He entered the Medical School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens through the national entrance examinations in 1998 and graduated in July 2014 with a “Very Good” grade. He began his specialist training in orthopaedic surgery and traumatology in paediatric orthopaedics at the Second Orthopaedic Department of Agia Sofia Children’s Hospital. He then spent two years in Switzerland, from April 2009 to May 2011, first at the renowned St Gallen orthopaedic school and then in the Canton of Bern, at the regional hospital affiliated with Insel University Hospital in Oberaargau. He completed his training at the First Orthopaedic Department of the University of Athens and KAT Accident Hospital.

After qualifying as a specialist, he moved to the United Kingdom for recognised Post-CCT Fellowship Training in foot and ankle surgery at Freeman Hospital in Newcastle, a leading centre for these conditions and one of England’s foremost hospitals for surgical training. (http://www.newcastle-hospitals.org.uk/news/news-item-14975.aspx)

He holds a Master’s degree in metabolic bone diseases from the University of Athens Medical School, following two years of study and a dissertation entitled “Exercise and sport in childhood: the effect of childhood exercise on bone strength”, awarded an “Excellent” grade.

His particular interest in paediatric orthopaedics and the effect of sport on the developing skeleton led him to visit the specialist children’s exercise centre in Exeter, UK, as a Visiting Fellow. The centre is a reference point for athletes developing from childhood and provides scientific advice and expertise to distinguished organisations and sports clubs, including the GB Olympic team and Manchester United sports schools.

He has authored chapters in Greek and international orthopaedic textbooks and published widely in Greek and international scientific journals. (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=ballas+eg)

He serves as a reviewer for scientific journals and has presented numerous papers at Greek and international conferences. He has lectured on continuing education and postgraduate programmes and is a member of Greek and international scientific societies.

He maintains a private practice in Chalandri, Attica, is a consultant in paediatric orthopaedics at MITERA Hospital of the HYGEIA Group and collaborates with HYGEIA Hospital, IASO General and the Athens Medical Group.