In drafting this summary, we took into consideration all conclusions and projections resulting from this self-study and synopsized them giving due emphasis to the Medical School’s strengths and opportunities as well as weaknesses and challenges, and to proposals for future improvement:

Concerning Strengths and Opportunities: 1) the Medical School of the University of Crete has evolved into an Institution of Standing. This position is assured by the ingenuity of its faculty members, as reflected by their published work and the recognition it has received by the international scientific community; 2) this emphasis on the basic sciences and on research is complemented by a steady aspiration towards excellence both as regards patient care and the clinical training of medical students; 3) the School has pioneered the development of model post-graduate programs, which produce new scientists well-prepared for an academic career in both Greece and abroad, and 4) the School has cultivated substantial, mutually beneficial relationships with the local community. The School’s success thus far is largely due to the meritocratic procedures it has developed for hiring and promoting faculty members, through which accomplished scientists have joined its ranks, some of whom hold internationally prominent positions in their fields.

Concerning Weaknesses and Challenges: 1) the School faces the kind of problems characteristic of Hellenic Universities, operating under the general governance structure provided by a state law that is ill-suited to productivity. At the same time it receives inadequate support by the State; 2) the undergraduate program is in need of improvement. Poor attendance of classes, lack of implementation of the internal regulations of the School regarding requirements for starting clinical clerkships and the continual mobilizations of the students (assemblies during class time, sit-ins) adversely affect the effectiveness of the provided basic, pre-clinical and clinical training offered to students; 3) the School has a relatively small number of faculty members and faces significant staff shortages, which restrict its ability to advance in certain contemporary scientific and clinical fields; 4) the existing infrastructure of the School, although relatively modern, is not sufficient to support fully the activities of the faculty. In addition, the available scientific and technical equipment needs constant maintenance and upgrading, for which the Medical School has been unable to allocate adequate funds. Further, the inability of the University Hospital to keep up with rapid technological advancements combined with its administrative insufficiencies hinder the Medical School from realizing many of its goals.

The main Proposals for Improvement include: 1) the allocation by the Ministry of Education of additional positions for faculty members, administrative and technical personnel. These are necessary for upgrading the educational and clinical activities and for supporting research and innovative post-graduate programs; 2) the restructuring of the undergraduate teaching program and implementation of innovative teaching methods; 3) the support and funding of existing post-graduate programs and the creation of new ones as well as the provision of scholarships to exceptional post-graduate students; 4) the upgrading of the infrastructure of the School and the establishment of an Institute for Biomedical Research; 5) increase in funding for research via the regular announcement of research programs from the Ministry of Education and the General Secretariat for Research and Technology of Greece; 6) changes in the statutes that govern the institutes of higher learning in Greece, as proposed in the Plans for Improvement, which aspire to modernizing education and reinforcing the position of the Hellenic University as a center of excellence and hope for the community.