Mrs Marianna V. Vardinoyannis received an honorary doctorate from the Medical School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens on Wednesday, 27 March 2019. His Excellency the President of the Republic, Prokopios Pavlopoulos, honoured the event through his attendance. Mrs. Vardinoyannis was honoured by the country’s oldest University for her contribution to Health issues, including fighting childhood cancer and promoting bone marrow donation.
The Rector, Professor M.-A. Dimopoulos referred, among other things, to the totality of Mrs. Vardinoyannis’ work and contribution, specifically with regard to Health issues, also stressing her very important work in areas such as human rights, education, climate change, culture, protecting cultural heritage, and promoting dialogue among peoples.
Professor A. Kattamis presented Mrs. Vardinoyannis’ work and contribution in fighting Childhood Cancer. Professor P. Panagiotidis spoke about Mrs Vardinoyannis’ contribution to promoting Bone Marrow Donation.
Professor Antonios Kattamis spoke in detail about the Mrs. Vardinoyannis’ work in the fight against childhood cancer, presenting the work of the Marianna V. Vardinoyannis-ELPIDA Children’s Oncology Unit and the Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit, where, to date, thousands of children have been saved. “For 30 years now, Mrs. Vardinoyannis has been a visionary, has created, and has inspired Greek society on the whole. Her contribution to children afflicted with cancer is priceless,” Professor Antonios Kattamis stressed, concluding his speech.
Professor Panagiotis Panagiotidis referred to Mrs. Vardinoyannis’ contribution with regard to increasing the number of volunteer bone marrow donors in our country through the work of the “VISION OF HOPE” Foundation, which was created at the initiative of Mrs. Vardinoyannis. “The field of voluntary bone marrow donation was a field that was dramatically lacking. “VISION OF HOPE” has managed, in an organised way, to bring our country’s current number of donors to 85,000, giving hope to patients who need a transplant. There always needs to be a driving force, which in this case was “VISION OF HOPE.” In Greece, we are lucky because blessed people always exist who work for the common good, and Marianna V. Vardinoyannis is on the long list of national benefactors.”
Designation of the guest of honour followed with reading of the texts of the Department’s Resolution and presentation of the Doctorate Degree by the President of the Department of Medicine of the School of Health Sciences, Professor P. Sfikakis, and cloaking of the guest of honour in the School’s gown.
The ceremony was concluded with a speech by Mrs. Marianna V. Vardinoyannis entitled “Humanism and Volunteerism : When protecting health and solidarity becomes a stance towards life.” “Humanism,” Mrs. Vardinoyannis stressed, among other things, “is behind the greatest achievements of man, but also behind the small everyday acts of social solidarity and love. It is also behind the dreams that are realised through great struggle. It is behind equal opportunities for all, social justice and the human right to healthcare. It is at the heart of our faith in valuing and respecting all humans. It is the foundation of Ethical Universality, meaning the moral values that are common to all people, irrespective of language, colour, religion, gender or ethnicity.” Attendees of the event included the Minister of Health, Mr. Andreas Xanthos, the First Lady of Cyprus, Mrs. Andri Anastasiades, the representative of the Main Opposition and New Democracy Vice President, Mr. Kostis Chatzidakis, the President of the Movement for Change, Mrs. Fofi Gennimata, the representative of the Archbishop of Athens and All Greece Ieronymos, Bishop of Thespiae Symeon, the President of the Academy of Athens, Professor Stephanos Imellos, the former President of the Academy of Athens, Professor Antonis Kounadis, the Head of the Court of Auditors, Androniki Theotokatou, the Ambassador of Israel to Greece, Mrs. Irit Ben Abba, the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China, Mrs. Qiyue Zhang, the Ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus, Kyriacos Kenevezos, Deans of Schools and Presidents of Department, teaching and research staff, representatives of organisations and associations, as well as many of the children of ELPIDA who, as healthy adults now, look towards the future with optimism.