This past weekend, the student conference of the MSc in Lifestyle Medicine (MLM) was held with great success, marking the conclusion of the programme’s Summer School – its capstone educational experience. The MLM programme, directed by Professor Georgios Sakkas and Professor Christina Karatzaferi, is an interdepartmental and interdisciplinary collaboration between the Schools of Medicine, Physical Education & Sport Science, and Nutrition & Dietetics of the University of Thessaly. It aims to upskill and empower professionals in health and allied fields to adopt and integrate the Lifestyle Medicine approach into their practice.
The final day of the conference featured a particularly special and emotional moment: the presentation of the Excellence in Mentoring Award to Dr. Maria Maridaki, Emeritus Associate Professor from Athens, in recognition of her longstanding and outstanding contribution to mentoring young scientists in the fields of exercise science and lifestyle medicine. A pioneer in exercise physiology, Dr. Maridaki has mentored many of today’s academic leaders in Greece and abroad. The meaningful relationship of mentoring and co-mentoring forms the foundation of both personal and professional development, and MLM students had the opportunity to experience the power of such relationships within a framework of warmth, respect, and collaboration.
The ceremony was attended by the Vice Rector for Innovation, Internationalization, Collaborations & Digital Governance of the University of Thessaly, Professor Chrysi Laspidou, who honored this significant occasion with her presence.
It was a ceremony charged with emotion, reminding everyone of the profound impact one person can have on the journey of emerging scientists.
Warm congratulations to the entire academic community of the MLM programme!
