A new space, a new way of continuing care. Brazilian dermatologist strengthens her practice in Porto with a new clinic

Dr. Ellene Papazis, a dermatovenereologist with an international career, now sees patients at a new clinic located in the Boavista area of Porto — within the well-established multidisciplinary space of 52 Clinics, at Rua Orfeão do Porto, 52.

More than a physical move, this new stage represents a realignment of the very concept of care that Dr. Ellene has been building since she arrived in Portugal: care that listens, that respects the pace of each body and that looks at the skin as part of a larger story.

The new space was designed to hold this way of working — a place where the calm of the environment helps to deepen listening, conversation and connection. The move comes with the wish to offer a more thorough kind of care — one that brings together up-to-date science, clinical sensitivity and genuine attention to each patient's experience.

This move also reflects the pillars that support Dr. Ellene's practice: attentive listening, technical knowledge, respect for time and individuality, and care that considers both what is visible and what beats underneath.

“Dermatology cannot be cold or disconnected from other fields. The skin is the largest organ in the body — it covers everything, it feels, it responds. And it does not feel only from the outside: it feels from the inside out, and the other way around. Every complaint, every wish, especially in the aesthetic field, needs to be received responsibly. It is from that careful listening that we can assess what is truly indicated, ethical and beneficial — not only aesthetically, but also psychologically, and in terms of skin health across a lifetime.”

“On the clinical side, this view is essential. Skin, hair and nails are reflections of the body as a whole. Looking deeply therefore means knowing when to investigate clinically, to order laboratory tests, to perform biopsies — essential tools for reaching an accurate diagnosis. Often it is also necessary to work alongside other medical specialties. The skin is a sensitive mirror of what the body is living through. And caring for it properly takes time and dedication.” — Dr. Ellene Papazis.

Foundational training and choices beyond the skin

Dr. Ellene Papazis's interest in dermatology began while she was still at medical school in Brazil. From early on, she was fascinated by the complexity of the skin as a mirror of the body — but also as an emotional and aesthetic expression. Even so, she chose to follow a broader path before specialising in the field.

She qualified more than 15 years ago and chose to deepen her training first in Internal Medicine, with a residency at the Hospital Federal dos Servidores do Estado in Rio de Janeiro. She then completed a postgraduate degree in Intensive Care Medicine at Universidade de Vassouras, also in Rio. That stage was, in her own words, essential to becoming a more complete doctor: with a systemic understanding of the human body, greater clinical rigour and the ability to act in critical and complex situations.

With that grounding, she finally devoted herself to her first calling: Dermatology. She trained at the renowned Instituto de Dermatologia Professor Rubem David Azulay, of PUC-Rio and Santa Casa do Rio de Janeiro — one of the most respected training centres in the world in this field, a reference in teaching, clinical practice and dermatological research. She received her specialist title in Dermatology in 2018, covering clinical, surgical and aesthetic practice.

Continuing along this path, she also completed a medical residency in Oncological Dermatology at the Instituto Nacional do Câncer (INCA) — Brazil's largest cancer centre and an international reference in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of skin cancer. There she specialised in lesion screening, dermoscopy, dermatological surgery, the follow-up of immunosuppressed patients and the management of highly complex cases.

This foundation — combining intensive practice, a systemic view and specialisations of excellence — still shapes Dr. Ellene's approach today: attentive, precise and profoundly human. Her way of working reflects that path: she treats the skin as a living part of a body that feels, that communicates and that deserves complete attention, clinically, aesthetically and emotionally.

Every skin, a world

Throughout her medical training, Dr. Ellene Papazis sought out experiences in different parts of the world, always with the purpose of understanding the skin more deeply — not only as a clinical organ, but also as a cultural, physiological, sensory and affective expression.

She completed supervised placements at internationally renowned institutions, starting at the University General Hospital of Ioannina (Greece) in 2008, in internal medicine. Later, in 2016, she joined the Department of Dermatology at the renowned Mount Sinai Hospital in New York (USA), where she encountered advanced practices and a diversity of dermatological cases in multicultural settings.

These experiences, together with courses, congresses and training undertaken in different countries, always had a clear aim: to broaden her clinical view and to recognise the diversity of skin in its racial, geographical and cultural variations. After all, diseases do not present in the same way in every body, and understanding these nuances is essential for an accurate diagnosis and a truly appropriate treatment.

This path is also reflected in Dr. Ellene's current practice in Portugal. Around 80% of her private practice patients are foreign nationals, from different countries and cultures — something made easier by her command of four languages: Portuguese, English, Spanish and Greek. More than a linguistic matter, this multilingual care is born of listening, of respect for particularities and of the sensitivity to receive each story and each vulnerability.

“This international experience is not there to distance me from patients — it is there to bring me closer. The more I understand different skin types, the more precisely I can care for them. Knowing where the patient grew up, what they have lived through, what kind of sun, climate or culture shaped their body, all of it matters. Because the skin, ultimately, is intimate geography.” — Dr. Ellene Papazis.

In 2020 she completed a Master's degree in Health Sciences at the Universidade de Lisboa, which enabled the recognition of her medical degree in Portugal and active registration with the Ordem dos Médicos (no. 73387). She settled officially in the country in 2022. Today, alongside her private practice, she is part of the team at the Instituto Português de Oncologia – IPO Porto, maintaining her commitment to oncological skin care.

Dermatology without shortcuts: where everything matters

Dr. Ellene Papazis's clinical work covers a wide range of dermatological areas, always with close attention to the specifics of each patient. She maintains solid and continuous follow-up in trichology (diseases of the scalp and hair) and onychology (nail changes and diseases), and performs dermatological surgery, both functional and aesthetic. She is also a reference in the screening and prevention of suspicious skin lesions, with an emphasis on total body mapping and digital dermoscopy — essential tools in skin cancer surveillance.

She also incorporates regenerative techniques into her practice, such as PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) and PDRN (polynucleotides derived from salmon DNA), focused on rejuvenation and tissue repair, as well as preventive and restorative treatments for the integrity of the skin.

Beyond the clinical field, she keeps constantly up to date in cosmiatry (aesthetic dermatology), with technical training in procedures such as: botulinum toxin (neuromodulators), hyaluronic acid fillers, collagen biostimulators, laser and microfocused ultrasound technologies, chemical peels, PDRN and other advanced injectable therapies.

Each of these approaches is assessed with judgement, science and responsibility, considering not only the aesthetic outcome but the patient's overall well-being over time.

Coming together in a new space

Located in one of Porto's most prestigious areas, 52 Clinics proposes a new way of experiencing health care. Inspired by the language of art galleries, the clinic favours precise, minimalist architecture, with generous, quiet and carefully lit spaces. The environment is not merely functional: it is sensory.

The concept starts from a simple and powerful idea — the body as a work of art.

“nose. face. smile. mind. body. skin. art gallery” sum up the spirit of the space, where different dimensions of physical and emotional health are welcomed in an environment that inspires attention, aesthetics and presence.

Made up of a team of outstanding professionals, 52 Clinics brings together complementary specialties, promoting a truly multidisciplinary approach. Each consulting room, carefully designed, follows the same principle that guides the whole clinic: to offer a space that favours listening and care, without giving up the sophistication and the silence that attention needs in order to flourish.

52 Clinics is not merely a medical centre. It is a gallery of experiences, where the body is welcomed as presence and treated with science, aesthetics and respect.

On Dr. Ellene joining this new phase of the space, the Clinical Director of 52 Clinics, Prof. Dr. Miguel Gonçalves Ferreira, comments:

“Dr. Ellene Papazis's presence at 52 Clinics is more than a dermatologist in Porto — it is a natural extension of what we believe to be the future of health care. Her practice unites rigorous science and rare sensitivity, caring for the skin as a living territory: from the treatment of skin cancer to the aesthetic listening of each patient's marks, textures and wishes.

Her attentive gaze, which ranges from clinical prevention to the appreciation of singular beauty, resonates with what this clinic has proposed from the outset — a space where body, mind and art coexist.

Dr. Ellene brings to 52 Clinics a form of care that sees beyond the surface. And that is exactly what we look for here: professionals who treat the visible with science, and the invisible with presence.” — Prof. Dr. Miguel Gonçalves Ferreira, Clinical Director of 52 Clinics.

Address: Rua Orfeão do Porto, 52 — Porto (52 Clinics)

Website: ellenepapazis.com

Links: ellenepapazis.com/link-in-bio Press enquiries: press@ellenepapazis.com