A Celebration of Legacy, Learning, and Lifelong Connection
The city of Patras welcomed back generations of graduates from the Erasmus Master in Biomedical Engineering (BME) Program for its 35th Anniversary Reunion — an emotionally charged and unforgettable gathering that celebrated not just the longevity of a pioneering educational initiative, but the profound, life-altering impact it has had on its alumni. This event was endorsed by GCEA and sponsored by INBIT.
Held at the University of Patras, the reunion brought together former students, faculty, and special guests from across Europe and beyond. What united them was not just a shared academic background, but a collective experience that shaped careers, identities, and philosophies of life.
Among the attendees was Kallirroi Stavrianou, Manager of the Global Clinical Engineering Alliance (GCEA), who shared her reflections on the program’s influence. “Those years remain etched in my memory as some of the most vivid and formative of my life,” she said. “The BME program didn’t simply prepare me for a career in science and engineering—it prepared me for a life enriched by collaboration, cultural curiosity, and a sense of belonging in a global community.” Stavrianou also introduced attendees to GCEA, the Global Clinical Engineering Journal, and the upcoming 6th International Clinical Engineering & Health Technology Management Congress.
The event was also a time for heartfelt reunions — between classmates long separated by geography, colleagues who had only known each other through shared stories, and the exceptional professors whose dedication laid the program’s foundation. At the heart of the celebration stood Professor Nicolas Pallikarakis (GCEA Founder member), whose tireless work over the decades — often beyond formal duty or compensation — helped sustain the program’s excellence and community spirit. His efforts were met with warm gratitude and admiration from all in attendance and he was offered an award on behalf of all his alumni students:
A moving tribute was paid to the program’s visionary founder, Professor Basil Proimos. His forward-thinking philosophy and human-centered approach to education continue to inspire the ethos of the program. As one alumnus put it, “His mindset, full of vision and heart, lives on in all of us, as a seed that grew into a way of thinking, living, and giving back.”
The 35th Anniversary Reunion was not just a milestone — it was a reaffirmation of the power of education to transform lives and build a global community. For those who attended, it was a return to their roots and a celebration of how far they have come.
