![ΠΑΡΑΤΑΣΗ ΑΙΤΗΣΕΩΝ ΓΙΑ ΤΟ ΠΜΣ «ΧΕΙΡΟΥΡΓΙΚΗ ΠΑΧΕΟΣ ΕΝΤΕΡΟΥ-ΠΡΩΚΤΟΥ» Ακ. έτος 2025-26 [έως 30 Σεπτεμβρίου 2025]](https://www.med.uth.gr/msc.crs/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/ev05im06-840x450.jpg)
Classes Start October 10, 2025
The Department of Medicine of the University of Thessaly, after the completion of the first round of candidate selection, announces that it will extend the deadline for applications to participate in the selection process and once again invites interested parties to submit their candidacy. until 30-09-2025 for the Postgraduate Studies Program (PMS) entitled: "Colorectal Surgery" for the academic year 2025-2026, which leads to the award of a Postgraduate Diploma (MPD).
The Master of Science in Colorectal Surgery aims to provide a high level of specialized and up-to-date knowledge, as well as to conduct research in the field of surgical pathology of the colon and rectum, benign and malignant diseases, so that its graduates acquire a strong scientific theoretical background, experience and know-how in contemporary issues of treating diseases of the colon and rectum. The increased incidence of both benign diseases and colorectal cancer in clinical practice, as well as the rapid development of both diagnostic and, most importantly, therapeutic options and strategies, makes the field of colorectal surgery one of the most important fields of specialization in general surgery internationally. It is proven that specialization leads to improved outcomes and has a favorable impact on public health.
Main objectives of the Master's Degree Program "Colorectal Surgery" is:
- the training and specialization of new doctors in a broad cutting-edge field of modern Surgery, such as Colorectal and Anal Surgery
- the in-depth, thorough and based on the most up-to-date bibliographic data education of the new scientific potential
- the provision of the necessary supplies that will lead to the production of new knowledge by the trainees
- the creation of scientists with the required skills for successful careers in the private, public and academic sectors
- preparation for postgraduate studies at doctoral level
The duration of the postgraduate studies is three (3) academic semesters:
1the (Winter) Semester: Theoretical training – benign diseases
2the (Spring) Semester: Theoretical training – malignant diseases
3the (Winter) Semester: Internship and Thesis
with a total of 90 credits (ECTS).
The start of the postgraduate courses will be October 10, 2025. The courses are held either in person in the auditoriums and classrooms of the Department of Medicine of the University of Thessaly in Larissa or remotely using the University's electronic platforms. The postgraduate courses are held 1-2 times a month (Friday afternoon, Saturday and Sunday morning).
The practical training includes:
- Real-time monitoring of surgeries performed in the operating rooms of the Larissa General Hospital. The surgical cases are related to the content of the postgraduate courses and concern both benign and malignant diseases of the colon and rectum.
- Performing laparoscopic colon-rectomies (laparoscopic colectomies -right and left colectomy-, laparoscopic enterectomy, low anterior resection and laparoscopic anastomosis) by trainees on fresh human cadaveric specimens under the supervision and guidance of experienced trainers, teachers in the Program. The two-day training program is implemented at the Research-Experimental Center of ELPEN in Pikermi, Attica, in collaboration with the non-profit organization Node Institute and the company Johnson and Johnson.
- Practical training in Special Simulators with simulated operations.
The purpose of the educational program and internship is the coordinated learning of surgical techniques by the participating students of the Postgraduate Program, so that they are able to reproduce these procedures on patients under real conditions.
The language of instruction for the postgraduate courses is Greek and/or English. Attendance at the courses is mandatory.
The tuition fees for the Postgraduate Diploma Program amount to two thousand four hundred euros (€2,400). They are paid in three installments of eight hundred euros (€800) at the beginning of each semester.
Selection criteria
The Postgraduate Program accepts graduates (or final year students, provided they graduate by September 2025) from Departments of Medicine, Schools of Health Sciences of domestic Universities or recognized equivalent institutions abroad.
The selection process will be based on the application files and will be carried out on criteria such as the degree grade, knowledge of foreign languages (especially English), possession of other postgraduate degrees, professional and any research activity (publications in scientific journals, presentations at conferences), letters of recommendation. In some cases, candidates may be invited to a personal interview by the members of the Postgraduate Student Selection Committee.
The necessary supporting documents that candidates must submit are:
- Printed application form (available on the PMS website) https://www.med.uth.gr/msc.crs/el/ Studies Applications-Forms).
- Detailed CV with information about the candidate's studies, research and professional experience (with the corresponding supporting documents).
- Copy of diploma or certificate that they have completed their studies and are expected to graduate by the start date of the courses (September 2025).
- Scientific publications, awards, and evidence of research activity (if any).
- Evidence of professional experience (if any).
- Copy of detailed score.
- Photocopy of both sides of the police ID.
- Two (2) letters of recommendation from University professors, researchers or prominent personalities.
- Evidence of foreign languages – especially English.
- A recent photograph (attached to the application).
Application deadline from 1 until September 30, 2025
Interested postgraduate student candidates can send electronics their application to the secretariat's e-mail colorectaluth@gmail.com in order to be registered. They must then submit an application file with the necessary supporting documents to the PMS secretariat (sent by courier) within the deadline.
Address for sending applications with courier:
Department of Medicine, University of Thessaly
Panepistimiou 3, Biopolis, postal code 41500, Larissa
Office 329, 3th floor, 1st Wing
Attention Mr. Konstantinos Kalfountzos
Information telephone: 6946 398313 (Ms. Maria Kyritsaka, Postgraduate Program Secretariat)
Contact hours: 14:00-21:00
e-mail: colorectaluth@gmail.com
Website: https://www.med.uth.gr/msc.crs/el/
fb: Postgraduate "Colorectal Surgery"
The Director of the Postgraduate Program
George A. Tzovaras
Professor of Surgery
Department of Medicine
University of Thessaly
On 16/11/2024, our students' internship in laparoscopic surgery on cadaveric models took place. An excellent surgical experience for everyone, with remarkable instructors, in collaboration with Node Institute, Johnson and Johnson and the ELPEN research and experimental center in Pikermi, Attica.
We thank everyone warmly for the excellent cooperation once again!
On 10-11/5/2024, the course of the 5th unit of the 2nd semester of the Postgraduate Program on the topic of "Rectal Cancer" was held online with very important presences: Paris Tekkis, Albert Wolthuis, Antonino Spinelli. These are surgeons who lead developments at an international level and therefore their participation is a special honor for the Postgraduate Program "Colorectal Surgery" and by extension for the Department of Medicine of the University of Thessaloniki.
On 8-10/3/2024, in the context of the theoretical courses of the MSc on the topic of "Colorectal Cancer", we were honored with their presence by Werner Hohenberger, Michel Adamina, Claus Bertelsen, all of them great personalities, with a huge contribution to the international bibliography, but also to the shaping of surgical practice in the treatment of colorectal cancer. And all of them prominent members of the European Society of Colon and Proctology (ESCP) with long-standing active participation in the training programs of young surgeons under the auspices of ESCP. Warm thanks and immense gratitude! After the course, a dinner was provided to all the official guests.
Next Postgraduate Announcement March 2025
- Content
Each student prepares in the 3rd semester a postgraduate diploma thesis that is clearly of a research nature, on a topic related to one of the courses of the Program, which he defends publicly before a three-member examination committee (1 supervisor and 2 members) appointed by the Assembly of the Department of Medicine, following a relevant recommendation by the Director of the Postgraduate Program. The members of the Three-Member Examination Committee must have the same or a related scientific specialty as the subject of the Postgraduate Program.
The presentation of the Postgraduate Diploma Thesis is publicly defended, before the Three-Member Examination Committee, on a date and place determined by the Postgraduate Program Executive Committee, upon recommendation of the Postgraduate Program Director.
For the successful completion of the postgraduate student's obligations leading to the receipt of the Postgraduate Diploma, he/she must have received a passing grade in 15 (fifteen) courses and in his/her thesis.
The thesis must include a set of activities, which extend to all phases of the preparation and which can guarantee a successful outcome in every respect. The results of these activities are summarized in the text of the thesis which may include:
1. Description and analysis of the topic of the thesis, in a way that allows the reader to understand the subject of the thesis, the working assumptions and the dimensions of the solution space.
2. Analysis of the current situation in the related scientific subjects, presenting the basic concepts and requirements of the problem, the research or other results on which the work is based, and the objectives of the thesis in relation to international best practice.
3. Description of the assumptions and methodology for implementing the work.
4. Final conclusions of the thesis.
5. Analysis of the bibliography where all the books or articles that
used in the text or in footnotes or other supplementary
bibliography, sources, etc.
6.Appendices containing all the tools used.
- Learning outcomes
The Diploma Thesis constitutes an independent scientific and systematic approach to the analysis of a topic and the synthesis of a solution, while it is based on existing bibliography and/or research. The Diploma Thesis has a research, study, development or applied research nature and is prepared by each student individually.
With the guidance of the supervising faculty member, students are provided with the opportunity to gain significant experiences from the comprehensive study and in-depth investigation of a distinct topic of specialization and are invited to develop critical and combinatorial thinking, organization and analysis skills, applying a rigorous, systematic and scientific approach.
The purpose of the MDE is to complete the students' knowledge and develop their skills in benign and malignant diseases of the colon and rectum. It is the culmination of each student's effort and the final stage in the creation of a Surgeon and scientist and his integration into the labor market and society in general.
After successful completion of the Thesis, the student will be able to:
At the Knowledge level:
• To clearly recognize the boundaries of a problem to be solved and to fully recognize its basic and secondary aspects, focusing on the most essential points for its solution.
• Describe and document the basic knowledge related to the topic of the research being conducted
• To summarize existing scientific knowledge and expertise on the topic
At the Skills level:
• To use the available literature for a specific thematic area with a critical and synthetic spirit.
• To design a research plan and develop an appropriate methodology for approaching and investigating a topic under study and to organize a plan for its implementation
• To design, simulate and/or manufacture prototype hardware/software for the selected solution
• Write a complete scientific/technical essay
• Communicate clearly and effectively his/her conclusions, as well as the knowledge and reasoning on which they are based, by successfully making a comprehensive presentation via ICT before the three-member examination committee
At the level of Skills:
• Combine knowledge and utilize expertise to solve complex problems
• To select the appropriate techniques/approaches and adapt them to the problem being solved using original thinking
• To evaluate the proposed approach/solution, placing it in a comparative framework with similar ones in the Greek and international bibliography and to comment on its relative advantages and disadvantages, documenting his/her opinions and choices.
• Analyze results and draw conclusions
- Course content
The activities of the 3rd semester of the Master's Degree also include a two-day educational program-practical internship, in collaboration with the following centers-organizations based in Athens:
1. The non-profit organization NoDE Institute.
2. The ELPEN research-educational-experimental center in Pikermi, Attica.
The training is carried out on animal models (piglets) or fresh human cadaveric preparations and includes the performance of laparoscopic colon/rectum surgeries by the trainees under the supervision and guidance of experienced trainers, teachers in the Program.
Its duration is 2 days and the internship is divided as follows:
The first day includes practical training in Special Simulators. Students are divided into groups of 5 and 6 people and each group goes through the following training stations during the day:
- Pelvic trainers: transanal techniques
- Laparoscopic right colectomy simulation
- Simulation of laparoscopic left colectomy
The skills achieved by students are:
o Basic Laparoscopic Skills
o Sense of depth of field
o Vision-motion synchronization
o Right-left hand cooperation
o Use of basic laparoscopic tools
o Two-dimensional perception of three-dimensional space
o Advanced Laparoscopic Skills
o Complex basic skills exercises
o Accuracy
o Economy of movements
o Laparoscopic suturing
The second day includes performing laparoscopic colectomies (right and left colectomy), laparoscopic enterectomy, low anterior resection and laparoscopic anastomosis in animal models (piglets) or - preferably - in human cadaveric models by the trainees under the guidance of experienced trainers.
- Learning outcomes
The purpose of the educational program and internship is the coordinated learning of the aforementioned techniques by the participating students of the Postgraduate Program, so that they are able to reproduce these procedures on patients under real conditions.
Upon successful completion of the internship, students will have been trained to perform the following procedures:
1. right colectomy
2. left colectomy
3. low anterior rectal resection
4. enterectomy
5. laparoscopic anastomosis
6. transanal techniques
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