Students honor Dr. Zannis by placing his portrait in Crete’s Medical School Museum

 

 [The story below was initially published in Heraklion’s daily newspaper Patris and reproduced in Avlogyros, a publication of Kourounia, Chios, Greece, Zannis' birthplace, in October 2020.]

        

There is no greater joy and satisfaction for a university teacher than being remembered and honored by his students. It is a practical recognition of his contribution to future generations. Prof. Vassilis Zannis, received such a great honor from the graduates, renowned scientists today, of the medical schools who participated in the exchange program of medical students between the University of Crete and Boston University. 

On Wednesday, October 21, 2020, at the Medical School of the University of Crete, a special scientific event was held on the topic: "Mentoring as an Academic Value". The official guest speaker was the Professor Emeritus of Biochemistry of the Medical School of the University of Crete and Boston University Dr. Vassilis Zannis. In the context of this event, the University of Crete Medical School unveiled a portrait of Dr. Zannis, painted by the artist Costas Tsigris-Rigoulis. 

The project was initiated and funded by Greek scientists, who graduated from the University of Crete as a small token of their gratitude for his contribution to their careers. The presentation was held in the events hall of the Museum of Medicine at Heraklion. 

Greetings were offered by the Rector of the University of Crete, Prof. George Kontakis, the Dean of the Medical School, Prof. George Kochiadakis, the Director of the Museum of Medicine, Associate Prof. Ioannis Tsiaousis, and a  representative  of the Crete-Boston Exchange Program Associate Prof. Konstantinos Drosatos. 

The event was attended by members of the Medical School, undergraduate and  postgraduate students, as well as other scientists. In his message, the Rector of the University of Crete welcomed the initiative and wished Dr. Zannis good health to continue to offer his services to the university. 

The Medical School Dean said that: "In the person of Dr. Zannis is honored a generation of teachers who laid the foundations for the organization of the Medical School and its international recognition. Mr. Vassilis Zannis served the University of Crete as professor biochemistry from 1986 to 2007, when he retired. He served with conscientiousness and academic ethos. After his retirement, he continued to offer his services the University of Crete  (free) and to support its programs even in the difficult times of the pandemic… " 

On behalf of the students of the Medical School of Crete, who currently hold important positions in U.S. Institutions, Dr. Drosatos praised the work of Dr. Zannis and his contribution in connecting the medical schools of the University of Crete and Boston University. 

Museum of Medicine Director Tsiaousis stressed in his greeting that the presence of the portrait of Professor Zannis at the museum is a special honor for the institution because Zannis’ academic career was characterized by the cultivation of high values through teaching and research that made him a model for both current and future generations of scientists. 

                           

In his   speech with the title "Investing in the creation of new scientists for Medical Schools and Biotechnology," Dr. Zannis provided the history and the achievements of the program during the 20 years of its existence. 

 

Dr. Zannis said “The BU- Crete student exchange program started in 2001 and to this point approximately 210 Greek students came to this program in Boston.” A large percentage of the participants, he said, “came back to the US (and few went to Europe) for clinical training, Ph.D. studies or research work.” 

“As a result of this program," Zannis said,  "14 of the earlier participants have faculty positions (ranging from assistant to full professor) in high quality U.S. medical schools and three in Greece.” Those who came later, he said, “are in a similar trajectory of success. One of them, Panagiotis Roussos, currently a professor of psychiatry at Mount Sinai Medical School, received a young investigator award from President Obama.” 

The program has the potential to create the next generation of well-trained faculty and leaders in medical education and the biomedical sciences in Greece, Zannis said. 

The creation of the portrait was an initiative of Prof. Drosatos and Dr. Kyriaki Bakirtzi, academic coordinator of the Panhellenic Union of Pharmaceutical Industries. Portrait expenses were covered by donations from 27 former BU-Crete exchange program participants many of whom now have faculty positions in the USA and Greece.