Field of expertise
Physician / Osteologist-DVO
Senior Clinical Research Physician
Twenty-five years of clinical research and patient care at leading university institutions in Germany, Canada, and Switzerland have given me a wealth of osteological expertise that I am eager to share with my colleagues at the Center for Proactive Medicine — and through them, with our patients.
"Best Research – Best Medicine – Best Patient Care" was the motto of Mt. Sinai Hospital in Toronto, displayed prominently above the main entrance. For me, it has always been a personal standard as well.
Over the past 10 years, I have successfully applied my experience — and developed new ideas for better patient care — not only within academic medicine, but also at other locations in Germany and Switzerland.
It has also been an honor to serve as Senior Medical Advisor for the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF), based in Nyon (CH/VD).
In this spirit, I look forward to continuing to live these values at the Center for Proactive Medicine on Rennweg in the heart of Zurich — as an advisor to a dedicated interdisciplinary team committed not only to the treatment, but also to the early detection and prevention of osteoporosis.
Resume
Since 2026 | Senior Consultant Bone Health at CPM, Zurich |
Since 2024 | Osteoporosis Specialist at OSAG, Wil (SG), with locations in Bern and Thun |
Since 2024 | Scientific Director Osteology, OsteoPro at Promedio Halle GmbH (D) |
2022-23 | Senior Medical Advisor, International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF), Nyon |
2018-24 | Physician/Osteologist, University Outpatient Clinic for Osteoporosis, Inselspital Bern |
2014-22 | Medical Development Director, OsteoPro at Promedio GmbH (D) |
2014-15 | Head of Osteoporosis, Orthopedic Center Schmargendorf, Berlin (D) |
2013 | Swiss Medical Diploma (CH) |
2011 | Certification as Osteologist-DVO (D), recertified in 2016 and 2021 |
2003-14 | Head of Clinical Research and Osteoporosis University Outpatient Clinic, Center for Muscle and Bone Research, Charité – Campus Benjamin Franklin, Universitätsmedizin Berlin (D) |
2003 | Research semester in musculoskeletal basic research, Samuel Lunenfeld Institute, Mt. Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto (Canada) |
2000 | Internship in Orthopedic Osteology, Osteoporosis Outpatient Clinic, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York (USA) |
2000 | Doctorate (Dr. med.), Humboldt University Berlin (D). Thesis: "Secondary Osteoporosis in Ankylosing Spondylitis" |
1996-2003 | Residency in Internal Medicine (General Internal Medicine, Endocrinology, Gastroenterology, Rheumatology), Universitätsklinikum Benjamin Franklin, Freie Universität Berlin (D) |
1996-2003 | Resident Physician and Clinical Research Physician, Arthritis and Osteoporosis Research Group, Universitätsklinikum Benjamin Franklin, Freie Universität Berlin (D) |
1994-96 | Resident Physician, Rheumatology Clinic Buch, Berlin (D) |
1994 | Full Medical Licensure (D) |
1992-94 | Medical Intern (AiP), Rheumatology Clinic Buch, Berlin (D) |
1986-92 | Studies in Human Medicine, Charité, Humboldt University Berlin (D) |
Additional Qualifications
DXA and Radiation Protection (D)
Clinical Project Lead
Good Clinical Practice
Osteodensitometry (DXA incl. TBS, VFA, QCT, pQCT, hr-pQCT)
Histomorphometry
Advanced Course in Clinical Osteology & Endocrinology
Musculoskeletal Ultrasound
Invited Lectures
European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR), 2013
International Society for Musculoskeletal and Neuronal Interactions (ISMNI), 2008
European Calcified Tissue Society (ECTS), 2006 Muscle & Bone – New Frontiers, 2002, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2015 & 2016
German Osteology Congress 2009, 2010, 2014, 2015 & 2018
German Association of Rheumatologists, 2013 & 2014
Rheumatologikum Academy, 2014
Memberships
American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR), 1996 – active
European Calcified Tissue Society (ECTS), 2004 – active
German Society for Osteology (DGO), 2012 – active
Umbrella Organization for Osteology (DVO), 2012 – active
International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF), 2012 – active
Swiss Association Against Osteoporosis (SVGO/ASCO), 2008 – active
Swiss Bone and Mineral Society (SBMS), 2009–2020
International Society for Musculoskeletal and Neuronal Interactions (ISMNI), 2010–2013
Osteoporosis Society of Canada (OSC), 2002–2006
Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI), 2003–2006
Awards
ASBMR Annual Meeting, 2009, Denver (CO/USA) – Plenary Poster Award
ASBMR Annual Meeting, 2015, Seattle (WA/USA) – Plenary Poster Award
Osteologie 2017, Erlangen (D) – Best Clinical Abstract
Publications
Lems WF, Ward KA, Lewiecki EM, Richmond B, Bock O, et al. Making VFA Part of Standard Clinical DXA Assessment for Osteoporosis Care: Recommendations From the International Working Group on DXA Best Practices. Mayo Clin Proc. 2025 Dec; 100(12): 2186-2205.
Slart RHJA, Punda M, Ali DS, Bazzocchi A, Bock O, et al. Updated practice guideline for dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging. 2025 Jan; 52(2): 539-563.
Khan AA, Slart RHJA, Ali DS, Bock O, Carey JJ, et al. Osteoporotic Fractures: Diagnosis, Evaluation, and Significance From the International Working Group on DXA Best Practices. Mayo Clin Proc. 2024 Jul; 99(7): 1127-1141.
Fuggle N, Al-Daghri N, Bock O, Branco J, Bruyère O, et al. Novel formulations of oral bisphosphonates in the treatment of osteoporosis. Aging Clin Exp Res. 2022 Nov; 34(11): 2625-2634.
Chevalley T, Brandi ML, Cashman KD, Cavalier E, Bock O, et al. Role of vitamin D supplementation in the management of musculoskeletal diseases: update from an European Society of Clinical and Economical Aspects of Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases (ESCEO) working group. Aging Clin Exp Res. 2022 Nov; 34(11): 2603-2623.
Lippuner K, Rimmer G, Stuck AK, Schwab P, Bock O. Hospitalizations for major osteoporotic fractures in Switzerland: a long-term trend analysis between 1998 and 2018. Osteoporos Int. 2022 Nov; 33(11): 2327-2335.
Belavý DL, Armbrecht G, Blenk T, Bock O, Börst H, Kocakaya E, Luhn F, Rantalainen T, Rawer R, Tomasius F, Willnecker J, Felsenberg D. Greater association of peak neuromuscular performance with cortical bone geometry, bone mass and bone strength than bone density: A study in 417 older women. Bone. 2016; 83: 119-26.
Bala Y, Chapurlat R, Cheung AM, Felsenberg D, Laroche M, Morris E, Reeve J, Thomas T, Zanchetta J, Bock O, Ghasem-Zadeh A, Zebaze R, Seeman E, Rizzoli R: Risedronate slows or partly reverses cortical and trabecular micro-architectural deterioration in postmenopausal women. J Bone Miner Res. 2014; 29(2): 380-8.
Hadji P, Bock O, Resch H, Kraenzlin M, Wang A, Steinle T, Eisen C: [Reduction of fracture risk with denosumab among women with osteoporosis with or without need for treatment according to DVO 2009 guideline. A subgroup analysis of the FREEDOM trial.] Osteologie. 2013; 22(1): 39-45.
Bock O: [The effects of anti-resorptive therapy in bone.] Osteologie. 2012; 21(2): 63-69.
Felsenberg D, Stege U, Degner C, Börst H, Bock O: [Strontium ranelate improves pain symptoms and daily life activities in postmenopausal osteoporosis under practice conditions. Results of the non-interventional PERSPECTIVES Study.] Osteologie. 2012; 21(1): 15-21.
Bock O, Börst H, Beller G, Armbrecht G, Degner C, Martus P, Roth HJ, Felsenberg D: Impact of oral ibandronate 150 mg once monthly on bone structure and density in postmenopausal osteo-porosis derived from in vivo µCT. Bone. 2012; 50(1): 317-24.
Rizzoli R, Chapurlat RD, Laroche JM, Krieg MA, Thomas T, Frieling I, Boutroy S, Laib A, Bock O, Felsenberg D: Effects of strontium ranelate and alendronate on bone microstructure in women with osteoporosis: results of a 2-year study. Osteoporos Int. 2012; 23(1): 305-15.
Belavy DL, Beller G, Armbrecht G, Perschel FH, Fitzner R, Bock O, Börst H, Degner C, Gast U, Felsenberg D: Evidence for an additional effect of whole-body vibration above resistive exercise alone in preventing bone loss during prolonged bed-rest. Osteoporos Int. 2011; 22(5): 1581-91.
Felsenberg D, Bock O, Börst H, Armbrecht G, Beller G, Degner C, Stephan-Oelkers M, Schacht E, Mazor Z, Hashimoto J, Roth HJ, Martus P, Runge M: Additive impact of alfacalcidol on bone mineral density and bone strength in alendronate treated postmenopausal women with reduced bone mass. J Musculoskelet Neuronal Interact. 2011; 11(1): 34-45.
Belavy DL, Bock O, Börst H, Armbrecht G, Gast U, Degner C, Beller G, Soll H, Salanova M, Habazettl H, Heer M, de Haan A, Stegeman DF, Cerretelli P, Blottner D, Rittweger J, Gelfi C, Kornak U, Felsenberg D: The 2nd Berlin Bed Rest-Study – protocol and implementation. J Musculoskelet Neuronal Interact. 2010; 10(3): 207-19.
Bock O, Felsenberg D: Bisphosphonates in the management of postmenopausal osteoporosis - optimizing efficacy in clinical practice. Clin Intervent Aging. 2008; 3(2): 279-97.
Bock O, Börst H, Thomasius FE, Degner C, Stephan-Oelkers M, Valentine SM, Felsenberg D: Common musculoskeletal adverse effects of oral treatment with once weekly alendronate and risedronate in patients with osteoporosis, and ways for their prevention. J Musculoskelet Neuronal Interact. 2007; 7(2): 144-8.
Ringe JD, Faber H, Bock O, Valentine S, Felsenberg D, Pfeifer M, Minne HW, Schwalen S: Transdermal fentanyl for the treatment of back pain caused by vertebral osteoporosis. Rheumatol Int. 2002; 22(5): 199-203.
Felsenberg D, Alenfeld FE, Bock O, Hammermeister C, Gowin W: Placebo-controlled multicentre study of oral alendronate in postmenopausal osteoporotic women. Maturitas. 1998; 31: 35-43.
Book Chapters
Felsenberg D, Bock O: Osteoporose [Osteoporosis]. In: Harrison’s Innere Medizin [Harrison’s Internal Medicine]. 18th German edition, 2012.
Felsenberg D, Bock O: Physiologie und Pathophysiologie des Knochen- und Mineralstoff-wechsels [Physiology and pathophysiology of bone and mineral metabolism]. In: Harrison’s Innere Medizin [Harrison’s Internal Medicine]. 17th German edition, 2008.
Felsenberg D, Bock O: Osteoporose [Osteoporosis]. In: Harrison’s Innere Medizin [Harrison’s Internal Medicine]. 17th German edition, 2008.
We introduce ourselves
As experienced specialists in the fields of Internal Medicine, Orthopedics, and Psychotherapy, we stand for medical excellence as well as a holistic approach at CPM.
