Happy upcoming summer 2026!

 

In a rapidly changing world and health practice, the Federation of Hellenic Medical Societies of North America, Inc. (FEDMED) is working with all interested parties in keeping Hellenic health professionals current on educational topics and accessible to scholarship, mentorship, and social networking.

 

On our latest teleconference on June 3, 2026, participants from Philadelphia, Detroit, New York, California, Montreal, Toronto, Chicago, Pittsburgh, and Houston stressed community incentives and establishing Hellenic health professional societies in Chicago, Pittsburgh, Northern California, Houston, and Florida.

FEDMED President endocrinologist Dr. Spyros Mezitis of New York described activities of HMS NY including the successful Hippocratic Symposium of April 19th mainly on Cardiovascular Medicine and has invited HMS NY President Dr. Antonios Gasparis to collaborate. 

FEDMED Secretary interventional cardiologist Dr. Elias Iliadis reported the Philadelphia Hellenic Medical Society's activities, including recent outreach events at churches and the St. George Cathedral Festival, participation in a 500-person Eleftheria Gala commemorating Greek Independence Day, and a career mentoring fair in November 2026.  The Philadelphia HMS is participating in upcoming 250th Independence Anniversary Events and has invited FEDMED to represent all Hellenic Health Professionals in the United States.

FEDMED Vice President Dr. Christina Lucas-Vougiouklakis, Founder and President of Hellenic Health Professionals of Michigan, reported that their society has grown to 92 members and distributed $11,000 in scholarships to Hellenic young professionals in medical, dental, and physical therapy programs in collaboration with AHEPA District 10.  She mentioned their successful Greek Independence Day Parade in downtown Detroit and collaborations with the Canadian Federation. She participated in the exceptional Annual Lifestyle Medicine Conference on the Island of Kos, October 29 - November 3, 2025 organized by Harvard Public Health Professor Dr. Stefanos Kales, a distinguished member of the HMDS of New England, and an expert on the Mediterranean diet who received the World Bank Mediterranean Diet Roundtable Applied Research Award on May 7th, 2026.

David Rossolatos of Toronto and the Canadian Federation discussed the physician GREECE REBRAIN and highlighted issues with medical specialty recognition in Greece.

Dr. Ioannis Konstantinides of the Pittsburgh HMS organizing committee shared his ongoing experience with the recognition process.  David, Ioannis and Spyros agreed to discuss the Greece medical recognition process further and meet with the appropriate Greek officials.

FEDMED Vice-President Dr. Mariette Varvarikos of HMS Montreal Quebec noted their CME events, scholarship distribution, plans for the Annual General Assembly and Gala in December, and potential Greek conferences like last year's summer meeting in Chania, Crete.

Dr. George Karanastasis of Chicago has put together a critical mass of Hellenic health professionals to reinvigorate HMS Chicago by following the FEDMED blueprint.

FEDMED is reconnecting through Los Angeles Dr. Michael Vasilomanolakis with the Hellenic Medical and Dental Society of Southern California, established in 1980.

David Rossolatos is supporting the Annual Hippocratic Symposium in Kos, Greece on October 11-18, 2026 and invited all HMS of the US and Canada to work together in advertising Hippocratic medicine and sending medical students to Greece to visit the Asklepeion of Kos and take the original Hippocratic Oath.  FEDMED and HMS NY have been actively participating in this noble endeavor.

FEDMED has been collaborating with the Hellenic Medical Diaspora and supported Professor and President of the University of Thessaloniki Dr. Kyriakos Anastasiadis and Honorable Former General Secretary of Hellenes Abroad of the Hellenic Republic Professor John Chysoulakis in the successful University of Thessaloniki Artificial Intelligence Conference in May 2026 that will continue annually.

Mr. Ioannis Remediakis, IT specialist and President of the Hellenic Cultural Center of the Southwest has been very instrumental in the FEDMED Website and is focusing together with David Rossolatos in developing a North American directory of Hellenic Health Professionals that is increasing membership of individual medical/health professional societies.

Dr. Elias Iliadis is connecting Cooper Medical School of New Jersey and the Medical School of the University of Thessaloniki for Greek American observerships, medical rotations, and exchanges.

President of the Hellenic BioScientific Association of the USA and Harvard neuroscientist Professor Alexandra Touroutoglou is collaborating with FEDMED and the Greek medical schools for Greek health professionals procuring research positions in the United States.

Furthermore, world-renowned Dr. Touroutoglou, 2023 Speaker at the United Nations on Superagers will be the main speaker on dementia in an upcoming International Federation Teleconference.

We all work together with enthusiasm to strengthen our Hellenic medical and professional societies, enhance our collaboration with the Greek medical system, and follow the Hellenic ideals of global medical stars Hippocrates and Dr. George Papanicolaou.

 

Best wishes,

 

Spyros G.E. Mezitis, MD, PhD

President, Federation of Hellenic Medical Societies of North America, Inc.