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DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Moscow:20260625T100000
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DTSTAMP:20260815T014419Z
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SUMMARY:HERO-HEALTH Kick-off Meeting
DESCRIPTION:On 25 June 2026\, the University of Thessaly and Teachers College\, Columbia University officially marked the launch of the Joint Master’s Programme in Humanitarian Action and Inclusive Management of Public and One Health Challenges (HERO-HEALTH) with its inaugural event at Aigli Zappeiou in Athens. \nThe kick-off meeting brought together senior representatives of the Greek Government\, higher education authorities\, academic leaders from Greece and the United States\, experts in humanitarian action\, health and disaster preparedness\, and representatives of civil protection and the wider community. \nThe event was attended and addressed by Sofia Zacharaki\, Minister of Education\, Religious Affairs and Sports; Adonis Georgiadis\, Minister of Health; Nikos Papaioannou\, Deputy Minister of Education\, Religious Affairs and Sports responsible for Higher Education; and Konstantinos Katsafados\, Deputy Minister for Climate Crisis and Civil Protection. Their contributions highlighted the importance of internationalisation in Greek higher education\, resilient health systems\, preparedness for complex crises\, and the role of universities in developing the knowledge and skills required to address contemporary societal challenges. \nThe higher education and academic community was represented by Professor Periklis Mitkas\, President of the Hellenic Authority for Higher Education (HAHE); Professor Charalambos Billinis\, Rector of the University of Thessaly and Scientific Coordinator of HERO-HEALTH; Professor Chrysi Laspidou\, Vice-Rector for Innovation\, Internationalisation\, Collaborations and Digital Governance at the University of Thessaly; Professor Catherine Mary Embree\, Vice President for Planning and Strategy\, Chief of Staff to the President\, and Secretary of the College at Teachers College\, Columbia University; and Professor Emmanuel Pikoulis\, Director of the MSc in Global Health – Disaster Medicine and Director of the Research Institute of Humanitarian Medicine and Response at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. \nThe inaugural meeting introduced the vision\, academic scope and interdisciplinary approach of HERO-HEALTH\, underlining the growing need for professionals capable of responding effectively and inclusively to humanitarian emergencies\, public health crises\, environmental threats and climate-related disasters. \nA central part of the programme was devoted to interdisciplinary dialogue. The first panel\, “Educating the New Humanitarian Professional: One Health\, Public Health\, and Crisis Leadership\,” brought together academics from medicine\, veterinary medicine\, nursing\, physiotherapy and humanitarian medicine to discuss the knowledge\, competencies and leadership skills required of professionals working in increasingly complex crisis environments. \nThe second panel\, “Climate Justice\, Disaster Preparedness\, and Data: From Risk Mapping to Action for Protecting Vulnerable Communities\,” brought together experts from the University of Thessaly and Columbia University\, operational expertise from the Hellenic Fire Brigade\, and His Eminence Metropolitan Gabriel of Nea Ionia\, Philadelphia\, Herakleio and Chalkidona. The discussion highlighted the importance of connecting scientific evidence\, disaster preparedness\, community engagement and social inclusion\, particularly in protecting populations that are disproportionately affected by crises. \nInnovation in education was another key theme of the meeting. Participants had the opportunity to explore the potential of virtual reality and immersive technologies through a curated VR preview\, reflecting HERO-HEALTH’s emphasis on simulation-based education\, experiential learning and realistic crisis-preparedness training. \nHERO-HEALTH is a three-semester\, 90 ECTS interdisciplinary Joint Master’s Programme developed through the academic collaboration of the University of Thessaly and Teachers College\, Columbia University. The programme combines academic education with digital learning tools\, blended teaching\, crisis simulations and applied training\, aiming to prepare professionals to design\, implement and evaluate effective and inclusive interventions in complex and rapidly evolving crisis environments. \nThe kick-off meeting marked an important milestone in the collaboration between the two institutions and established a common platform for academic exchange\, international cooperation and innovative education at the intersection of Humanitarian Action\, Public Health and One Health. \nEvent Highlights\n\nOfficial launch of the HERO-HEALTH Joint Master’s Programme\nParticipation of senior representatives of the Greek Government and higher education\nAcademic collaboration between the University of Thessaly and Teachers College\, Columbia University\nPublic Health\, One Health and humanitarian crisis preparedness\nCrisis leadership and interdisciplinary professional education\nClimate justice\, disaster preparedness and protection of vulnerable communities\nCommunity engagement and the social dimensions of crisis response\nSimulation-based education and immersive technologies\nVirtual Reality preview and demonstration\nInternational academic dialogue and strategic collaboration\n\nProgramme & SpeakersOpening & Welcome\n09:30–10:00 — Arrival\, Registration & Welcome Coffee \n10:00–10:05 — Opening Visual Moment“Why HERO-HEALTH\, Why Now?” \n10:05–10:10 — Welcome and Agenda SettingPaul Skotidas\, Master of Ceremonies \nOpening Addresses\nProf. Charalambos BillinisRector\, University of Thessaly; Scientific Coordinator of HERO-HEALTH“From Thessaly to the world: universities at the front line of crisis readiness.” \nProf. Chrysi LaspidouVice-Rector for Innovation\, Internationalisation\, Collaborations and Digital Governance\, University of Thessaly“Internationalisation with purpose: innovation\, collaboration\, and digital learning for public good.” \nSofia ZacharakiMinister of Education\, Religious Affairs and Sports\, Hellenic Republic“Greek higher education as a global partner in innovation\, resilience\, and public service.” \nAdonis GeorgiadisMinister of Health\, Hellenic Republic“Public Health Resilience and the Future of Health Systems in an Age of Complex Crises.” \nKonstantinos KatsafadosDeputy Minister\, Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection\, Hellenic Republic“Preparedness\, resilience\, and the human factor in civil protection.” \nProf. Periklis MitkasPresident\, Hellenic Authority for Higher Education (HAHE)“Quality\, excellence\, and international joint degrees in the new era of Greek higher education.” \nProf. Catherine Mary EmbreeVice President for Planning and Strategy\, Chief of Staff to the President\, and Secretary of the College\, Teachers College\, Columbia University“A partnership for resilience\, and evidence-based humanitarian practice.” \nProf. Emmanuel PikoulisDirector\, MSc “Global Health – Disaster Medicine”; Director\, Research Institute of Humanitarian Medicine and Response\, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens; Jean Monnet Chair in Humanitarian Medicine and Response in Action & Peacebuilding Health Diplomacy“Humanitarian Medicine in Greece.” \nNikos PapaioannouDeputy Minister of Education\, Religious Affairs and Sports responsible for Higher EducationAddress delivered during the institutional opening of the HERO-HEALTH Kick-off Meeting. \nVirtual Reality Preview\n11:00–11:30 — Coffee Break & Curated VR Preview \nA dedicated Virtual Reality gallery preview was presented by: \nDr. Nikolaos Achilleopoulos and Olga Chatzifoti\, Gruppo Maggioli \nThe demonstration highlighted the role of immersive technologies in simulation-based education and crisis-preparedness training. \nPanel 1 — Educating the New Humanitarian Professional\n11:30–12:30 \nOne Health\, Public Health\, and Crisis Leadership \nModerator: Paul Skotidas \nPanelists: \n\nProf. Lamprini Athanasiou — Professor of General Medicine\, Department of Veterinary Medicine\, University of Thessaly\nProf. Ioannis Pantazopoulos — Professor of Emergency Medicine\, Department of Medicine\, University of Thessaly\nProf. Dimosthenis Makris — Professor in Critical Care Medicine\, Department of Medicine\, University of Thessaly\nProf. Dimitrios Bogdanos — Professor of Medicine and Autoimmune Diseases\, Department of Medicine\, University of Thessaly\nProf. Emmanuel Pikoulis — Professor of General Surgery\, Department of Medicine\, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens\nProf. Maria Malliarou — Professor of Occupational Health Nursing\, Department of Nursing\, University of Thessaly\nProf. Ioannis Poulis — Professor of Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy – Bioethics\, Department of Physiotherapy\, University of Thessaly\n\nThe panel explored the interdisciplinary knowledge\, competencies and leadership skills required for the education of professionals working across humanitarian action\, Public Health\, One Health and complex crisis environments. \nPanel 2 — Climate Justice\, Disaster Preparedness & Data\n12:30–13:15 \nFrom Risk Mapping to Action for Protecting Vulnerable Communities \nModerator: Prof. Chrysi Laspidou \nPanelists: \n\nDr. Alex de Sherbinin — Director\, Center for Integrated Earth System Information (CIESIN)\, Columbia University\nDr. Thomas Chandler — Managing Director\, National Center for Disaster Preparedness (NCDP)\, Columbia University\nProf. Helen Verdeli — Chair\, Department of Counseling and Clinical Psychology\, Teachers College\, Columbia University; HERO-HEALTH Principal Investigator at Teachers College\nDr. Ioannis Dimitrios Kamperos — Operational Officer\, ATGS / Hellenic Fire Brigade\nHis Eminence Metropolitan Gabriel of Nea Ionia\, Philadelphia\, Herakleio and Chalkidona\n\nThe discussion focused on climate justice\, disaster preparedness\, data-informed risk assessment\, community resilience and the protection of vulnerable populations\, bringing together academic\, operational and community perspectives. \nClosing Remarks\n13:15–13:20 \nClosing remarks were delivered by: \n\nProf. Charalambos Billinis\nProf. Chrysi Laspidou\n\nThe formal programme concluded with the official group photograph. \nNetworking & Working Meetings\n13:20–14:45 — Seated Lunch \n14:45–16:30 — Working Meetings between University of Thessaly and Teachers College teams \nThe afternoon sessions provided an opportunity for further academic exchange and coordination between the two partner institutions. \nOfficial Photo Gallery
URL:https://hero-health.uth.gr/event/hero-health-kick-off-meeting/
LOCATION:Aigli Zappeiou\, Zappeion Garden\, Athens\, 10557\, Greece
CATEGORIES:Meetings
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://hero-health.uth.gr/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/kickoff_professors-scaled.webp
ORGANIZER;CN="HERO-HEALTH Joint Master's Programme":MAILTO:hero-health@uth.gr
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