Hippocratic week :

My name is Helen Raptis, and I am a second-year medical student in the English program at Ausom. 

Starting medical school, I expected to focus on building my knowledge and skills during the courses and laboratory assignments. What I did not expect was to be offered the opportunity to go to the USA and attend conferences as well as visit some of the most advanced hospitals and research centers. 

We started in New York City to attend the Hippocratic symposium organised by the New York medical association. There, I listened to many presentations regarding new cardiological diagnostic and treatment advances, including incorporation of AI and GLP1 receptor agonist. At the end of the conference, we were able to read the Hippocratic oath in Ancient Greek. 

Not only was I able to speak to different people like Dr. Antonios Gasparis, who is the president of the Hellenic Medical Society or Dr. Eugenia Gianos, who is a professor for cardiology and System Director for Cardiovascular prevention at Northwell Health, about their specialties and experience, but their openness to future shadowing and research opportunities, made these connections even more meaningful. 

I always expected to gain experience and knowledge in my home country Germany or here in Greece, but these connections made me rethink my future career path and opened doors that I had never imagined. 

The following day, we were able to visit the Mount Sinai Fuster Heart Hospital, where we were shown through the different departments and were able to ask the doctors, like Professor of Cardiology and Vascular surgery Dr. George Dangas, any questions about educational and career advice.

From New York we traveled to Boston, where we spend the rest of the trip. 

In Boston we went on a tour through Harvard medical school, the Harvard library as well as the campus. We were shown medical books and papers from decades ago and how medicine had evolved through the years. 

We attended a presentation at Harvard-Massachusetts general hospital about clinical research and a forum at Boston college about the Greek healthcare system, including medical tourism and the establishment of emergency medicine as a specialty in Greece. 

Apart from the conferences and meetings with physicians in Boston, we were also given a tour of the city and the fine arts museum.

At Boston university’s Chobanian & Avedisian school of medicine, we were able to speak to the director Hee-Young Park PhD, who told us about the university's opportunities and answered my questions about education and career opportunities. 

Afterwards, we were shown the neurology research Center of the Massachusetts general hospital by Dr. PhD Alexandra Touroutoglu, who is also an assistant professor of neurology at Harvard medical school. There, we were able to see methods for non-invasive brain stimulation and imaging as well as how 3D printing has enhanced those methods.  

On our final weekend in Boston, we attended and represented our university at the Maliotis cultural Center in a workshop on the topic Hippocrates meets the Boston Academic Medical Community. I was able to hear many presentations from Greek as well as American doctors and scientists about influence of the hippocratic values up to today, including modern medicine and its evolvement with artificial intelligence, humanism and healthy aging. 

Our trip ended with participation in the 30th Greek parade for March 25th organised by the Greek Federation of New England Associations, where not only Greek physicians but also Greek people living in Boston were brought together and celebrated the day. 

Throughout the trip, we were lead by Dr. Victoria Polydorou and Dr. Antonios Polydorou, who not only took care of organisational details but also introduced me to many important people, supported me when I had concerns and gave further insight on the many topics we heard during the conferences. 

I will remember this opportunity given to me by Ausom for the rest of my academic path and cannot thank the university enough for providing me with the connections and up to date knowledge that I was able to take back home with me.