Professor of Medical Oncology at Yale University Barbara Burtness Receives the Title of Doctor Honoris Causa from the School of Medicine

Professor of Medical Oncology at Yale University (USA), Barbara Burtness, has been awarded the title of Doctor Honoris Causa by the School of Medicine of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.

The award ceremony was held on Thursday, 25 June 2026, in the University’s Great Hall.

Proceedings opened with welcoming remarks by Professor Gerasimos Siasos, Rector of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.

Next, Amanda Psyrri, Professor of Medical Oncology at the School of Medicine of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and Director of the 2^nd Department of Propaedeutic Internal Medicine, spoke about Professor Barbara Burtness’s work and personal qualities.

The formal conferment then took place with Professor Nikolaos Arkadopoulos, Chair of the School of Medicine, reading the official citation. Following this, he invested the honouree with the academic gown of the School.

The ceremony closed with the awardee, Professor Barbara Burtness, giving a talk titled ‘Synthetic Lethality Strategies in p53-Mutated Cancer’.

In his welcome address, the Rector, Professor Gerasimos Siasos, said, among other things:

‘Professor Burtness is recognised worldwide as a leading authority in head and neck oncology. Her contributions to translational and clinical research have fundamentally advanced the field and have played a pivotal role in the development of personalised therapies for patients with these complex malignancies. Throughout her distinguished career, she has been closely associated with Yale University and the Yale Cancer Center, where she holds several senior academic and research leadership positions. She serves as Professor of Medical Oncology and Chief of Translational Research. She also leads the Division of Head and Neck/Sarcoma Oncology and oversees the Developmental Therapeutics Programme, helping to drive the evaluation and introduction of innovative cancer therapies and the broader advancement of personalised medicine.

Her influence extends far beyond research and clinical care. An inspiring mentor and educator, she has guided and supported generations of early-career scientists. She has also fostered meaningful collaborations with the Greek academic and medical community, contributing to the professional development of numerous Greek researchers and clinicians and strengthening scientific ties between our institutions. The international esteem in which she is held is reflected in the many honours and distinctions she has received throughout her career from leading scientific organisations and academic institutions.

It is therefore with particular pleasure and deep respect that we welcome Professor Barbara Burtness today into the community of Honorary Doctors of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. In recognising her achievements, we also acknowledge Yale University and its remarkable contribution to education, research, and the advancement of human knowledge worldwide. We are especially proud of our collaboration with Yale University in Oncology and Public Health, including the joint Master’s Degree Programme that we will be launching in the coming months. Indeed, we only recently had the honour of welcoming Yale University President Professor Maurie McInnis and former President Professor Peter Salovey, who was conferred an Honorary Doctorate by our School of Medicine.

Photos: Dimitris Konstantinidis