Evaluation every 5 years
The approach adopted by Professor Dimitris Vassilopoulos toward the students is indicative of a different type of instruction at medical school. «The past few years we have been holding a little welcome party for the new students; we tell them we are here if they need anything or if they want to make changes to the timetable, in the best interest of their education and not to help them have an easy time.» In his latest book, however, his disappointment over the lack of change is evident. He attributes this to the absence of an educational climate. At all levels «there is no inspiration, no joy in learning or teaching. Just doing one’s job,» Vassilopoulos said. The general climate is one of mistrust toward the professors but according to Vassilopoulos, inspiration must come from within. As for positions of employment, he believes that doctors should be assessed every five years. «Every five years doctors forget half of what they have learnt. A college should be created for the purposes of assessment,» he explained. The fact that there is a waiting list for everything is criminal in Vassilopoulos’s view. «Under [PASOK] health minister Costas Stefanis, a proposal was put forward to gradually do away with the lists and enroll 10 percent of the students on the basis of their exam results. Everyone objected to the proposal, in particular students who enter without exams and who are in the majority. But a restriction on the number of students is necessary. There should also be a body that determines the country’s requirements. At the moment nobody knows what doctors are required and what to do with all the graduates,» he said. Although Vassilopoulos would not discourage anyone from taking up medicine he would urge them to go elsewhere in order to specialize. «It is embarrassing for candidates at the age of 35 who have kids in primary school to fail. However, if students go abroad their expectations are higher and they have difficulty adapting to conditions in public hospitals in Greece. Private hospitals on the other hand are driven by profit rather than the provision of services. As universities lack funds and up-to-date equipment a job in these is considered second-rate,» Vassilopoulos concluded.
