NEW YORK – The Hellenic Medical Society of New York (HMSNY) honored Women who Dared at an event held with great success on April 14 in Manhattan.

The event awarded prizes to women and for the first time was held with the support of five different organizations: The Hellenic Initiative, the Hellenic-American Chamber of Commerce, Hellenic Lawyers Association, Hellenic American Association for Professionals in Finance, and Hellenic Professional Women. The event honored Dr. Rany Condos, HMS Dr. Mary Kalopothakes Distinguished Female Physician Clinical Professor, NYU Grossman School of Medicine Greek-American pulmonary medicine expert and ICU COVID Hero; Eliza Society for their mission to prevent cruelty against children in Greece with special mention to Dr. P. Roy Vagelos and Diana T. Vagelos for their visionary gift to create a hub for women in STEM at Barnard College.

The event was held at Comeback Lounge/ previous Barneys, and offered a rare opportunity for guests to see the Sandra and Bill Nicholson art exhibit, the world’s largest privately-owned collection solely by women artists at 660 Madison Avenue, 6th Floor.

At the beginning of the event, the organizer, Dr. Stella Lymberis, referred to the work and history of Dr. Kalopothakes, but also to the fact that years ago, when she was vice president of the HMSNY, she proposed that they hold a banquet and award ceremony for women. During her opening speech, she thanked all those present and presented the program of the event. She then thanked Carlyle Global Partners Chairman and CEO Alex Charlton for his hospitality and generosity to the HMSNY for the use of the company’s space.

Among those present were Consul General of Greece in New York Dr. Konstantinos Koutras, Consul General of Cyprus Michalis Firillas, Kalliopi Ziangos, and President of the Federation of Hellenic American Educators Stella Kokolis.

The first prize was awarded to the husband of the late Dr. Maria Bournias-Spyris, who lost her life a few days after the birth of their first child last year. Her husband’s speech filled all those present with tears as he spoke, not trying to hold back his tears, about the courage and bravery that distinguished his wife. He also announced that his family will provide a scholarship in honor of his wife’s memory.

Dr. Rany Condos was then awarded by the HMSNY for her contribution to the fight against the coronavirus, with her not accepting the term “hero” since, as she said, real heroes are those who came to this country with nothing, like her mother.

It should be mentioned that during the pandemic, Dr. Condos served in the front line, in the ICU, wearing the special white chemical protection suit and trying to keep alive the most seriously ill patients who were then in the hospital.

The third prize was presented by all the organizations that participated to the Eliza Society, the charitable organization based in Greece with Founder and President Marina Karella accepting the award.

HMSNY Vice President Dr. Lorraine Chrisomalis-Valasiadis then gave the floor to Dr. Palaiologos Alexopoulos, a past scholarship recipient, who spoke movingly and thanked the HMSNY with warm words for what it has done for him.

In closing, HMSNY President Dr. Panagiotis Manolas thanked the organizers of the event, reserving a surprise for the attendees, referring to The National Herald’s reporting from Ukraine, displaying an image of the author on the main screen of the event.

The evening ended with dancing and live Greek music by the Apollo Orchestra.