Johns Hopkins Medical School Sets Research and Teaching Collaboration with University of Patras in Greece

BALTIMORE, April 8, 2008 /PRNewswire/ -- The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine has established a formal educational agreement with the University of Patras, the third largest university in Greece, to collaborate on research and on student and faculty exchanges.

The two schools will officially begin their new collaboration on April 11, 2008, when representatives from the 43-year-old Greek public institution visit Johns Hopkins to sign the agreement, championed by leading Greek-American businessman and philanthropist John G. Rangos, Sr., a member of the Johns Hopkins Medicine Board of Visitors and a longtime benefactor of the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.

"This is a tremendous opportunity for Hopkins to share new ideas with an outstanding institution abroad," says Myron L. Weisfeldt, M.D., director of the Department of Medicine at Johns Hopkins, who facilitated and developed the areas of collaboration. "We're expecting a fruitful relationship for Hopkins as well as the University of Patras."

The visiting representatives from the University of Patras, located in the northwestern part of the Peloponnese in Greece, close proximity to the ancient Greek sites of Olympia, Delphi and Mycenae, will sign the collaborative agreement at the dedication of the John G. Rangos, Sr. Building, scheduled to take place earlier the same day. The delegation from the University of Patras will be led by Dimitrios Dougenis, Vice Rector for Academic Affairs and Personnel and professor of cardiothoracic surgery in the University's Department of Medicine. Guest speakers at the event will include Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley, Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon, Congressman John Sarbanes (D-MD 3rd), Congressman Elijah Cummings (D-MD 7th) among others.

The John G. Rangos, Sr. Building will anchor the Science + Technology Park at Johns Hopkins, which is part of an 80-acre urban redevelopment just north of the Hopkins medical campus. Rangos' philanthropic organization, the John G. Rangos Sr. Family Charitable Foundation, funded its construction.

The agreement specifies six objectives comprised of an exchange of faculty, students and staff; brief visits of teaching, scientific and research staff related to specific studies and lectures; development of undergraduate and postgraduate student training; administrative staff exchanges geared to evaluation and improvement of curriculum; initiation of joint research programs in areas of mutual interest; and cooperation in cultural and athletic events.

    For more information, go to:

    University of Patras, Greece
    http://www.upatras.gr/index/index/lang/en

    Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
    http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/som/index.html

    Johns Hopkins Gift Announcement
    http://www.jhu.edu/news/univ06/apr06/basic.html

    John G. Rangos Sr. Family Charitable Foundation
    http://www.rangosfoundation.org/

    Johns Hopkins Medicine
    Media Relations and Public Affairs
    Media Contact: Christen Brownlee
    410-955-7832; cbrownlee@jhmi.edu

    Additional Media Contact:
    Eleni Daniels
    At DanielsMedia Co.
    For John G. Rangos, Sr.
    917-468-2919 (cell); danielsmediaco@gmail.com