CHMS Hosts Landmark Webinar on Obtaining Greek Medical Licensure and Specialization Recognition

On February 16, 2026, the Canadian Hellenic Medical Society (CHMS) hosted a landmark educational webinar titled “How to Obtain Your Greek Medical License & Specialization Recognition,” bringing together 75 physicians from across the United States, Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, and Greece for what is believed to be the first webinar of its kind focused specifically on this pathway for members of the Greek medical diaspora.

Presented by Dr. David Rossolatos, Vice President of CHMS, the session drew directly from his own experience navigating the process of obtaining licensure to practise medicine in Greece. Designed as a practical and accessible guide, the webinar aimed to help physicians of Greek heritage better understand the steps required to return, reconnect, and potentially practise in Greece.

The event also featured distinguished special guests, including Dr. George Patoulis, President of the Athens Medical Association and President of the Global Doctors’ Hippocratic Institute; Dr. Antonios Polydorou, Secretary of the Global Doctors’ Hippocratic Institute; and Afroditi Xydi, Executive Director of the Deon Policy Institute. Their participation added important policy, institutional, and advocacy perspectives to the discussion, highlighting the broader movement to facilitate the return of highly trained Greek physicians to the homeland.

The webinar opened with an overview of CHMS and its renewed mission to serve the approximately 2,000 Greek physicians living and working in Canada. It then moved into a detailed, step-by-step review of the current process for obtaining recognition in Greece, including:

• recognition of a medical degree,

• issuance of a Greek medical licence,

• recognition of specialty training,

• registration with a local medical association in Greece.

Throughout the presentation, attendees were guided through the practical requirements, timelines, costs, and online portals involved in each stage of the process. The session also addressed recent legislative changes in Greece that have made specialization recognition more accessible for physicians trained outside the European Union, including those from Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, Switzerland, New Zealand, and the United States.

A key theme of the evening was the growing momentum behind Brain Regain initiatives and the effort to reverse decades of medical brain drain. Speakers emphasized that this new framework is not only a bureaucratic reform, but part of a broader vision to strengthen Greece’s healthcare system by reconnecting with the expertise of Greek physicians abroad.

The live discussion and Q&A session underscored both the excitement and the complexity surrounding this new pathway. Participants raised thoughtful questions about rural service requirements, subspecialty recognition, dual qualifications, and distinctions between specialty and subspecialty titles in different countries. The discussion highlighted both the progress that has already been made and the important clarifications still needed to ensure the process works smoothly for all eligible physicians.

This webinar marks the beginning of a broader CHMS educational series focused on helping physicians navigate the realities of practising in Greece. Future sessions will explore topics such as:

• the tax implications and practical considerations of setting up a medical practice in Greece,

• legal and professional structures for practising medicine,

• registration and use of Greece’s national electronic prescribing platform and electronic medical record systems.

CHMS is pleased to share that a full recording of the webinar is now available to all CHMS members through the Member Dashboard. In addition, a comprehensive written guide is now available on the Society’s Practice in Greece page, along with a specialty and subspecialty equivalency table developed and submitted by CHMS to the Greek Ministry of Health.

As CHMS continues to build bridges between the Greek medical diaspora and the homeland, this webinar represents an important milestone: one rooted in practical guidance, institutional collaboration, and a shared commitment to making it easier for Greek physicians abroad to contribute meaningfully to healthcare in Greece.