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Kallirhoe Parren was a prominent figure in Greek feminism and an influential journalist and writer during the late 19th and early 20th century. She founded the groundbreaking newspaper Ephemeris ton kyrion (Ladies’ Journal), played a crucial role in establishing the National Council of Greek Women, and fought for educational opportunities and improved working conditions for women. Her tireless efforts paved the way for women’s rights in Greece.
Georgia “Gina” D. Tourassi is a prominent figure in the field of biomedical informatics, known for her contributions to computer-aided diagnosis and artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare. She currently serves as the Director of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory health data sciences institute and is an adjunct Professor of radiology at Duke University. Tourassi began her academic journey at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, where she pursued a degree in physics and graduated in 1987. She then moved to Duke University for her doctoral studies and earned a PhD in 1993. Throughout her research and career, Tourassi has made significant advancements in the use of big health data and AI in the field of epidemiology, particularly in relation to cancer. Her work focuses on the development of computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) systems, specifically in breast cancer screening. These systems are interactive, knowledge-based, and utilize information theory. One of Tourassi’s notable contributions is the development of indexing systems that enhance the efficiency of image analysis. She has also implemented techniques to monitor the reliability of CAD systems and advanced computational intelligence techniques like genetic algorithms. Her knowledge-based approach incorporates image entropy to identify the most informative medical images and flag potential cancer indicators. Tourassi’s expertise in the field led to her election as a member of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory committee on computer-aided diagnosis. This appointment highlights her impact on shaping the future of CAD systems. In 2011, Tourassi joined the Oak Ridge National Laboratory as the Founding Director of the Health Data Sciences Institute. In this role, she oversees the strategic agenda of the biomedical science and computing group. Tourassi has organized numerous biomedical research conferences at the institution, establishing herself as a driving force in the field. One of Tourassi’s primary interests is the development of automated tools for cancer surveillance. She has utilized the power of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s Titan supercomputer to implement deep learning techniques for extracting information from cancer pathology reports. These efforts align with the Cancer Moonshot 2020 initiative, aiming to accelerate progress in cancer research. Tourassi’s work extends beyond cancer diagnostics. She applies AI techniques to mammogram interpretation, avoiding context bias and improving the accuracy of diagnoses. Additionally, she has developed iCrawl, a user-oriented web crawler that collects online content for e-health research. Another noteworthy project Tourassi has contributed to is Oak Ridge Graph Analytics for Medical Innovation (ORiGAMI). This data tool supports diagnostics and research, with Tourassi employing it to explore literature related to genomics. Her collaborative efforts resulted in the development of a knowledge graph that enables the extraction of meaningful information from unstructured data. Throughout her career, Tourassi has been a passionate advocate for women and minorities in science and engineering. Her involvement in these areas highlights her dedication to promoting diversity and inclusivity within the field.
Katerina Stefanidi, the Greek pole vaulter, has become renowned in the world of athletics due to her exceptional talent and determination. Her parents, both international athletes themselves, played a pivotal role in her success. Stefanidi has achieved numerous accolades throughout her career, including a gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics and the title of World champion in 2017. Her remarkable achievements and influence have made her an inspiration to aspiring athletes worldwide.
Semni Papaspyridi-Karouzou was a Greek classical archaeologist who paved the way for women in the field. She broke barriers as the first woman to join the Greek Archaeological Service and made significant contributions to the study of pottery from ancient Greece. Despite political persecution during the Greek military junta, Karouzou remained resilient and left an indelible mark on Greek archaeology.
Elina Tzengko, born in September 2, 2002, is a Greek javelin thrower who has achieved remarkable success in the world of athletics. From a young age, she displayed immense talent and passion for javelin throwing. Throughout her career, Tzengko has secured numerous accolades, including a gold medal at the European Athletics Championships in 2022 and the prestigious European Athletics Rising Star award in 2022. Her extraordinary achievements make her a role model for aspiring athletes and a prominent figure in women’s history.
Princess Alice of Battenberg was a remarkable figure in European royal history. She overcame challenges throughout her life, including being born deaf. Her marriage connected her to the Greek and Danish royal families, but political upheaval forced her into exile multiple times. Despite personal struggles, she devoted herself to charity work and sheltered Jewish refugees during WWII. Her legacy as a selfless and dedicated individual lives on.
Stamata Revithi (1866 – after 1896) was a Greek woman who defied societal norms by running the 40-kilometre marathon at the 1896 Summer Olympics. Despite the exclusion of women from competition, her determination and perseverance became an inspiration for generations. Living in poverty and facing personal tragedy, Revithi embarked on a challenging journey to Athens to participate in the marathon. She completed the race in approximately 5 hours and 30 minutes, but was denied entry into the Panathinaiko Stadium. Her bold decision to run made her an important figure in women’s history.