Harvard Professor George Tsokos was the key note speaker of the annual event of the Hellenic American Medical Association and the American College of Surgeons – Greek Chapter

A very successful event was organized for the annual celebration of both the Hellenic American Medical Association and the American College of Surgeons – Greek Chapter on Sunday, January 20, 2013, in the Hesperides Hall of Hilton Hotel in Athens, Greece.

155 guests attended the event, including members of the above mentioned scientific societies, Professors, Academics, the President of the Medical School, Mr. Dimopoulos, the U.S. Ambassador to Greece, Mr. Daniel Smith, as well as representatives of the political leadership and the Church, the Minister of Public Order and Citizen Protection, Mr. Dendias, the Deputy Minister of Health, Mr. Salmas and the Bishop of Diaulia, Mr. Gabriel.

Prof. Linos, President of the Hellenic American Medical Association and the American College of Surgeons – Greek Chapter, in his introduction, referred to the establishment of the Hellenic American Medical Association, in 1968. “The goals and dreams of the founders and the presidents of the Association were to promote the American culture of Undergraduate and Graduate Education in Greece. The University of Athens was more introverted and had its own, different, rules, though…” Prof. Linos mentioned. He, then, underlined the recent progress made by the Greek state, with the adoption of new laws but mainly with the establishment of the Universities Management Board so that renowned professors and scientists from Greece and abroad, mainly from the U.S., can be in charge of the management at the University of Athens. “We all hope that the positive elements of the American education system will “meet” the positive characteristics of the Greek University. That would help our country to regain the international credibility and visibility that it deserves,” Prof. Linos emphasized.

Guest speaker of the event was Dr. George Tsokos, Professor of Medicine and Rheumatology, at the University of Harvard and recently elected member of the Management Board of the University of Athens. Dr. Peter Sfikakis, Professor of Pathology, at the University of Athens, prolonged Prof. Tsokos’ speech.

Prof. Tsokos in his speech on “The University of Athens giving birth to great ideas: The Past, the Present and the Future” referred to the organizational structure of the University of Harvard and the role of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. Harvard has many important Greek professors but the faculty of the Greek University is, also, important, Prof. Tsokos mentioned, and concluded that the University of Athens could learn a lot from Harvard regarding the structure, the management and the operation.

The event ended with Mr. Despotopoulos, Academic and former Minister of Education awarding Prof. Tsokos with an honorary award.