I am honoured to have established my practice since 2014 at Sports Surgery Clinic & Mater Private Hospital , two dynamic and progressive institutions in Irish healthcare.
My Irish story is one of chance and adventure built on a foundation of hard work and desire for self-improvement.
My first visit to Ireland was as a medical student in 1998. On returning home after a successful Rugby World Cup qualifying campaign, I felt the warm welcome from the Irish people and hoped that we would return to play more matches in the 1999 RWC. So we did and my first impression was reinforced. Little did I know then that Dublin would become more of a home for me over the next 20 years than my native Transylvania.
It was a casual invitation from Kevin Fitzpatrick, Liaison Officer to the Romanian Rugby team and President of DLSP RFC at the time, that changed the course of my life: “Why don’t you come and spend a holiday with us after the World Cup?“ During this holiday, a rugby game (Leinster Cup semifinal DLSP -v-Clontarf) followed by a pint and a chat with Dr. Mick Foley, led to my introduction to the Irish Medical Council. It was then I realized then this was the place to pursue my two passions: playing rugby and practicing medicine. Within a year I arrived back with little more than a sports bag, ready to chase my dream. (Reference “Vioreanu just what the doctor ordered”, Irish Times article, 2002)
Through a series of random encounters, including meeting Mr. Gerry McEntee, a surgeon in the Mater Hospital and GAA legend, I soon found myself working as a junior doctor and playing club and Hospital Cup rugby in Dublin. Inevitably my life at the time was filled with ‘firsts’: first Romanian to score a GAA goal in Parnell Park, one of the first non-Irish trainees to be selected on the Specialist Registrar RCSI training program, watching my first hurling match in Croke park and many others.
Along the way I had the good fortune to receive outstanding postgraduate education and training in orthopaedic surgery. Many of my teachers, mentors and surgeons with whom I worked and trained remain my personal friends. All this, as well as meeting my wife Orla, defined and strengthened my Irish identity.
In pursuit of surgical excellence, together with my young family, I embarked on a two-year world tour. Working along world-class surgeons in Canada and Australia was instrumental in defining and creating my own standards of how elective orthopaedic treatment should be delivered to my future patients.
There is no bigger honor than being invited to come back and establish my practice in Sports Surgery Clinic & Mater Private Hospital to offer Irish people the highest standard of orthopaedic care.
Welcome to my website, my practice and this blog where I intend to regularly write and express professional opinions on current orthopaedic topics of my interest.
Go raibh maith agat !
