With support from SNF as part of its Global Health Initiative (GHI), Columbia University Irving Medical Center’s renowned pediatric cardiologists and pediatric cardiac surgeons and NewYork-Presbyterian, its hospital affiliate, are collaborating in the establishment of a state-of-the-art pediatric cardiovascular program at the future SNF University Pediatric Hospital of Thessaloniki. This program will specialize in pediatric cardiology and cardiac surgery, providing expert, multidisciplinary care for children with congenital and complex heart conditions.
In collaboration with the Hellenic Ministry of Health and the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki School of Medicine, this initiative will integrate global best practices in the field while aligning with the hospital’s mission to serve as a center of medical excellence in Northern Greece and beyond. Columbia’s leadership in pediatric cardiology and cardiac surgery will play a key role in shaping and enhancing the clinical program at the SNF University Pediatric Hospital of Thessaloniki in partnership with local counterparts to ensure the highest standards of care through expert guidance and collaboration.
To support the program’s development, Columbia and NewYork-Presbyterian will work closely with the local medical community to facilitate the exchange of clinical staff, medical expertise, and institutional knowledge in pediatric cardiac care. This collaboration will span various phases before, during, and after the launch of the new SNF hospital in Thessaloniki, helping establish the hospital as a Center of Excellence for the wider region. Key areas of collaboration include clinical pathways and protocols, staff training and competency development, specialized clinical programs, medical equipment planning, patient safety and privacy, IT systems and electronic medical records, operational data analytics, outcome reporting, medical staff governance, risk management, and continuous quality improvement, among much else.
The initiative will also provide educational opportunities for the medical and nursing professionals at the new SNF hospital, enabling them to gain specialized experience in pediatric cardiovascular and cardiothoracic surgery at Columbia and NewYork-Presbyterian. Additionally, a faculty development program will equip early-career faculty at the SNF University Pediatric Hospital of Thessaloniki with essential teaching skills, fostering the next generation of medical educators through knowledge exchange and best practices in training.
Columbia and NewYork-Presbyterian’s extensive experience in patient-centric health care will help to ensure that the SNF hospital benefits from proven strategies for delivering high-quality services while addressing its unique needs. Via this dynamic partnership between Columbia, NewYork-Presbyterian and the new SNF hospital, the aim is to establish a leading pediatric cardiovascular program in Thessaloniki that provides world-class care to children in Greece and beyond.