For the 3^rd consecutive year, IASO received the unique distinction of "Best Hospital" and IASO Group, IASO General Clinic, IASO Maternity - Gynecology Clinic, IASO Children's Hospital, as well as the Group's Corporate Social Responsibility program, received a total of 16 awards, thus proving the innovation, best practices and pioneering medical care and services provided, in addition to innovative actions and pioneering collaborations.

IASO Children's Hospital, the leading Pediatric Clinic, was distinguished with a platinum award and 5 additional awards in the category of innovation in the surgical treatment of diseases, as well as in the Communication category. IASO, the largest Maternity and Gynecology Clinic in Europe, won 5 awards, including 3 gold awards in the category of innovation in Obstetrics-Gynecology-In Vitro Fertilization, in the Digital applications category, as well as in the Communication category. IASO General Clinic received 2 awards for the communication campaign of the New State-of-the-Art Check-Up Department, but also for the prevention/early diagnosis action alongside Symplefsi, for the implementation of preventive examinations in remote islands. IASO Group, with 2 gold awards and a bronze one, was awarded for its comprehensive Corporate Social Responsibility program "By Your Side", its strategic collaborations for the protection of the environment and for ensuring a healthy planet for future generations.

Ms. Christina Tampourea, IASO Group Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) stated, among other: "We are extremely proud of our distinction as Best Hospital and we are very grateful. Congratulations to all participants. This award belongs to all the employees of IASO Group and our physicians. All of us at IASO, at the Hospital’s General, Maternity, Gynecology, Pediatric Clinics, the physicians, the staff, will always try to do our best for the health of our fellow human beings, for society, for the environment, for children, for the future!".

Starting from the left, Mr. Dimitris Dardamanis, President of the Symplefsi Board of Directors, General Surgeon, IASO General Clinic; Ms. Dora Botzaki, Senior Clinical Embryologist; Ms. Matoula Liarmakopoulou, Senior Clinical Embryologist; Ms. Eleftheria Baimpou, Deputy Marketing Manager; Ms. Aspasia Koti, Anesthesiologist; Ms. Christina Korovesi, Head of IASO Marketing & Communication; Ms. Christina Tampourea, IASO Group General Commercial Officer (CCO); Ms. Katerina Kourouti, Commercial Planning Manager; Ms. Marilia Nikolaidou, Obstetric-Gynecologic Surgeon; Ms. Nancy Christopoulou, Head of Communication, CSR & Public Relations of the Group, Director of Marketing & Communication of IASO Children’s Hospital; Ms. Ioanna Renti, Social Media & Marketing Specialist; Ms. Katerina Pampoukoglou, Junior Marketing Assistant; Ms. Maria Yvelise de Verney, Pediatric Surgeon; Associate Professor Christos Salakos, Pediatric Surgeon, Director of IASO Children's Hospital Pediatric Surgery Department.

IASO Group, the awards in detail:

IASO Group received a gold award for its comprehensive Corporate Social Responsibility program "By Your Side", effectively covering the healthcare needs of our fellow human beings in need of help. Since 2015, the program supports and collaborates with more than 50 Non-Governmental Organizations, Associations, Societies and Schools and has carried out more than 7,000 free-of-charge surgeries, childbirths, medical examinations and visits. On every World Health Day, IASO Group has communicated 165 offers and actions and organized more than 145 informative speeches for the general public, on issues related to our health. It is worth noting that the environmental pillar is one of the most important priorities of the "By Your Side" program, with strategic collaborations, such as the ones with WWF Greece and Save your Hood, because the health of every individual is inextricably linked to the health and protection of the environment. Furthermore, IASO Group was distinguished with a gold award in the category of Investing Activity/Strategic Partnership of IASO Group and WWF Greece. IASO Group is the first and only hospital in Europe that develops actions to ensure a healthy planet for future generations. Finally, in the "Planning/Implementation of Environmental Protection Actions" category, IASO Group received a bronze award for the collaboration with Save your Hood, for the protection of the environment .

IASO received two gold awards, in the category of Innovation in Obstetrics - Gynecology – In Vitro Fertilization, for the pioneering surgical technique of uterine preservation in the treatment of placenta accreta spectrum cases by the team of the specialized center for the treatment of placenta accreta spectrum cases of the IASO Maternity - Gynecology Clinic, and in the Communication category for the Marketing & Communication campaign for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Moreover, it was distinguished with a bronze award for the Innovative Scientific & Educational Program in collaboration with the 2^nd Obstetrics-Gynecology Clinic of the University Hospital “Aretaieio”, in the Investing Activity / Strategic Partnership category. Institute of LIFE – IASO was distinguished with a gold award in the category of Digital applications for prevention & monitoring and with a bronze award in the category of Innovation in Obstetrics - Gynecology – In Vitro Fertilization for MyLifeLive, the new innovative application for the monitoring of embryonic development through the embryology laboratory of Institute of Life – IASO.

IASO General Clinic received a silver award for the successful communication campaign of the new State-of-the-Art Check-Up Department, in the Communication category, and a bronze award in the Actions for Prevention/Early Diagnosis category for the collaboration with Symplefsi, for the implementation of preventive examinations in remote islands.

IASO Children's Hospital was awarded a platinum and a gold award in the category of Innovation in the Surgical Treatment of Diseases for the kissing stent placement to treat severe bilateral stenosis in pulmonary arteries of 9-year-old child, for the first time ever worldwide. The operation was performed by the specialized and experienced team of the Pediatric Cardiology Department and the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory of IASO Children’s Hospital, under the Direction of Dr. Georgios Tsaousis and under the Scientific guidance of Associate Professor Vasileios Thanopoulos, as well as with the support of Mr. Paris Agios, Scientific Associate, IASO Children's Hospital Anesthesiology Department. It was also carried out under the Cardiac Surgery coverage of the Pediatric Cardiac Surgery Department of IASO Children’s Hospital, which is headed by the world-renowned Professor Afxentios Kalagkos. Furthermore, IASO Children’s Hospital was distinguished with a silver award for the successful treatment of one of the most serious anorectal conditions, also known as Persistent Cloaca, of a 2-year-old girl, in the category of Innovation in the Surgical Treatment of Diseases. Associate Professor, Mr. Christos Salakos, Pediatric Surgeon, Director of the Pediatric Surgery Department of IASO Children’s Hospital; Mr. Peter Cuckow, Associate of IASO Children’s Hospital, Pediatric Urologist of the Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) in London; Ms. Maria Yvelise de Verney, Pediatric Surgeon, Attending Physician at the Pediatric Surgery Department of IASO Children’s Hospital; Ms. Aspasia Koti, Anesthesiologist, Attending Physician at the Anesthesiology Department of IASO Children’s Hospital; Mr. Dimitrios Konstantinou, Pediatrician-Neonatologist, Director of IASO Hospital’s NICU; Ms. Maria Klavdianou, Pediatrician-Neonatologist, Deputy Director of IASO Hospital’s NICU, worked together for these successive surgeries. The Reference Center for Minimally Invasive Surgical Treatment for children with cerebral palsy (SPML) of IASO Children’s Hospital won the Silver award, in the Innovative Unit or Department of a Hospital/Clinic or Diagnostic Center category. The department’s Director, Dr. Anastasios D. Kanellopoulos, MD, Pediatric Orthopedic Surgeon, member of the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America, is able to accomplish changes in the mobility of children with cerebral palsy, as he is the only physician in Europe who performs these specialized operations, in combination with ethanol, achieving excellent results. Finally, IASO Children’s Hospital received two bronze awards for the comprehensive communication program in the Communication category and in the Innovative Unit or Department of a Hospital/Clinic or Diagnostic Center category, with IASO Children’s Hospital being the only private Pediatric Clinic to have won a Gold award, under the standards of the Child-Friendly Healthcare Initiative.

For more journalistic information: IASO Group Commercial & Marketing Department: Nancy Christopoulou, tel.: 210 6383917, e-mail: [email protected]