Meet Dr. José Santos Dias

Member no. 34160 of the Ordem dos Médicos (Portuguese Medical Association)

Specialist in Urology with a particular interest in diseases of the prostate

Dr. José Santos Dias, Clinical Director of the Instituto da Próstata, is especially dedicated to pathologies of the prostate as well as other urological diseases, such as bladder and kidney cancer.

His academic and professional background includes several awards and scholarships, experience at renowned clinics and hospitals around the world, important scientific studies, various reference books on the subject, and prominent positions in the most important national and international associations

Academic and Professional Achievements

Bacherlor’s Degree from the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Lisbon;
Specialist in Urology (3rd highest ranked (91%) out of 694 applicants for urology specialisation with a final score of 19.2);
European Inter-University Diploma – “Les Lasers Médicaux”, from the European Laser Association (Ranked 1st in Europe, in 1997);
Post-grad course in Sexual Medicine;
Fellow of the European Board of Urology (7th highest ranked at the European level);
Graduate Hospital Assistant at Hospital de Santa Maria;
Chief Prostate Oncology Consultant at Hospital de Santa Maria;
Faculty of Medicine Assistant at the University of Lisbon.

International Internships and Training

Dr. José Santos Dias has done internships and other training activities at the following international centres:

Centre Hospitalier Regional Universitaire, Lille, France;
Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Lausanne, Switzerland;
Fundació Puigvert, Universitat Autónoma, Barcelona, Spain;
Klinikum Heilbronn, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany;
University Medical Center St. Raboud, Nijmegen, Netherlands;
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, EUA;
Clinique Saint Augustin, Bordeaux, France;
Krankenhaus Nordwest, Frankfurt, Germany;
Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, EUA.

In a professional capacity, he has worked at institutions such as:

Hospital Pulido Valente;
Hospital da Luz;
Hospital Militar Principal;
British Hospital Lisbon XXI;
Hospital de Santa Maria.

Research and Scientific Activity

In the field of research, Dr. José Santos Dias was Director of the Innovation Center for Urology and Co-founder of evoSurg.

In fields such as prostate cancer, benign prostate hyperplasia and urinary incontinence, he has done clinical research and developed new devices for urological techniques.

He has undertaken basic research into the study of preserving periprostatic neurovascular bundles and erectile function in prostate cancer surgery.

In the scientific field, he is author of:

76 scientific articles published in national and international reviews;
And the books:
- Tudo o que sempre quis saber sobre a Próstata;
- Urologia Fundamental: na prática clínica;
- Urologia em 10 minutos;
- Urologia – Casos clínicos;
- Protocolos de urgência em Urologia;
He has also contributed 11 chapters to other books.

Dr. José Santos Dias has also authored 126 presentations, 36 posters e 10 videos and has received 21 awards and scholarships throughout his career.

Other Activities

Member of 5 national and 6 international medical societies and associations;
Co-founder of two of the above national associations;
Member of the organising committees of 53 medical conferences and meetings;
Organiser of the Prostate Race (P-Race), a race to raise awareness of cancer and other diseases of the prostate, all funds from which were donated to the Associação Portuguesa de Doentes da Próstata;
Editor of Acta Urológica, the magazine of the Associação Portuguesa de Urologia (APU), for 4 years and co-editor for another 4 years;
Member of the magazine’s Science Committee for 10 years;
Member of the Board of the Sociedade Portuguesa de Andrologia (SPA) from 2003 to 2007 and Secretary-General for 2 years;
Member of the SPA’s Consensos Portugueses para a Disfunção Eréctil group;
Coordinator of the APU’s Portuguese Group for the Study of Lithiasis for 4 years.

Dr. José Santos Dias has also participated in:

198 congresses, workshops and other medical meetings;
He has worked as a consultant and instructor in various firms;
He has been a member of 4 advisory boards;
And he has participated in various new drug trials.

Surgical Activities and Other Techniques

Given his long career, he is one of the most experienced specialists in procedures such as:

Urological laparoscopic surgery;
Brachytherapy for prostate cancer;
Cryotherapy for prostate and kidney cancer;
Laser surgery for benign prostate hyperplasia;
Other minimally invasive techniques to treat these diseases.

Dr. José Santos Dias has performed over 7,000 surgeries, including procedures such as:

Radical prostatectomy;
Laser prostate surgery (HOLEP, HOLAP, Greenlight, PVP);
Laparoscopic radical and partial nephrectomy;
Laparoscopic pyeloplasty;
Endoscopic prostate and bladder surgery;
Benign prostate surgery;
Endourological and percutaneous surgery of the upper urinary tract;
Urethral stricture surgery;
Surgeries for hydroceles, varicoceles and testicle cancer;
Penile surgery (from circumcisions to plasties and penile prostheses)

Over 12,000 diagnoses and therapies performed, including:

Systematic, saturation and fusion prostate biopsies;
Urethral, bladder, ureteral and kidney endoscopies;
Ultrasound scans of the urinary tract and male genitals (including Doppler tests);
Extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL);
Full urodynamic testing.