Erasmus medical students’ experience and primary care on Crete island, Greece: narrative views and reflections

Annika Wieneke

contribution: Acquisition of data, Drafting of manuscript, Critical revision

position: MD Student

Espen Iselvmo

contribution: Acquisition of data, Drafting of manuscript, Critical revision

position: MD Student

Evi Kortsidakis

qualifications: MA

contribution: Acquisition of data, Critical revision

position: International Officer

Dr Foteini Anastasiou

qualifications: PhD

contribution: Analysis and interpretation of data, Critical revision

position: MD, Co-ordinator

Greece

General Practice, practice in rural areas, functional GI disorders.

Dr Theodoros Vasilopoulos

qualifications: MSc

contribution: Analysis and interpretation of data, Critical revision

position: MD, Chief Co-ordinator

Greece

Theodoros Vasilopoulos is a Consultant Physician of General Practice / Family Medicine at the Health Center Agia Barbara in Heraklion, Crete since 2003. He holds a master in «General / Family Medicine and Primary Health Care "​. He collaborates as a researcher with the Clinic of Social and Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete. Also is a member of the Executive Boards of various professional organisations like WWPRP, EURIPA , Heart Failure Association (HFA) of the ESC, coordinator of network research in general practice «GREGORY LAMPRAKIS» and Education Coordinator of Trainees in General Medicine Venizeleio - Pananeio G.H. Heraklion. He is a member of research team at the University of Crete and participated in 8 European funded projects, (TRANSFORM- PREPARE -FRESH AIR - SPIM EU etc.) and he coordinates the development of the first national guidelines for primary care on Heart Failure. He is also a member of authors at Rural Medical Education Guidebook of The World Organization of National Colleges, Academies and Academic Associations of Gen.Practitioners/Family Physician.

Prof Christos Lionis

qualifications: FRCGP

contribution: Study conception and design, Acquisition of data, Analysis and interpretation of data, Critical revision

position: Professor, Head

Greece

Since 1995 Christos Lionis has worked at the University of Crete Medical School, where he is Professor and Director of the Clinic of Social and Family Medicine. With a passion for the importance and the value of Family Medicine, Christos is actively involved in the development of Primary Care and General Practice in Greece. He currently co-ordinates a thriving GP research network on rural Crete, and is also responsible for the supervision of a number of PhD students in the fields of quality management and the formulation of guidelines for management of common disease and chronic conditions, factors contributing to cardiovascular disease, gastroenterology, mental health and morbidity in general practice. Prior to his employment at the University of Crete, Christos worked for 9 years as Manager and Medical Director of Spili Health Centre, obtaining experience as a clinician and researcher in the field of Primary Health Care and General Practice in a rural setting. For further information refer to the website of the Clinic of Social and Family Medicine (http://www.fammed.uoc.gr/).

A/Prof Emmanouil Symvoulakis

qualifications: PhD

contribution: Study conception and design, Analysis and interpretation of data, Drafting of manuscript, Critical revision

position: Assistant Professor

Greece

Emmanouil K. Symvoulakis was born in Heraklion, Greece, in 1972. He graduated from Faculty of Medicine, University of Naples (FEDERICO II), Italy, in 1999. He is qualified in General Practice/ Family Medicine. He defended his PhD thesis at the Medical School of University of Crete in 2007. He is author in several original papers published in international journals. He is currently involved in national and international research projects of the Clinic of Social and Family Medicine of University of Crete.