The opening of the Aristotle Medical Forum and the 2nd World Pan-Hellenic Medical Summit was announced by the Minister of Health Michael Chrysochoides, on Friday, October 6, 2023, at 19.00, at the Thessaloniki Concert Hall (building M2).

At the Press Conference, the President of the Organizing Committee and the Department of Medicine of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Professor Kyriakos Anastasiadis, referred to the extroversion that the Department of Medicine of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki has developed in recent years. “Following the establishment and operation of the first English-speaking international curriculum with students from 33 countries from five continents, the establishment of a Special Unit for Biomedical Research and Education, we have been organizing the Aristotle Medical Forum (AMF) and the 2nd World Pan-Hellenic Medical Summit for three years now. With 30,000 online visitors at our launch, 85,000 last year and more than 100,000 expected this year, we believe it has now established itself as an institution. Delegates attend from universities such as Harvard, MIT, Stanford and others.

Our goal is to have a real networking of all Greek scientists in the diaspora at the top level. We have actively initiated major collaborations by signing memoranda of understanding in the educational, research and clinical fields. Also, our ultimate goal is to enhance brain gain, i.e. the return of Greek doctors who left abroad. This will be achieved by developing an environment of cooperation which creates common working conditions on which Greek doctors abroad can continue their work in Greece. The Department of Medicine of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki with its networking can be a central pillar in modern developments”.

The Coordinator of the Standing Committee of the Greek medical associations of the Diaspora, surgeon Alexis Theodorou, said “Our aim is to be a link between the large, strong and advanced community of Greek health scientists abroad and Greece. The AMF strengthens the links by bringing people who are pioneers in their field, not only in research but also in education and clinical work, so that collaborations can be created and there is a mutual transfer of knowledge and expertise. All these dynamics demonstrated by scientists from abroad will be a benefit for Greece, for the Greek student, patient and citizen”.

The representative of the Association of Greek Doctors of Quebec, Canada, Associate Professor of Child Psychiatry Evangelia Lila Amirali, said “The opportunity given in recent years with the opening of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki comes at a crucial point. For the past 30 years Greek medical associations of the diaspora have been trying to get closer to Greece. In recent years, the AUTH has given us an amazing opportunity to experience this openness with industry, research, technology. It has succeeded in connecting university programmes abroad in a very practical way. On behalf of the Association of Greek Doctors of Quebec Canada and of course the major associations of physicians in North America, we have a great desire to participate and contribute to progress and development through the collaboration and the opportunity provided through this event.”

The President of the Hellenic Society of Biomedical Technology, Professor of the Department of Medicine of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Panagiotis Bamidis, said “In parallel with the AMF, we are co-organizing the 10th Panhellenic Conference of Biomedical Technology with the Hellenic Society of Biomedical Technology. Our collaboration with AMF is of strategic importance because technological innovation is at the core of the evolution of health care and the health system. We have over 250 members. Innovation and its technological existence is one of the central themes of this conference.”

The annual Aristotle Medical Forum and the 2nd World Pan-hellenic Medical Congress took place from 6 to 8 October 2023, at the Thessaloniki Concert Hall, organized by the Department of Medicine of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.

This year’s Aristotle Medical Forum and the 2nd World Pan-Hellenic Medical Congress shared the title: “The Odyssey: from classic to digital”

Official Website: https://diaspora.med.auth.gr/