I am forever grateful to Shriners Children’s because it led me to a job I love. It has also given me a unique perspective, and the chance to help more children and families on the island.
He was being seen as a walk-in, the last patient of the day. By the end of the appointment the 12-year-old and his mom received unexpected news: The clinic physicians diagnosed him with acute osteomyelitis, a severe bone infection, in his left leg, and recommended that he travel to the United States for immediate treatment. “I remember many doctors rushing to the room to consult about my case,” Denos recalled. “Within a week, I was in the United States.”
That swift action not only saved Denos’s leg but inspired his life’s mission. The care he received at Shriners Children’s New England over the next several years greatly influenced his future. Back at home in Cyprus Denos volunteered at the clinic where he was first seen and ultimately decided to pursue a career in orthotics and prosthetics. In a truly full-circle experience, he realized his dream of practicing in Cyprus and recently joined a unique partnership with Shriners Children’s to provide care to international patients.
Clinicians at Shriners Children’s New England in Springfield, Massachusetts, began outreach to Cyprus in the 1980s with support from The George and Thelma Paraskevaides Foundation. Orthopedic surgeons and supporting staff traveled to the island annually, referring patients like Denos back to Springfield when they required a higher level of care.
After arriving in Springfield with his mom, Denos was treated with antibiotics while his doctors determined the best course of treatment. Amputation was a possibility due to the severity of the infection in his tibia, or shinbone. His doctors were able to save his leg with a staged surgical approach. Denos had two lengthy surgeries, the first to remove dead bone and the second to take bone from his pelvis to help the tibia regenerate. He spent many months in a cast as he recovered, then was fitted with a brace to help protect the fragile tibia as it continued to heal.
Denos looks back on his time at Shriners Children’s with fondness and gratitude for the unique, patient-centered care he received. “I was treated with exceptional care by the nurses, doctors, therapists and the overall environment,” said Denos. “I remember enjoying cinema night and pizza night with other Cypriot patients who became friends. Despite all the difficult parts of the journey, those times aren’t what I remember. It was just an amazing experience.”
When Denos finally returned home to Cyprus, his connection to Shriners Children’s remained. He volunteered to translate for the Shriners Children’s New England outreach clinicians, including not only orthopedic surgeons but also orthotists and prosthetists who fit children with devices like the brace he needed after surgery.
As Denos started to consider a career path, he knew he wanted to do something in the medical field. “I saw the help kids like me received with orthotics and prosthetics, and I thought it looked like an amazing job,” said Denos. “I started to wonder if I could do that in Cyprus one day.”
Denos was accepted into an orthotics and prosthetics program at a college in England. During his second year, he traveled back to Shriners Children’s New England to complete an internship. His prior experience as a patient gave Denos a unique and valuable perspective. “I felt the connection to the patients and what they were going through,” he said. “After watching my mom’s experience, I also understood how difficult it was for parents to navigate it all. It helped me to build a level of trust with my patients, and it helped me to be a better clinician.”
After graduating, Denos began working in London. He still returned to Cyprus to volunteer at the outreach clinics, now offering his professional services in addition to translation. Denos worked closely with Brock McConkey, CPO, manager of the pediatric orthotic and prosthetic services at Shriners Children’s New England, who regularly joined the trips to Cyprus beginning in 2016.
With a thriving private practice in the U.K., Denos began to consider how he could create something similar in his home country. He decided to open a small office in Cyprus for a trial period before committing to a permanent move from London. He still prioritized volunteering for Shriners Children’s while building the foundation for his practice. “Even though it was a difficult transition, Denos always showed up to volunteer at the clinic,” said Brock. “He was always there for the patients, and for us.”
Then the pandemic hit, and progress halted. Denos wondered if he could make it work. “Everything came to a standstill, and I thought, ‘What do I do’?” he said. “I knew I needed to give it a shot, and bit by bit, my practice slowly grew.”
With the help of The Paraskevaides Foundation, the Shriners Children’s outreach program continued to grow and provide orthopedic care to more children in Cyprus and countries throughout the region, including Egypt, Greece, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Pakistan, Syria and Turkey. An increased number of children seen during outreach had orthotic and prosthetic needs. Laura Koslowski, executive director of international strategy at Shriners Children’s, recognized the need for these patients to have year-round access to care. In 2024, Denos and Shriners Children’s formed a unique agreement designating him as an orthotics and prosthetics provider for Shriners Children’s patients in the region.
“By collaborating with Denos locally, we are so much more responsive to patients,” Laura said. “If a patient has a broken part, or they go through a growth spurt, their orthotic or prosthetic device won’t fit. Now patients don’t have to wait for the next outreach clinic for their devices to be repaired or modified.”
According to Brock, this partnership is a game changer for international patient care. “Denos is halfway around the world, but we still bounce ideas off of each other like I do with my team at Shriners Children’s New England,” he said. “We are always collaborating to provide patients with the best care. Denos is in the region all the time to help our patients and that is so important to their families.”
This ongoing collaboration provides better outcomes for patients. “As part of a team you always have someone to ask, ‘Is there something I’m missing?’,” explained Denos. “I can message Brock or another provider if I have a question. That partnership and mentorship is invaluable to me. In my experience, being part of a great team always yields the best results.”
Shriners Children’s outreach to Cyprus recently increased to three trips per year, providing care to more children than ever before. Partnering with the healthcare system that gave him life-changing treatment has brought Denos’s personal and professional goals full circle in the most meaningful way. “The journey has been about more than medicine. It’s about resilience, teamwork and gratitude,” he said.
Denos’s journey with Shriners Children’s shaped his belief that there is always a way forward, something that motivates him every day. “I am forever grateful to Shriners Children’s because it led me to a job I love,” he said. “It has also given me a unique perspective, and the chance to help more children and families on the island.”
