The President of the Athens Medical Association (AMA), ELITOUR, and the Global Doctors’ Hippocratic Institute, Dr. George Patoulis, together with his associates, Dr. Konstantinos Pantos, Vice President of ELITOUR, Dr. Antonios Polydorou, Secretary-General of the Global Doctors’ Hippocratic Institute, and Professor Nikolaos Vrachnis, visited Mount Sinai International in New York City. Mount Sinai is one of the oldest and largest university hospitals in the United States.
The visit’s program included a meeting with the President of Mount Sinai International, Mr. Szabi Dorotovics, MD, who presented the healthcare system and the operational structure of Mount Sinai Hospital. Subsequently, Dr. Alan Copperman, MD, Division Director of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Clinical Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Science at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and CEO of RMA of New York, provided an overview of the hospital’s in vitro fertilization (IVF), obstetrics, and gynecology programs.
The oncology program was presented by Dr. Che-Kai Tsao, MD, Associate Professor of Hematology and Oncology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Medical Director of the Ruttenberg Treatment Center, and Medical Director of the Prostate Cancer Program at the Tisch Cancer Institute. The presentation was followed by a discussion and a visit to the respective department within Mount Sinai.
Professor George Dangas showcased the interventional cardiology program at Mount Sinai Hospital. Dr. Patoulis and his associates explored collaborative opportunities with American insurance companies to develop medical tourism in the field of cardiology.
Discussions also focused on potential collaborations between Mount Sinai’s IVF department and Greek physicians specializing in IVF, aiming to further enhance medical tourism in Greece in this sector.
A meeting with Mr. Jonathan Wetzel, General Manager of Mount Sinai Hospital, addressed potential collaborations on postgraduate and research programs between Greek and Cypriot medical schools and the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. The discussions also included promoting Hippocratic ideals and preserving the authentic Hippocratic Oath. The hospital administration requested written proposals from the Global Doctors’ Hippocratic Institute to be submitted to its board of directors for approval, marking the initiation of collaborative efforts.
In the evening, Dr. Antonios Gasparis, Professor of Surgery and President of the Hellenic Medical Society of New York, together with outgoing President Panagiotis Manolas and the society’s board, welcomed Dr. Patoulis and his team at a dinner held in their honor at the Anassa Hellenic-Cypriot Taverna in Astoria. This event was part of their visit for the Greek Health Tourism Forum held in New York City on November 19.
The dinner was attended by Dr. Stella Dourou, Vice President of the Hellenic Medical Society of New York and Professor of Ophthalmology, other board members, Ms. Nomiki Kastana, President of the Federation of Hellenic Societies of Greater New York, Mr. George Zapantis, President of the Hellenic Lawyers Association of New York, the Mayor of Paphos, Mr. Phaedon Phaedonos, the President of the University of Beirut in Cyprus, and other distinguished guests from the Greek-American community.
During the dinner, introductions were made by outgoing President Panagiotis Manolas, while Professor Gasparis extended a warm welcome to Dr. Patoulis and his associates. He highlighted the long-standing fruitful collaboration between the AMA and the Hellenic Medical Society of New York, referencing the memorandum of understanding signed during a prior visit by Dr. Patoulis. Professor Gasparis expressed gratitude for the AMA’s provision of meeting space for Greek medical society members visiting Athens and wished Dr. Patoulis success in the Health Tourism Forum. He concluded by emphasizing the continued collaboration between the two associations, with expectations for even greater results on both scientific and broader societal levels.
In response, Dr. Patoulis thanked Professor Gasparis, Professor Manolas, and the board for their cordial and honorary reception. He stressed the significance of the Greek diaspora physicians’ presence in the U.S. and globally, noting their embodiment of Greece’s brilliant legacy worldwide.
Dr. Patoulis concluded with the following remarks: “Dear colleagues and friends, support our country from wherever you are by promoting the Hippocratic ideals, values, and the preservation of the authentic Hippocratic Oath. We invite you to come to Greece in October 2025 for the Hippocratic School and the Oath Ceremony of Outstanding Physicians from around the world, held annually in the homeland of the Father of Western Medicine, Hippocrates. Let us work together to develop medical tourism in Greece, as our country offers excellent scientists, affordable treatments, and a unique environment for healing and hospitality.”
