in almost everything, fascination for nature, history, photography, art, wine and being and good food.