The Hellenic Medical Society of New York (HMS) has its origins in the Greek-American Medical Fraternity, an organization co-founded by the renowned physician George N. Papanicolaou during the First World War. This organization officially registered with the New York State authorities in 1920. Drs. George N. Papanicolaou, Nicholas Papadopoulos, Constantinos Carousos and Constantinos Logothetis served consecutively as presidents of this fraternity.
In 1924, the Greek-American Medical Fraternity changed its name to the Greek-American Intercollegiate Club and broadened its scope. This new club was presided by a newcomer to the United States, a surgeon named Dr. Polybios Coryllos, and Dr. Constantine Psakis served as its secretary. In 1917, Dr. CoryIlos became well known while organizing the first mobile surgical units at Verdun and Chateau Thierry in France. Doctors and nurses from the Roosevelt Hospital of New York City supported these mobile units. Dr. Coryllos received honorary medals from the French, Romanian and Greek governments. Consequently, he became a professor of surgery at Cornell Medical College of New York, and was Chief of Surgery at the Metropolitan and Seaview Hospitals in New York City. Following Dr. Coryllos, Dr. I. Regussis and Dr. Themistokles Mavrocordatos served as presidents of the Greek-American Intercollegiate Club. This club continued its activities until 1945 when its president, Dr. Savvas Nittis, changed its name to the presently known Hellenic University Club of New York.
In 1936, Dr. Coryllos formed with other members of the Hellenic University Club the Hellenic Medical Society of New York (HMS), a professional organization comprised of physicians. The founders included the pediatrician Christos Bozes, the internist Alexander Alexiou, the dermatologist Nicholas Pattakos, the gynecologist Avraam Soukouris and the surgeon Constantine Psakis. The specific objectives of HMS included creating a network of Greek-American physicians, cultivating fraternal relationships among its members, and assisting in the preservation of public health in conjunction with other medical societies. The board envisioned the establishment of a Greek-American medical library and hospital in New York City. However, the sudden death of Dr. Coryllos in 1938, and the Second World War interrupted the project of creating a Greek-American hospital in New York City. During the Second World War, Dr. Constantinos Carousos and Dr. Leonidas Lantzounis served as HMS presidents. Dr. Lantzounis was also very active in war relief efforts to Greece along with the benefactors Mrs. Reynolds Kehagias and Mr. Pericles Lantzounis.
After the Second World War, a number of physicians carried on the HMS activities, which were predominantly social. The affairs of the society were consecutively conducted by Hematology Prof. Savas Nittis, Pharmacology Prof. Michael Mulinos, Dr. Louis Ferris (Seferlis) in 1960, Dr. Constantine Foustanos in 1965, and Dr. George Haziris in 1967.
Between 1967 and 1971, a full-fledged membership drive was conducted and HMS membership increased from 20 to 160 physicians. As president between 1969 and 1971, Dr. Theofilos Deliyanides oversaw the drafting of a revised constitution and by-laws, and instituted committees. Additionally during this period, annual social affairs and dances were initiated to provide the means to fund the medical education of Greek-Americans. In 1975, Dr. Marinos Petratos successfully organized its first scholarship fund. Drs. Mulinos, Lantzounis, and Bozes were among the major donors of bequests.
In 1971, the society as an educational organization obtained tax-exempt status, which greatly facilitated donations. A program of lectures commenced that had as speakers, among others, Greek University medical professors such as Drs. Malamos, Tountas, Courias and Chryssospathis. During the annual social affairs, honorary certificates were given to prominent physicians and citizens.
Since 1971, the society has made great strides in unifying the Greek-American physicians in the New York metropolitan area and neighboring states, and in accomplishing its community goals. The following physicians were presidents of the HMS in chronologic order: Dr. Nicholas Arabos (1972), Dr. Marinos Petratos (1975), Dr. Themistocles Chryssochoos (1977), Dr. Apostolos Tambakis (1979), Dr. George Kokotakis (1981), Dr. Anthony Vasilas (1983), Dr. Antoine Harovas (1985), Dr. Steve Fochios (1990), Dr. Peter Tsairis (1996), Dr. George Yatrakis (1998), and currently Dr. Spyros Mezitis.
In the past quarter century, many memorable HMS-sponsored events have occurred. With the guidance of Dr. Konstantine Velis, the bust of Dr. George N. Papanicolaou was unveiled at Cornell Medical College in 1979, and in 1983 the Dr. George N. Papanicolaou Memorial Committee donated its replica to the University of Athens. During that year, the society's by-laws were revised. In 1981, the quarterly HMS Newsletter made its first appearance edited by Dr. Anthony Vasilas and Dr. James Gabriel. This newsletter has kept HMS members abreast of the many different functions. The HMS membership increased from 160 in 1971 to over 400 physicians in 1991. A very useful membership directory was compiled by Dr. Nicholas Mezitis and Dr. Anthony Vasilas in 1990. Since 1980, Dr. Vasilas and the late Dr. Flessas have supervised the transfer of medical literature, medical equipment and pharmaceuticals to hospitals throughout Greece, Cyprus and Northern Epirus (Albania). In 1985, the Hellenic Medical Society of New York became a non-profit organization. The by-laws were revised again in 1993 under the supervision of Dr. Peter Tsairis and Dr. Nicholas Romas. Consequently, new committees were introduced and others expanded. As local professional meetings became more frequent, yearly national and international outreach programs were established, more scholarships were awarded through the successful annual scholarship weekends, and medical seminars in Greece became more prominent. In 1995, Dr. Spyros Mezitis organized the first outreach program for physicians outside the New York metropolitan area in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Greek-American physicians from New York first took part in Greek conferences in May 1909 during the Panhellenic Congress against Tuberculosis at the Athens Academy. In 1969, the HMS co-sponsored the Sixth Middle-Eastern Paediatric Congress in Athens. In 1971, the HMS supported the Post-Graduate Seminar on Mental Retardation organized by New York Medical College in conjunction with Athens University Medical School. In 1984, the Hellenic Medical Society of New York officially began co-sponsoring conferences in Greece with regional medical societies. These conferences were first implemented by Dr. Demetrios Flessas who also assisted the Greek-American educational organization Krikos to organize new state medical schools in Greece. Medical seminars were continued under the leadership of Dr. Alexander Karfopoulos, followed by Dr. Marinos Petratos and Dr. Nicholas Mezitis. In August 2000, the Millennium Summer Seminar that was organized by Dr. Florentia Christodoulidou on the island of Cyprus was a memorable experience.
For several years, medical equipment, supplies and books have been sent on a regular basis to Albania and Greece. In the year 2000, medical equipment was delivered to the Greek contingent in Russian Georgia through the efforts of the Federation of Hellenic Diaspora (S.A.E.). Medical supplies, equipment, medications, books, journals and clothing have also been channeled to Serbia through Montenegro to aid war stricken regions. These efforts are under the supervision of Dr. Vasilas.
A medical student exchange program between the United States and Greece has been reinstituted for elective clinical clerkships.
In 1997, trees brought from the island of Kos by Dr. Vasilas were planted at New York-Presbyterian Hospital of Cornell University in honor of George Papanicolaou, M.D., Ph.D. Another donation, arranged by Dr. Kartopoulou, was given at the Robert Wood Johnson School of Medicine in New Jersey supporting the large statue of Hippocrates.
Early in 1999, the G.N. Papanicolaou Endowed Scholarship was reestablished at Weill Medical College of Cornell University, which is considered to be the only scholarship commemorating the creator of the "Pap Test" at a medical school in the United States. The Society is actively campaigning to increase the existing and to establish new named scholarships.
In 2000-2001, yearly lectures have been instituted in memory of Dr. Papanicolaou, Dr. Kotsilimbas and Dr. Flessas. Furthermore, the Onassis Foundation under the leadership of Ambassador Loucas Tsilas is co-promoting the impact of Hellenic medicine in the United States.
Throughout the years, our members and friends have enjoyed the ambience of our educational dinner events, the Apokriatiko Glendi organized by Dr. & Mrs. Andreas Cosmatos, and the celebration during our annual Scholarship Gala affairs. The Hellenic Medical Society of New York organized a very successful 65th Annual Scholarship Gala Affair. On November 30th, 2001, two hundred physicians and guests congregated at Manhattanís New York Athletic Club for a symposium on Orthopedics and presentation of annual scholarships. On December 1st, 2001 at the Essex House in Manahattan, during a memorable Dinner Dance, the year's Distinguished Hellene and Chairman of E*Trade Mr. Christos Cotsakos donated the unprecedented amount of one hundred thousand dollars for Medical Scholarship. We are indebted to our many Social Committee chairpeople and members whose tireless fundraising efforts have provided strength. We are proud of our many sponsors who support our philanthropic activities. The Hellenic Medical Society of New York is united with a renewed vitality to further the education and scholarship of Hellenism.
