Speakers

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  Theodora Papamitsou s Professor of Histology–Embryology in the School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.
  

  Theodora Papamitsou

  s Professor of Histology–Embryology in the School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.

  Theodora Papamitsou is Professor of Histology–Embryology in the School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. She received her Medical Degree from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in 1994 and was awarded her PhD by the School of Medicine of the same university in 2002, with the distinction of “Excellent”.

  Her academic career at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki has followed a continuous and progressive trajectory, encompassing all academic ranks. Her training was further strengthened through extensive postgraduate specialization abroad, at the Medical Faculty of the University of Cologne, as well as at the Department of Perinatal Pathological Anatomy of the “Elena Venizelou” General Hospital.

  Her research activity is reflected in scientific publications indexed in international databases, as well as in invited talks and presentations at national and international scientific conferences. She has also contributed to the supervision and evaluation of doctoral dissertations and postgraduate theses, either as supervisor or as committee member.

  At the institutional level, Professor Papamitsou has undertaken significant administrative responsibilities. Since 2020, she has served as Chair of the Committee for Postgraduate Programmes of the School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. She has also served as Director of the Division of Radiology, Anatomy, Pathological Anatomy and Technologies for the academic year 2024–2025. In addition, she is Director and Scientific Coordinator of the Interdepartmental Postgraduate Programme “Health and Environmental Factors” and of the Interdepartmental Postgraduate Programme “Applied Gerontology and Geriatrics”.

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  Sotirios Sotiriou Associate Professor of Embryology and Director of the Laboratory of Histology and Embryology at the Department of Medicine, University of Thessaly.
  

  Sotirios Sotiriou

  Associate Professor of Embryology and Director of the Laboratory of Histology and Embryology at the Department of Medicine, University of Thessaly.

  Sotirios Sotiriou is Associate Professor of Embryology and Director of the Laboratory of Histology and Embryology at the Department of Medicine, University of Thessaly. He received his Medical Degree from the School of Medicine of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens in 1994. In 2007, he was awarded his PhD by the Department of Medicine of the University of Thessaly for his doctoral dissertation entitled “Comparative Immunohistochemical Study of the Expression of Heat Shock Proteins p70 and p90 in Placental Chorionic Villi in Missed Miscarriages and Normal Full-Term Pregnancies”.
  He is a medical doctor and specialist Obstetrician-Gynaecologist, with further specialization in Maternal–Fetal Medicine. His scientific and professional profile combines academic work in embryology with clinical expertise in obstetrics, gynaecology and prenatal diagnosis.
  Professor Sotiriou is a member of several scientific and professional societies, including the Hellenic Society of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, the Hellenic Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, the Hellenic Society of Andrology, the Hellenic Society for Cervical Pathology and Colposcopy, the International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Great Britain, the General Medical Council of the United Kingdom, and the Medical Association of Larissa. He also serves as an examiner for the Hellenic Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynaecology in ultrasound certification seminars, where participants are assessed on their practical technical competence in performing ultrasound examinations, with a view to awarding certificates of competence in first- and third-trimester obstetric ultrasound.
  His teaching activity includes the delivery of embryology teaching in five compulsory courses and one compulsory elective course within the undergraduate curriculum of the Department of Medicine of the University of Thessaly, as well as participation in seven postgraduate programmes at the University of Thessaly, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and Democritus University of Thrace. He has contributed to twelve doctoral dissertations, serving as supervisor in four of them, and to twenty-seven postgraduate theses, serving as supervisor in eight.

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  Sofia Karachrysafi Ophthalmologist
  

  Sofia Karachrysafi

  Ophthalmologist

  Dr. Sofia Karachrysafi is an Ophthalmologist and holds a PhD from Medical School of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH). She is an active researcher with expertise in Histology and Embryology and the implementation of experimental research protocols. Since November 2023, she has been practicing privately, while also serving as a Postdoctoral Researcher of Medical School of AUTH.
  Her research interests focus on the histological and ultrastructural study with use of Transmission Electron Microscopy of the effects of pharmaceutical agents and trace elements (including cisplatin, antifungal drugs, zinc, and selenium) on the retina and other tissues, as well as on the immunohistochemical study of various tissues as well as placental and embryonic tissues in cases of spontaneous miscarriage.
  Her academic background includes graduation from the School of Medicine, AUTH, completion of the Interinstitutional Master’s Program “Health and Environmental Factors” with distinction (Grade: 10.00/10), and a PhD dissertation in Histology and Embryology awarded the grade “Excellent.” She has extensive clinical experience as an Ophthalmology Resident at the Ophthalmology Department of “G. Papanikolaou” General Hospital of Thessaloniki and at the General Hospital of Serres. She has also served as a rural physician in primary healthcare centers in Agios Nikolaos (Chalkidiki), Siatista, and Kozani.
  Within her academic career, she served for 8 years as an Scientific Associate and for 2 years as an Academic Fellow at the Laboratory of Histology and Embryology of Medical School of AUTH, undertaking independent teaching of undergraduate Medical and Dental students in both Greek- and English-speaking Undergraduate Studies Programs of both Schools of AUTH. She currently continues her teaching activity as a lecturer in Embryology in the Laboratory of Histology and Embryology in both the Greek- and English- speaking Undergraduate Studies Programs of the Department of Medicine of University of Thessaly. In addition, she teaches in 10 postgraduate programs and has contributed as a scientific advisor and evaluator for more than 80 Master’s theses.
  Dr. Karachrysafi has authored over 60 peer-reviewed publications in international and national journals indexed in PubMed, Scopus, and other databases, and has delivered more than 150 presentations and 8 speeches at national and international scientific conferences. She has been member of at least 25 scientific and organising committees of national and international conferences and scientific meetings. She also actively contributes to the international scientific community as a reviewer for more than 20 peer-reviewed journals, including the European Journal of Ophthalmology, and serves as an Editorial Board Member as well as Guest Editor of one Special Issue of Medicina Journal. Her academic career also encompasses the authorship, the translation and the translation editing of chapters of four books, while she participates as sub-investigator in two clinical trials.
  In recognition of her academic and scientific contribution, she has received 29 awards and distinctions, including Excellence Awards for teaching performance and Best Paper Awards at national and international conferences.