John Elias Skandalakis
Dr. John Elias Skandalakis was born in Molai, Sparta (Laconia), Greece in 1920. He graduated summa cum laude from the University of Athens, Greece, with a diploma in medicine in 1946 and a doctorate in surgery in 1948. He received complete training in general surgery at the First Surgical Clinic of Athens University and the Naval Hospital in Piraeus, Greece. In 1950 he was certified by the Greek Board of Surgery and in 1960 by the American Board of Abdominal Surgery. In 1951 he immigrated to the United States following his marriage to Mimi Cutis of Marietta, Georgia. He became an American citizen in 1956.
From 1951 to 1957 Dr. Skandalakis completed his fellowship and residency programs at Grady Memorial Hospital, St. Joseph's Infirmary, and Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia. He became licensed to practice medicine and surgery in the state of Georgia in 1956. Following his licensure, Dr. Skandalakis began working jointly at Piedmont Hospital as the director of surgical education and at Emory University School of Medicine as an instructor in anatomy. From 1974 to 1977 he was also the chairman of the Department of Postgraduate Education at Piedmont Hospital.
Dr. Skandalakis began teaching anatomy courses at Emory University School of Medicine in 1956. From 1956 to 1977, he received progressive appointments as assistant professor, associate professor, and professor of anatomy. In 1963 he received his Ph.D. in basic science (anatomy) from Emory University. From 1971 to 1980 he also worked as a clinical assistant professor of surgery. In 1977 Dr. Skandalakis became the Chris Carlos Professor of Surgical Anatomy and Technique, and he was named a distinguished professor in 1980. In 1999, Dr. Skandalakis received the Distinguished Medical Achievement Award from the Emory University School of Medicine.
In 1984 Emory University established the Thalia and Michael Carlos Center for Surgical Anatomy and Technique. Dr. Skandalakis became its first director, a position which he holds today. In 1990, the Alfred A. Davis Research Center for Surgical Anatomy and Technique was formed and Dr. Skandalakis was appointed its director, a position he continues to hold. Presently, Dr. Skandalakis is also professor of surgery at Emory University and clinical professor of surgery at the Medical College of Georgia and Mercer University School of Medicine.
Dr. Skandalakis is the author of 15 medical books and more than 300 scientific papers, chapters, book reviews, and editorials. He is an active member of many national and international scientific organizations and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He is on the editorial board of American Surgeon, Hernia, and Radiological and Clinical Anatomy. He has been guest editor for American Surgeon, Journal of the Georgia Medical Association, Problems in General Surgery, and Surgical Clinics of North America. Dr. Skandalakis also served on the Georgia Board of Regents from 1981 to 1988, and acted as its chairman in 1983 and 1984.
Aside from his professional activities, Dr. Skandalakis has always been deeply involved with his church as the president of the Diocese of Atlanta and a member of the Archdiocesan Council of the Greek Orthodox Church of North and South America. He has received honors from the church on many occasions and was named the Great Archon Aktouarios of the Great Church of Christ by the Patriarchate of Constantinople in 1967.
Dr. Skandalakis has also served the country in which he was born (Greece) with honors. He was a First Lieutenant in the Royal Greek Navy Medical Corps from 1946 to 1950, and he was awarded a memorial medal by the Greek government for his national underground activity during World War II. He was awarded the Phoenix Medal by the Greek government for his efforts to improve the relationship between Greece and the United States. In 1999, Dr. Skandalakis received the
Leonidion Award of the Pan Laconian Federation of the United States and Canada. I
From 1951 to 1957 Dr. Skandalakis completed his fellowship and residency programs at Grady Memorial Hospital, St. Joseph's Infirmary, and Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia. He became licensed to practice medicine and surgery in the state of Georgia in 1956. Following his licensure, Dr. Skandalakis began working jointly at Piedmont Hospital as the director of surgical education and at Emory University School of Medicine as an instructor in anatomy. From 1974 to 1977 he was also the chairman of the Department of Postgraduate Education at Piedmont Hospital.
Dr. Skandalakis began teaching anatomy courses at Emory University School of Medicine in 1956. From 1956 to 1977, he received progressive appointments as assistant professor, associate professor, and professor of anatomy. In 1963 he received his Ph.D. in basic science (anatomy) from Emory University. From 1971 to 1980 he also worked as a clinical assistant professor of surgery. In 1977 Dr. Skandalakis became the Chris Carlos Professor of Surgical Anatomy and Technique, and he was named a distinguished professor in 1980. In 1999, Dr. Skandalakis received the Distinguished Medical Achievement Award from the Emory University School of Medicine.
In 1984 Emory University established the Thalia and Michael Carlos Center for Surgical Anatomy and Technique. Dr. Skandalakis became its first director, a position which he holds today. In 1990, the Alfred A. Davis Research Center for Surgical Anatomy and Technique was formed and Dr. Skandalakis was appointed its director, a position he continues to hold. Presently, Dr. Skandalakis is also professor of surgery at Emory University and clinical professor of surgery at the Medical College of Georgia and Mercer University School of Medicine.
Dr. Skandalakis is the author of 15 medical books and more than 300 scientific papers, chapters, book reviews, and editorials. He is an active member of many national and international scientific organizations and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He is on the editorial board of American Surgeon, Hernia, and Radiological and Clinical Anatomy. He has been guest editor for American Surgeon, Journal of the Georgia Medical Association, Problems in General Surgery, and Surgical Clinics of North America. Dr. Skandalakis also served on the Georgia Board of Regents from 1981 to 1988, and acted as its chairman in 1983 and 1984.
Aside from his professional activities, Dr. Skandalakis has always been deeply involved with his church as the president of the Diocese of Atlanta and a member of the Archdiocesan Council of the Greek Orthodox Church of North and South America. He has received honors from the church on many occasions and was named the Great Archon Aktouarios of the Great Church of Christ by the Patriarchate of Constantinople in 1967.
Dr. Skandalakis has also served the country in which he was born (Greece) with honors. He was a First Lieutenant in the Royal Greek Navy Medical Corps from 1946 to 1950, and he was awarded a memorial medal by the Greek government for his national underground activity during World War II. He was awarded the Phoenix Medal by the Greek government for his efforts to improve the relationship between Greece and the United States. In 1999, Dr. Skandalakis received the
Leonidion Award of the Pan Laconian Federation of the United States and Canada. I
