CHristos TH. Lolas

Christos Lolas was born in Kozani and studied medicine at the University of Thessaloniki, where he specialized in general surgery. He then pursued further training in cardiac surgery for five years at the University of Oregon Medical School in the USA, earning the title of Associate Professor. In 1974, he returned to Greece and was tasked with organizing and operating the Cardiac Surgery Unit at Aretaieio Hospital. He became a lecturer and assistant professor at the University of Athens. In 1986, he took on the role of Director of Cardiac Surgery at Evangelismos Hospital, where he continued his clinical and scientific work, launching the country's first heart transplant program in 1990 with the first successful heart transplant. He authored books and published numerous articles in both scientific and general magazines and the daily press. He was a member of many Greek and international societies and participated in medical missions to Balkan countries and China, where he performed cardiac surgeries. Among his most significant non-medical activities was sports. A former basketball player for Aris Thessaloniki, he later became an amateur golfer and served as President of the Glyfada Golf Club. He actively participated in efforts to bring the Olympic Games to Athens, both in Tokyo for the Golden Olympics and in the successful bid for the 2004 Olympics in Lausanne, serving as Vice President of the Scientific Committee of Athoc 2004. He was married to Claudia and had a son, Thomas. He tragically died at the age of 80 in a car accident with his wife on the Athens-Sounion highway on August 20, 2017.