Sotiris Tsiodras

Sotiris Tsiodras (Greek: Σωτήρης Τσιόδρας; born 13 October 1965) is a Greek internal medicine physician, specializing in infectology (infectious diseases), in charge of Greece's management of the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 crisis.

Doctor Sotiris Tsiodras
Leader of team charged with managing the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in Greece Government liaison officer on coronavirus pandemic
Personal details
Born	(1965-10-13) 13 October 1965 Sydney, Australia
Nationality	Greek
Spouse(s)	Mina
Children	7
Alma mater	University of Athens
Profession	Physician, internist and infectious disease specialist

Early years and education

Tsiodras was born on 13 October 1965 in Sydney, Australia, into an immigrant family originating from Neohori, Argolis.[1] After the family moved back to Greece, he enrolled into the Ioannina medical school and then transferred to the University of Athens from which he graduated in March 1991 as a pathologist.[2]

Medical career

In 1993, Tsiodras was assigned to the 401 General Military Hospital of Athens where he served for one year. During the years 1994–1997, he worked as an internal medicine specialist specializing in Pathology at the Einstein Medical Center Philadelphia in the United States. From 1997 to 2001, he enrolled in the programs for infectious diseases at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School. Between 1998 and 2001, he worked as a research fellow at Harvard Medical School from which he received a Medical Sciences M.A in June of 2001.[3]

In 2003, he defended cum laude his doctoral dissertation at the Medical School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.[4]

COVID-19 pandemic in Greece

In 2020, the government appointed a group of experts to coordinate the country's management of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in Greece.[5] Tsiodras was appointed as the team's leader as well as the government's communications liaison for the COVID-19 health crisis.[6][7]

Media coverage

Le Figaro claimed that Tsiodras was the "new beloved of Greeks".[8] In the article, Le Figaro claims that he asked Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis for strict lockdown measures as soon as the first cases were reported in Italy. Greek sociologist Andreas Drymiotis wrote: "Greeks particularly appreciate his calm, his knowledge on the matter, and his deep respect for all victims and the fact that he has an unbreakable dedication to nursing staff."[9] Moreover, a journalist, Matina Stevis-Gridneff, from The New York Times described him as one of the "Heroes of the Coronavirus Era".[7]

Personal life

Tsiodras is a practicing Orthodox Christian, an aficionado of Byzantine hymnology, and a member of his local church's choir. He has seven children.[2]

See also

• Greek government, post-2019 elections
• Civil services of Greece
• World Health Organisation
• SARS

References

1. "'Προσευχόμαστε γιά το παιδί μας': Οι γονείς τού Σωτήρη Τσιόδρα μιλούν γιά τον γιό τους" ['We are praying for our child': Sotiris Tsiodras' parents talks about their son]. Arcadia portal (in Greek). Greece. 22 March 2020. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
2. "Κορωνοϊός: Ποιος είναι ο λοιμωξιολόγος Σωτήρης Τσιόδρας που κέρδισε την εμπιστοσύνη των Ελλήνων" [Coronavirus: Who is the Greek infectiologist who has won the trust of Greeks]. I Efimerida (in Greek). Athens. 6 April 2020. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
3. "Sydney-born immunologist Sotiris Tsiodras, the 'voice' of coronavirus in Greece". New World. Australia. 24 March 2020. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
4. Tsiodras, Sotiris (2003). "Effect of protease inhibitors on the metabolic syndrome of patients with HIV infection". National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. doi:10.12681/eadd/13581. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
5. "Οδηγίες απο τον λοιμωξιολόγο Σωτήρη Τσιόδρα για την προστασία των ευπαθών ομάδων από τον κορονοϊό" [Directions from infectiologist Sotiris Tsiodras on the protection of vulnerable groups from the coronavirus]. Huffington Post (in Greek). Athens. 3 March 2020. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
6. "'Nick Hard' and the soft-spoken professor keeping Greeks virus-safe". Radio France Internationale. Paris. 6 April 2020. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
7. Stevis-Gridneff, Matina (5 April 2020). "The Rising Heroes of the Coronavirus Era? Nations' Top Scientists". The New York Times. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
8. Kefalas, Alexia (20 March 2020). "L'infectiologue Sotirios Tsiodras, nouvelle coqueluche des Grecs". Le Figaro.fr (in French).
9. "Sydney-born immunologist Sotiris Tsiodras, the 'voice' of coronavirus in Greece". Neos Kosmos. 24 March 2020.

External links

• Greek Ministry of Health official website (in Greek)