Professor of Orthopaedics at the University of British Columbia, Bassam A Masri, Receives the Title of Doctor Honoris Causa of the School of Medicine

Professor of Orthopaedics at the University of British Columbia, Bassam A Masri, 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 Friday, 5 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, Panagiotis Megaloikonomos, Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the School of Medicine, spoke about Professor Bassam A Masri’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, Professor Pagona Lagiou, Dean of the School of Health Sciences, invested the honouree with the academic gown of the School.

The ceremony closed with the awardee, Professor Bassam A Masri, giving a talk titled ‘From Sophistry to Scholarship – Universities, Truth and Humanity’.

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

‘Professor Masri, one of the most respected figures in contemporary orthopaedics, has long been closely associated with the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada, where he has held several senior academic and leadership positions, including serving as Head of the Department of Orthopaedics for thirteen years. Throughout his distinguished career, he has combined clinical excellence, academic leadership and a sustained commitment to advancing medical knowledge.

His work spans a broad range of orthopaedics, with particular focus on joint replacement surgery, hip and knee reconstruction, musculoskeletal oncology and implant biomechanics.

The esteem in which the international medical community holds him is reflected in the many honours he has received, the leadership positions he has occupied and his election to distinguished professional bodies. Particularly noteworthy was his service as President of the Canadian Orthopaedic Association, during which he made a lasting contribution to the advancement of orthopaedic education, research and professional development.

For the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, today’s ceremony carries a special significance. Over the past decade, Professor Masri has maintained a close and highly productive collaboration with the First Department of Orthopaedics of our School of Medicine. This partnership has enriched the training of young doctors and academic staff, fostered joint research initiatives and strengthened the ties between our institution and one of North America’s leading centres of medical excellence’.

Photos: Dimitris Konstantinidis