Head of the Department Amanda Psyrri - Professor of Internal Medicine and Medical Oncology

The Department of Internal Medicine at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens is one of the premier departments in the country. It unites a distinguished group of clinicians, researchers, and educators at one of the world's leading medical schools. In addition to its core offerings, the 2nd Propaedeutic Department of Internal Medicine features several specialized sections, including Hematology, Bone Marrow Transplantation, Gastroenterology, Endocrinology, the Diabetes Center, Nephrology, and Medical Oncology.

The Department comprises 40 attending physicians, including faculty members, NHS consultants, locum consultants, and academic scholars. The 2nd Propaedeutic Department provides residency and fellowship training programs that qualify participants for Board Certification in Internal Medicine, as well as in the subspecialties of Endocrinology, Nephrology, Hematology, Medical Oncology, and Gastroenterology.

Additionally, the Department includes a Clinical and Translational Research Unit, which fosters an inspiring scientific environment and a collaborative culture, offering numerous interdisciplinary and translational research opportunities. The Diabetes Center also offers a dedicated 2-year program for Subspecialty Certification in Diabetes.

Historical Retrospective

The 2nd Propaedeutic Department of Internal Medicine was established in April 1966, with Professor Konstantinos Gardikas appointed as the first Department Chair on March 19, 1968. Initially hosted at "Elpis" Municipal Hospital, the Department moved to "Evangelismos" University Hospital the following year. From the outset, Professor Gardikas recognized the importance of developing a Research Unit. After significant efforts, a separate building was constructed within the premises of "Evangelismos" University Hospital, designated as the "Research Unit of the 2nd Propaedeutic Department of Internal Medicine."

The unit focused on various research areas, including hematology, gastroenterology, pulmonology, endocrinology, and cell genetics, with a special department dedicated to studying porphyrins. The Research Section's contributions were vital for both the Medical School and the quality of services provided at "Evangelismos" University Hospital.

Professor Gardikas retired in August 1981, and Professor George Arapakis served as Interim Chair from August 1981 to August 1982.

In May 1982, Professor Sotirios Raptis was appointed the new Director and assumed his duties in August of that year. Under the management of Professor Raptis, the educational program continued seamlessly, maintaining the high standards established by Professor Gardikas. Research activities expanded significantly under the management of Professor Raptis. New focus areas included diabetes mellitus and metabolism, bone densitometry, angiology, and vascular triplex ultrasound, plasmapheresis, and the establishment of a pioneering molecular biology laboratory. Modern laboratories were organized in collaboration with doctors, biologists, and technicians, utilizing cutting-edge research methods across various fields. Notably, the Department maintained a strong national and international presence in endocrinology, diabetes and metabolism, hematology, oncology, and gastroenterology.

Today, the research unit is modern and equipped with advanced technological machinery. It continues to operate in all research areas except cytogenetics.

On November 17, 2003, after 34 years at "Evangelismos," the 2nd Propaedeutic Department of Internal Medicine was relocated to the University General Hospital Attikon, where it was integrated with the Renal Department and the Department of Transplantation of Hematopoietic Cells.

Professor Sotirios Raptis retired from the Department in August 2005. He was succeeded by Professor Theofanis Oikonomopoulos, who served as Director from September 2005 until his retirement in August 2010. Following him, Professor George D. Dimitriadis took over the direction of the Department in September 2010. After Professor Dimitriadis retired in September 2019, Professor Aristotelis Bamias was appointed as Director. Most recently, in September 2022, Professor Amanda Psyrri took on the role of Director of the Department.