On Friday, January 24, an important scientific workshop was held in the hall of the Koventareios Municipal Library of Kozani, co-organized by the “Mediterranean One Health Innovation Center (MED-OHC)” and the Region of Western Macedonia. The event was themed: “One Health in the Region of Western Macedonia: Humans – Animals – Environment, an Unbroken Chain.”

The workshop targeted healthcare professionals (veterinarians, doctors, dentists, pharmacists, biologists) environmentalists, psychologists, educators, students, and interested citizens.

As highlighted by MED-OHC, President Eleni Pavlidou and Deputy Regional Governor of Health for the Region of Western Macedonia, Dr Anastasios Fountoglou, the aim was to raise local awareness about the importance of a holistic approach to health and environmental protection through the scientific framework of One Health.
Additionally, the objectives extended beyond information dissemination and awareness-raising to include mobilizing the scientific community of Western Macedonia, exploring broader public health intervention opportunities, and fostering developmental dynamics in the critical field of Digital Health.

Distinguished scientists from the fields of Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, and Environmental Science participated, addressing key issues across five thematic sections.

On behalf of the Mediterranean One Health Innovation Center (MED-OHC) its president Eleni Pavlidou presented the organization’s foundation history and objectives.

Members of MED – OHC Scientific Council who participated included:

• Zacharoula Andreopoulou, Professor at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
• Emmanouil Papadogiannakis, Veterinarian and Professor at the Department of Public Health Policy at the University of West Attica
• Serkos Haroutounian, Professor and former Vice Rector of the Agricultural University of Athens, Vice President of the FAO Executive Committee at the UN, and former President of ELGO
• Giorgos Valiakos, Associate Professor at the Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Thessaly (Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology)
• Christos Zafeiridis, European Commission (Seconded National Expert)
  DG Health and Food Safety – Directorate G, Crisis management in food, animals and plants, Unit G4, Official Controls – Northern Ireland Liaison Team (NILT)
  Official Veterinarian, Ministry of Rural Development and Food of Greece – General Directorate of Veterinary Services, DVM, M.Sc.,PhD., Belfast (UK)
• Athina Trachili, President of the Panhellenic Veterinary Association and Secretary General of the Union of European Veterinary Practitioners (UEVP/FVE)
• Antonis Kokkinakis, Professor at the Laboratory of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries, Vice President of the Department of Forestry and Natural Environment at the School of Agriculture, Forestry, and Natural Environment of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
• Dimirios Vlastos, Health Psychologist BSc, MSc, MS, Academic Coordinator of the Department of Psychology, Head of the Laboratory of Experimental and Applied Psychology, Department of Psychology, SCG – Scientific College of Greece, Senior Policy Advisor of Scientific sector of OH, Psychosocial wellbeing, Asclepius One Health
• George Vitsas, Deputy Mayor of Public Health, Cardiologist, Municipality of Piraeus,
• Evangelos Alexandropoulos, Αgronomist, PhD candidate at the Agricultural University, Company Research & Development Manager of KAFSIS
• Ioannis Arsenakis, Veterinarian and Assistant Professor at the Laboratory of Anatomy and Physiology of Farm Animals, Department of Animal Production, Agricultural University of Athens

Other speakers at the workshop were, Kyriakos Souliotis, Professor of Health Policy and Dean at the School of Social and Political Sciences at the University of Peloponnese, and Dr Spyridon Klinis, General practitioner.