NEW YORK – The Hellenic Medical Society of New York (HMSNY) held its the Scholarship Award Ceremony on December 9 at Lenox Hill Hospital’s Einhorn Auditorium in Manhattan. The distinguished honorees to be feted at the HMSNY Gala on December 10, Distinguished Physician Dr. Stephen Nicholas, Distinguished Colleague Dr. Alex Spyropoulos, and Distinguished Hellene George Logothetis, also delivered inspiring remarks to the scholarship recipients, family and friends.

Dr. Panagiotis Manolas, HMSNY outgoing president, gave the welcoming remarks, noting the many achievements of the organization during the two consecutive terms served by the current Executive Board in the especially trying times of the pandemic. He thanked the Board- First Vice President Dr. Frixos Goussis, Second Vice President Dr. Lorraine Chrisomalis-Valasiadis, Secretary Dr. Helen Gouzoulis-Koutsos, Assistant Secretary Dr. Demetrios Markouizos, and Treasurer Dr. Andreas Cosmatos, and Assistant Treasurer Dr. Nicholas Nissirios- for all their efforts.

Dr. Manolas noted that membership tripled for HMSNY during their tenure and this year had a record amount raised for scholarships from $57,000 in 2021 to $106,000 in 2022. There was also a record number of applications for the scholarships and a record number of 38 recipients.

Dr. George Liakeas, the immediate past president, and chairman of the Nominating Committee, announced the newly elected Board- President Dr. Antonis Gasparis, First Vice President Dr. Lorraine Chrisomalis-Valasiadis, Second Vice President Dr. Nicholas Nissirios, Secretary Dr. Stella Lymberis, Assistant Secretary Dr. Michael Plakogiannis, Treasurer Dr. Aspasia Draga, and Assistant Treasurer Dr. Stella Douros.

Dr. Manolas then introduced this year’s Distinguished Physician Dr. Stephen J. Nicholas, founder and current director of NY Orthopedics, a recognized authority in the field of sports medicine. As director of the Nicholas Institute of Sports Medicine and Athletic Trauma (NISMAT), the first hospital-based facility dedicated to the study of sports medicine in the country, he has continued his renowned research and training in the fields of sports medicine and physical therapy.

Over the years, Dr. Nicholas has dedicated a great deal of time to treating professional, collegiate and amateur athletes. He has served as the orthopedic team physician for the New York Jets, New York Islanders and the athletes at Hofstra University. He also served as a member of the mayor’s New York City Sports Commission.

Before Dr. Nicholas gave his presentation, Dr. Neofitos Stefanides spoke movingly about him and his influence on his own career in orthopedics, noting that Dr. Nicholas wrote him a glowing recommendation and now he is honored to be performing surgeries at his center.

Dr. Nicholas is a native New Yorker and a graduate of Harvard University. He received his medical degree from New York Medical College followed by a residency at the Hospital for Special Surgery and a fellowship in sports medicine at Lenox Hill Hospital. His father was also a pioneering orthopedic surgeon who performed back surgery on John F. Kennedy and knee surgery on New York Jets quarterback Joe Namath. Dr. Nicholas shared personal recollections of having his tonsils out at the time of Namath’s surgery and tossing a football with him in the hospital. He then made his presentation on the evolution of knee surgery including slides and video of his research and findings.

Dr. Spyropoulos, this year’s HMSNY honoree as Distinguished Colleague, received his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in Philadelphia, PA. He completed his internship and residency in internal medicine at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center in Albuquerque, NM.

Dr. Spyropoulos was Founder and former Medical Director of the Clinical Thrombosis Center in Albuquerque. He is a Professor of Medicine at Hofstra, Northwell School of Medicine and System Director of Anticoagulation and Clinical Thrombosis Services for the multi hospital Northwell Health System in New York. Dr. Spyropoulos presented on the Perioperative Management of Warfarin and DOACs [Direct oral anticoagulants], noting the findings of his research and the guidelines for patients undergoing surgical procedures. He also shared five things he learned as advice for the scholarship recipients just beginning their journey- follow your heart, carve your own road, find a great mentor, have a patient in front of you, and be proud of your Hellenic heritage.

George Logothetis, Libra Group Executive Chairman and this year’s HMSNY honoree as Distinguished Hellene, shared inspiring words and his own harrowing experience that shaped his life’s journey and his dedication to philanthropy.

The scholarships were then presented to the deserving recipients who introduced themselves briefly and thanked the HMSNY for helping them continue on their path in the medical profession.