The new Dean of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Kyriakos Anastasiadis, a distinguished scientist with great contributions to Medicine and Higher Education, has been elected.

Regarding his personality and pedagogical philosophy, the new Rector, Professor Anastasiades, from his first steps as a medical student, has shown that he approaches excellence as a personal necessity, not as a means of demonstration. Discipline, inner motivation and steady guidance from ethos are the foundations of his thinking. He insists that the doctor is not just a professional, but a functionary with deep empathy, a heightened sense of responsibility to the patient and a lasting relationship of trust with the person opposite him. This understanding is so crucial to his career that he promotes it as an essential component of the training of all young doctors.

True to scientific innovation, Professor Anastasiades extends beyond everyday surgical practice, having adopted innovative applications such as robotic surgical practices. At the same time, he has highlighted the importance of collaborating with leading international research centres in a way that artificial intelligence enhances the doctor – not substitutes him.

The statement from the new Rector

“Today the Board of Governors has appointed me as the new Rector of the Aristotle University. For this great honour and the promise of cooperation that accompanies it, I would like to thank my fellow Councillors. My gratitude is also deserved by all of you who believed in my strategic plan and supported me during this long period after the elections”, Anastasiades said.

He added: “Now is the time for all of us to work for the Aristotle University. It is the time for a restart, which is now imperative for its sustainability and development.

Our University is turning a new page, preparing to enter its second century of operation as a model Public, International and Innovative Academic Institution serving Education, Research and Freedom of Speech, as an important pillar of economic and cultural development of the country. We have a lot to do! I will be by your side. Tomorrow’s day will find ourselves united and walking together. We owe it to Aristotle, to our science, to our students.”

The educational role and the vision for the university

As a professor, Anastasiades argues that the university should not just be a centre of knowledge, but a bearer of social change and professional training, while he believes in the essential interconnection of institutions with the labour market and society. He emphasises English-language study programmes, such as that of medicine at the AUTH, because they open up new avenues for international cooperation and verbal exchange. At the same time, he sees academic life as a place where critical thinking, research, and lifelong learning must coexist.

On the burning issue of entry into higher education, Professor Anastasiades has repeatedly referred to the anxiety of students about the Panhellenic examinations and the psychological pressure during the transition from school life to university life. He warns of the need to manage failure and not its self-destructive version, recommending that young people face difficulties with resilience and personality, stressing that true learning is born out of challenges.

The vision of the Rector of the AUTH is that collective progress will trump the individual. The public university and the National Health System must function as a single, interdependent edifice: with transparency, collaboration, technological support, but above all with a commitment to the individual. He stresses that young people need to cultivate their enthusiasm and passion while preserving their mental balance.

About the electoral process

After two previous votes for the election of a new Rector at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, which were unsuccessful, today’s vote of the eleven-member Administrative Council (11/9/25) was completed.

The new Rector was elected with 7 votes out of a total of 11. Efstratios Stylianides received 2, while 2 voted no.

It is recalled that the candidates were Kyriakos Anastasiades, Professor of the Department of Medicine of the Faculty of Health Sciences, and Efstratios Stylianidis, Professor of the Department of Spatial Planning and Development Engineering of the Faculty of Engineering.

The procedure was activated after the cancellation of the election of the former Rector of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Professor Haralambos Feidas, by the Council of State. He had not been excluded, based on the decision, from the specific election process.

The first phase of the voting had begun on Friday, June 6, during which the two candidates had received two votes each, while seven members of the Board of Governors voted no.

Yesterday, Tuesday 10 June, the second phase of voting followed, from which Professor Anastasiades received three votes and Professor Stylianides, two. In any case, the required majority for the election of the Rector had not been reached, so today, 11 June, the procedure was repeated for the third time. At this stage, an absolute majority was sufficient, i.e., 6/11.

Finally, it is worth mentioning that tomorrow, Thursday, an anniversary event for the 100 years of the Aristotle University is to take place at the Thessaloniki Concert Hall.

The Curriculum Vitae of the new Rector

Kyriakos Anastasiadis (MD, PhD, FETCS, FCCP, FESC) is Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery at the Medical School of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. He is the Director of the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, P.G.N.TH. AHEPA from 2011 to date, Director of the Postgraduate Studies Program of the Department of Medicine in Advanced Cardiopulmonary Applications – Extracorporeal Circulation Techniques (approved by the Ministry of Health as the only one in the country for specialization in Extracorporeal Circulation and by the European Society of Extracorporeal Circulation Specialists) from 2015 to date, Director of the Surgical Department and deputy Director of the Medical Service at AHEPA University Hospital (as the oldest Director of the University Clinics) from 2017 to date, Chairman of the National Examination Committee of the specialty of Thoracic Surgery for B. Greece since 10 years, Chairman of the Committee for the Specialty of Thoracic Surgery at the Central Board of Health from 2023 to date.

He served as Chairman of the Department of Medicine of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki 2020-2024, Deputy Chairman of the Department of Medicine of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki 2017-2020, Chairman of the Special Biomedical Research and Education Unit of the Department of Medicine of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki 2020- 2024.

He has authored a large number of scientific books and studies in scientific journals. He has organized and delivered lectures in numerous international and Greek scientific conferences. He has participated in many research projects in Greece and abroad. His research and social work have been recognized with awards internationally.

Starting from AUTH

A graduate of the Medical School of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, the new Rector of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Kyriakos Anastasiadis. He specialized in the Cardiac Surgery Clinic of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki at the AHEPA Hospital. He holds a PhD from AUTH and did postgraduate training at the Oxford Heart Centre in Oxford, UK.

Of Oxford University in Oxford, Oxford, Oxford University, and Oxford University.
Specialist degree in Thoracic Surgery, 2000,
UK GMC (General Medical Council) Specialist Register, UK – 2001,
Doctoral Thesis title, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki – 2004,
UEMS European Boards of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (UEMS European Boards of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery) – 2005,
“Fellow” of the European Society of Cardiology – 2011,
“Fellow” of the American College of Chest Physicians – 2011,
Honorary Professor of Carol Davila University, Bucharest – 2022.

Scientific work

Chief Investigator of the international MIECS study and Primary Investigator of the international COMICS study, one of the largest research studies in cardiac surgery worldwide.

Participation in more than twenty research projects in Greece and abroad, recognition of research work with international awards. More than 150 publications in international and Greek scientific journals with more than 2,300 references. Author of seven scientific books (three international publications -in English, Springer Eds, one of which has been translated into Chinese, and four Greek publications). In addition to the print version of the books, there have been over 32,000 chapter downloads according to the Bookmetrix database. Authored thirteen chapters in scientific books (international and Greek). Organization of six international conferences as President and participation in the organization of more than ten Greek scientific conferences. More than 130 lectures, including invited and keynote lectures in major international and Greek conferences. Editor in the international scientific journal “Perfusion” and reviewer of scientific papers in thirteen international scientific journals.

Administrative work

Director of the Cardiothoracic Surgery Clinic of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, P.G.N.TH. AHEPA from 2011 to date,
President of the Department of Medicine, AUTH 2020-2024, Deputy President of the Department of Medicine, AUTH 2017-2020, President of the Special Unit for Biomedical Research and Education of the Department of Medicine, AUTH. 2020-2024, Director of the Postgraduate Studies Program of the Department of Medicine in Advanced Cardiopulmonary Applications – Extracorporeal Circulation Techniques (approved by the Ministry of Health as the only one in the country for specialization in Extracorporeal Circulation and by the European Society of Extracorporeal Circulation Specialists) from 2015 to date, Director of the Surgical Department and deputy Director of the Medical Service at AHEPA University Hospital (as the oldest Director of the University Clinics) from 2017 to date, Chairman of the National Examination Committee of the specialty of Thoracic Surgery for B. Chairman of the Board of Surgeons of the Department of Thoracic Surgery of the National Board of Surgeons of Greece since ten years. Chairman of the Committee for the Specialty of Thoracic Surgery at the Central Health Council from 2023 to date.

Founder, first President, and life member of the Executive Board of the Minimally Invasive Extracorporeal Technologies International Society (MiECTiS). Founding member of the European Registry for Patients with Mechanical Circulatory Support (EUROMACS). Member of six International and seven Greek Scientific Societies. Secretary General of the Hellenic Society of Thoracic – Cardiac – Vascular Surgeons for seven years and Chairman of the Society’s Education Committee for six years. He served as Chairman of the Department of Medicine of the University of Thessaloniki for two terms and Deputy Chairman for three years, member of the Committee for the specialty of Thoracic Surgery of the CSCE and current Coordinator. He served as a member of the European and Educational Programmes Committee of the Administration of the U.P.Th. for four years, as well as repeatedly as a member of various Committees and the Assembly of the Department of Medicine of the U.P.Th. He participated as a member of various Committees of the Ministry of Health, the Central Health Council, the Health Procurement Committee and the European Exchange Programme for Hospital Employees and Executives.

Interface with industry

Scientific Advisor (Advisory Board / Consultant / Lead Clinical Expert and Key Opinion Leader) of Medtronic Inc. with a collaborative focus on the development of minimally invasive extracorporeal circulation systems (MiECC). Responsible for the organization of a specialized Advanced Training Course in MiECC systems (start of collaboration in 2014). Scientific Advisor (Proctor/Lead Clinical Expert) of Covidien Inc. with the objective of specialized training of cardiac surgeons, cardiac anesthesiologists and extracorporeal circulation technicians in the applications of brain oximetry in cardiac surgery (start of collaboration in 2015). Scientific Consultant (Proctor/Lead Clinical Expert) of the Maquet Company with the development of minimally invasive extracorporeal circulation systems (MiECC) – responsible for the organization of post-graduate courses in MiECC systems in Greece (cooperation 2008-2011). Scientific Consultant of the company PulseCath BV with the cooperation on the development of prototype devices for mechanical support of circulation (cooperation 2011-2012).

Awards

Commendation for Excellence in Teaching from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 2016. Recognition as Innovator, Royal Society of Medicine UK, London 2010: ‘The world’s first artificial heart and stem cell operation’. Best Innovator Award, 8th EuroAsian Bridge Congress, Iran 2011. Award, Congress of the World Society of CardioThoracic Surgeons, Kos 2008: “The application of mini-extracorporeal circulation systems in heart surgery”. Presentation of clinical research activity in the field of application of minimally invasive extracorporeal circulation in open heart surgery, as well as in the field of treatment of heart failure by combining surgical and cellular therapy as an Action of Excellence in the Academic and Scientific Excellence Programme by the Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs in cooperation with the European Union. Award of nine scientific papers (three international) in scientific conferences. Honorary distinction for a humanitarian mission to perform cardiac surgery in Mauritius, Africa, 2012. Medals from the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Burdenko Institute in Moscow, and the Military Corps Officers’ School. Award for Excellence in Medical and Social Work and Service from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 2018. International recognition: “The Greeks who left their mark in 2018”. Eupia Award for Social and Cultural Contribution from the Hellenic Amphictyony of Hellenes at the 5th World Amphictyon Congress, 2019. Recognition of scientific work and promotion to Honorary Professor of Carol Davila University of Bucharest, 2022. Award of Merit and Virtue on behalf of the Rotary Clubs of Thessaloniki and Kozani, 2024.