THE DEPARTMENT

The city of Alexandroupolis

Alexandroupolis is the capital city of Evros Perfecture, the largest city of Easter Macedonia and Thrace Perfecture, a modern Greek city, characterized as commercial center for Northeastern Greece. Faculties of Democritus University, the Medical School especially, the University General Hospital, its strategic port, the extensive network of train and  the Egnatia Hihgway line between Alexandroupolis and Igoumenitsa reflect it’s rapid economical development as a center of business, civic and cultural activities, creating conditions that facilitate interaction and exchange.

According to history from the Neolithic era to the 19th century, great cities have an Alexandroupolis benefits from its geographical position, connecting Europe and Asia, “East” and  “West”, playing a leading role  as it is the immediate neighborhood of Constantinople. After administrative reform Program named Kallikratis, the Municipality of Alexandroupolis, includes the cities of Traianoupolis and Feres covering an area of 1,217 sq.km. The city offers a high quality of life with environmental balance and intense cultural activity. According to history from the Neolithic era to the 19th century, great cities flourished in the region creating a unique culture. The area that was inhabited by the Ancient tribe of Kikones, was later considererd a part of Samothrace Perea, including cities such as Mesimvria, Zoni, and Sali; Sali coincides with today’s Alexandroupolis. In the Byzantine Period the region which covers the modern city of Alexandroupolis played an important geopolitical role, because of its borders with Constantinople. Due to unknown reasons, Sali, Zoni, Drys, and Serrio were at some point destroyed, razed, and also erased from the written texts of the region’s descriptions. The place became a vast forest, mainly of oak trees. This forest, which the inhabitants of the surrounding areas called DedeAgats, was defended by three Turkish landowners, who had thousands of acres for cultivation and pastures. Following the Russian-Turkish war, fishermen from Ainos, Makri and Maroneia form a small settlement – the later Alexandroupolis –with the establishment of the railway. During the Balkan Wars Dedeagats passed from the hands of the Ottomans to the Bulgarians. However, after the Treaty of Neuilly the region was integrated into Greece on May 14, 1920. Alexandroupolis remained under Bulgarian occupation during World War II for 3 years (1941-1944). The end of the war marks the beginning of the economic, geographical, and cultural development of the city.

https://alexpolis.gr/

https://www.visitgreece.gr/mainland/thrace/alexandroupoli/

Democritus University of Thrace

Democritus University of Thrace (D.U.TH) was established in 1973, by Legislative Decree No. 87 and has accepted its first students in the academic year 1974–1975 to the Department of Civil Engineering and the Department of Law in Xanthi and Komotini respectively. It was named “Demokriteio” in honor of the ancient Greek philosopher Democritus, originating from the town of Abdira in the Prefecture of Xanthi. The administrative headquarters of the University is located in the city of Komotini.

D.U.TH is the only academic University Institution in the Region of Eastern Macedonia – Thrace.  It was initially developed as an educational and research center in the cities of Xanthi and Komotini and then expanded geographically throughout the area of Thrace, in Alexandroupolis and Orestiada.  Nowadays, it is numbered among the largest Universities in Greece, in terms of active student population, comprising 8 Schools, 20 Departments and a great number of Postgraduate Programs. Its student population counts approximately 29,000 (undergraduates, postgraduates, and PhD candidates) and a research and teaching staff exceeding 700 people.

The University makes a substantial intervention in the economic development of Thrace and contributes significantly to the reinforcement of the national and cultural character of the region. Furthermore it enhances its social role, supporting direct and indirect initiatives, building upon future challenges and  promoting the  upgrade of quality of life.

The outline of  Study Programs covers the majority of  current innovative scientific fields within the following Faculties of the University:

  • Health Sciences in Alexandroupoli
    • Education in Alexandroupolis
  • Agricultural and Forestry Sciences in Orestiada
    • Law in Komotini
    • Classics & Humanities in Komotini
    • Social Political & Economic Sciences in Komotini
    • Physical Education & Sports in Komotini
    • Polytechnic School in Xanthi

https://duth.gr/

Faculty of Health Sciences – Department of Medicine

The Faculty of Health Sciences is located at Dragana Campus, next to the University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis, including two (2) Departments:

  1. Department of Medicine (founded in 1985)
  2. Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics (founded in 2000)

The School of Medicine History

The Department of Medicine of Democritus University of Thrace was founded in 1977 (L 641/1977) as “Medical School” and has first operated in the academic year 1984-1985 (L 573/1982) in Alexandroupolis, Thrace. Dealing with the difficulties due to its  remote position from the center of Greece, it demonstrated an impressive development, with teaching Programs that fully correspond to current requirements of undergraduate education and high-level postgraduate Programs, participation in internationally recognized research projects, numerous scientific publications and the provision of high-quality health services provided to the population of the wider area.

With continuous efforts of scientific and technological improvement, it has become an attracting pole for prestigious scientists from Greece and abroad. Today, collaborations with domestic and foreign research and academic institutions and participation in funded research and innovative Programs are constantly increasing. The University Clinics and Laboratories organize a significant number of scientific events every year, with great  impact in the scientific and the local community as well.

University Clinics established in the excellent infrastructure of the new University General Hospital in Alexandroupolis, provide high quality health services, as they are the only tertiary health center in the Thrace. In general, the Medical School of DUTH, contributes to the cultural and the intellectual life of the area as it ensures a valuable interaction with the local community.

University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis

The University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis (UGHA), is one of the largest hospitals in Greece, located just near the University campus with three parallel buildings, 700 beds, general and specialized outpatient clinics for every medical specialty, Department of Emergencies with CT scan, MRI and PET facilities. University Clinics and Laboratories have been installed in the UGHA, manned with experienced staff and equipped with modern and innovative facilities support the National Health System and serve educational and teaching purposes at the same time.

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