World-renowned fertility specialist Dr Konstantinos Pantos has been recognised by the Greek Community of Melbourne (GCM) for his impressive work.
GCM President Bill Papastergiadis and President of the Hellenic Medical Society of Australia (HMSA) Associate Professor Marinis Pirpiris awarded the doctor a commendation for his efforts in furthering the intellectual and trade exchange between Greece and Australia.
Dr Pantos commenced his schooling in Melbourne and returned to Greece to graduate in Medicine from the University of Athens. He then returned to Melbourne to study fertility medicine at the Royal Women’s Hospital before returning to Greece, where he became one of the first in the world to offer blastocyst culture and blastocyst transfer, and helped pioneer blastocyst biopsy and preimplantation genetics.
The founder and scientific director of Genesis Athens Clinic, one of Europe’s largest provider of fertility services, Dr Pantos has made parenthood a reality for many couples from all around the world, including many Greek Australians.
He has established IVF units in different regions of Greece including Volos, Ioannina and Patra, and more recently established a unit in Romania.
A member of various European Society randomised trials, Dr Pantos is extensively published and has been recognised with the inclusion of his pioneering work in the IVF’s history of milestones.
Meanwhile, more recently he has also found time to work with the Greek Government together with Dr George Patoulis to boost Greece’s medical tourism sector highlighting the country’s specialised doctors and state of the art medical facilities. The success of the strategy was evident in the wealth of Greek specialists who visited Melbourne for the Health Tourism in Greece Conference hosted by the GCM in 2017.
Dr Pantos continues to work towards strengthening the ties and networks between Australia and Greece, having recently developed an e-learning educational program for medical graduates and scientists, which he is in the process of accrediting with various health authorities.
Aside from being an opportunity to recognise Dr Pantos’ work, the ceremony was also a chance to mark the commencement of two programs for further medical education in Greece.
Mr Papastergiadis and Assoc. Prof. Pirpiris supported the development of undergraduate medical electives in Greece, which would see medical students from Australia spending time with renowned Greek specialists in both the public and private domains.
Assoc. Prof. Pirpiris also proposed a postgraduate travelling fellowship program, where Australia’s leading young medical specialists as well as those from the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada spend a period of time travelling through Greece’s institutions of medical learning, while sharing and discussing their research, thereby facilitating the formation of life-long friendships and networks.
“The Greek Community of Melbourne is proud to work with Dr Pantos to strengthen the ties between Greece and Australia,” said Mr Papastergiadis.
“These initiatives are an important part of demonstrating ‘real relationships’ between the two countries. Hopefully this initiative is only the first part of a larger program.”
The GCM President also highlighted the important role the initiative plays directly against the brain drain that Greece has experienced in recent times.
“Over 4,000 Greek doctors have left Greece to work abroad. Developing programs that enhance medical functions within Greece will help stem this exodus,” he said.