On Wednesday, March 13th, an award ceremony was held at the National Gallery to honor eight (8) female doctors with exceptional social and scientific contributions. The awards were presented by the Women Doctors’ Committee of the Panhellenic Medical Association, as part of the International Women’s Day celebrations.
Dr. Mary Chatzidakis, former Director of the Blood Donation Center of the General Hospital of Larissa, was awarded for her work. The nomination was made by the President of the Medical Association, Mr. K. Giannakopoulos, and the recommendation by the Committee Representative-Member, Magdalene Riga-Kardoula.
During her presentation, Ms. Riga emphasized: “Mrs. Chatzidakis stands out as a symbol of dynamism, leaving her unique mark on the history of Thessaly.
A biopathologist, she graduated from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and specialized in the University Laboratory of AHEPA. During her studies, she got married and became a mother, successfully combining her family life with her professional role.
In 1985, she was appointed Registrar B of the Microbiology Department of the National Health Service, and in 2005, she became Director of the Blood Donation Center of the General Hospital of Larissa, where she has been a dedicated point of reference for her humanitarian work. In a complex environment characterized by the unstable blood donation behavior of citizens, seasonal shortages, and continuous crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, she strives to ensure sufficient blood quantities and transfusion safety.
She invests in the strategy of the mobile blood donation unit, which has proven to be an effective tool in blood collection, contributing 50% of the blood collection activity. She develops marketing strategies to raise public awareness and attract blood donors, relying on her unique communication skills. She builds bridges of communication with volunteer blood donor associations, organizations, the Red Cross of Larissa, media, students, and schools. Through her continuous efforts, in 2007 the Blood Donation Center was upgraded to a Molecular Control Center, in 2013 it was designated as a Blood Center, and in 2023 she managed to make the General Hospital of Larissa the first regional hospital to be self-sufficient in blood.
With her 42 years of service, Mrs. Mary Chatzidakis undoubtedly leaves an impressive mark in the field of health, and especially in the area of voluntary blood donation and transfusion, a fact confirmed by her awards from countless organizations.
Her multifaceted personality as a woman, wife, mother, and grandmother is a beautiful example of strength, dedication, and solidarity.
