Hellenic Medical Journeys combines community, culture and research at SAHMRI

Last week, SAHMRI hosted the inaugural Hellenic Medical Journeys in partnership with the Hellenic Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (HACCI), bringing Adelaide’s Greek community together to celebrate the personal journeys and global impact of Hellenic Australians working at the forefront of health and medical research.

Held in the SAHMRI auditorium, the event marked the expansion of HACCI’s program, recognising the vital role health and medical research plays alongside business, law and finance in shaping communities and driving innovation. HACCI Chair Alex Demetriou acknowledged the significance of broadening the Chamber’s focus to include the health and medical sector, noting the value of bringing people together across disciplines to foster connection, collaboration and shared purpose.

Central to the evening were reflections from SAHMRI Executive Director Professor Maria Makrides and cardiologist and Lifelong Health Co-Theme Leader, Professor Peter Psaltis, and senior oncologist Professor Chris Karapetis, who spoke candidly about the experiences that have shaped their careers and their approach to research, leadership and service.

Prof Psaltis talked about his work as a clinician and a researcher, focusing on early detection and prevention of heart disease, and the responsibility of translating discovery into real world impact. He also shared the personal motivations that inspired him to pursue his career.

“Heart disease has shaped my life from a very young age. Losing family members made me realise I wanted to do something not just to treat people in front of me, but to understand why this happens and how we can prevent it,” Prof Psaltis said.

Prof Makrides emphasised the societal value in translating research into practice so that it remains embedded in health systems and encouraged young researchers to embrace uncertainty and take opportunities as they arise.

“Your journey will be long, and you may end up somewhere you never imagined. What matters is having the courage to follow the evidence and take the opportunities in front of you,” she said.

“When research moves into standard care, and stays there, that’s when you know it’s made a real difference.”

The evening also highlighted strengthening connections between South Australia and Greece, following the Adelaide–Athens Sister City agreement, and Greece’s recent recognition of Australian medical specialist qualifications, opening new pathways for collaboration, mobility and shared learning.

Organisers are hoping to make Hellenic Medical Journeys an annual fixture at SAHMRI.