Eleni Andreopoulou Becomes Ioannina's First Woman Honorary Professor

Dr. Eleni Andreopoulou is the first woman in the history of the University of Ioannina to be named an Honorary Professor by the Department of Medicine, a distinction given to internationally renowned clinical oncologists. The honorary ceremony, which took place at the ‘Karolos Papoulias' Conference Center, highlighted Eleni's exceptional achievements in breast cancer research, precision oncology and medical education.

The event took him back to the university where he studied medicine and earned his doctorate and began an internationally recognized career in Oncology. Speaking to the participants, the Rector, Professor Anna Batistatou, described the conferral "as a milestone event of the university, celebrating one of its most distinguished graduates, whose scientific work has made a significant contribution to the global struggle against breast cancer.

Batistatou emphasized Eleni's academic career, ranging from the University of Ioannina to top-notch research centers in Europe and the USA. She commended her groundbreaking research in the field of personalized oncology, her vast research efforts, and her lifelong dedication to teaching the next generation of scientists and doctors. Deputy Chair of the Department of Medicine Professor Nikolaos Kourkoumelis read the resolution that awarded the honorary award.

In the ceremony, Dean of the School of Health Sciences Professor Dimitrios Peschos formally invested Eleni with the academic gown of the university and presented the official resolution to her, before the Rector. It marked the end of an incredible journey that started from the lecture halls of Ioannina and ended at the forefront of cancer research in the world.

Key Highlights

• First woman named Honorary Professor at the University of Ioannina's Department of Medicine
• Recognized for excellence in breast cancer research and precision oncology
• Advocated ethical, evidence-based medicine and innovation

Eleni spoke about her return to the place where she started her journey as a medical student, in her acceptance speech: From the Starting Point to the Destination: Medicine, Science and Humanity. She was "splendidly touched" but at the same time "very lucky" to receive this "higher award" in the very place she took the Hippocratic Oath "32 years ago," she said. She said she had always wanted to come back with her path fulfilled since she left Greece.

Eleni spoke about the importance of returning home and her own family's experience of migration and return. She said the University of Ioannina was the cradle that gave birth to her scientific career and she always felt as if she was an ambassador of the university when working abroad. I think it's people that shape institutions and organizations," she says.

After graduation from the Medical School of the University of Ioannina, Eleni completed her postgraduate studies at some of the world's foremost medical centers. She studied at St Bartholomew's Hospital in London and went on to obtain advanced training at the Royal Marsden Hospital and the Institute of Cancer Research, as a fellow of the European Society of Medical Oncology. Her research there was in clinical oncology, molecular pharmacology and the link between gene expression and the response of the tumor to treatments for cancer.

She subsequently went on to do subspecialty training in Hematology and Medical Oncology at New York University with Dr. Franco Muggia. She has held positions at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center and MD Anderson Cancer Center. She has been Professor of Clinical Medicine and Director of Breast Cancer Clinical Research at Weill Cornell Medical College since 2015 in New York.

Eleni's research focus is on the field of precision medicine and personalized cancer therapy. She is the principal investigator of clinical trials of targeted agents based on the biology of the tumor (metabolism and immune surveillance) and she participates in drug development programs sponsored by the U.S. National Cancer Institute. She has been at the forefront of research on the combination of molecular imaging and liquid biopsy techniques to enhance cancer diagnosis, detection and disease monitoring, along with her research team.

Yet, even with her international success, Eleni said that she could not endorse the lack of ethics or teamwork in academic medicine. She emphasized the critical role of evidence-based knowledge, scientific integrity, and the responsible utilization of AI in aiding the next generation of scientists. She also commended the University of Ioannina for its increased international partnerships which are led by the rector of the Holy Monastery of Agios Stavros of Ioannina, Batistatou.

The ceremony finally ended with the signing of the Book of Honorary Professors by Eleni and music students from the Department of Music Studies performing. Her contribution to cancer research, medical education, and patient care has been invaluable, and her selection is a milestone in the history of the University of Ioannina, paving the way for the next generation of researchers and physicians.