Press Release
Greece Opens the Door for U.S.-Trained Doctors to Come Back
Contact: Theodora Kachrimanidi
Email: info@deonpolicy.org
Athens, Greece – May 2025 — Greece has taken a major step to reconnect with its global medical talent. A new law passed this month allows the automatic recognition of U.S. medical board certifications, clearing a bureaucratic hurdle that for years prevented hundreds of highly trained Greek doctors from returning home to practice. Specifically, Law 5194/2025 (Article 48) introduced provisions for medical specialization recognition, and a ministerial decision issued by the Ministry of Health further defined the applicable specialties.
The reform, originally proposed by the Deon Policy Institute to the Ministry of Health in the summer of 2024, addresses a long-standing gap in Greece’s credential recognition framework. While EU-trained doctors have enjoyed automatic recognition of their specialties for years, those trained in the United States, even at the most prestigious institutions, faced a tangle of outdated requirements. They were often required to repeat years of training, sit for additional board exams in Greece, and complete a mandatory year of rural service, regardless of their clinical experience abroad.
This discrepancy discouraged many from coming back, despite a strong interest in returning. Through its contributors, Deon identified over 330 Greek doctors currently working in the United States had already expressed their willingness to relocate to Greece if the credentialing process were reformed. Additionally, according to Deon’s recent study on the Greek Academic Diaspora, 78% of doctors who participated in the survey would consider moving to Greece to work at a university in the next 5 years.
Many of these doctors are affiliated with top hospitals such as Mayo Clinic, Johns Hopkins, Cleveland Clinic, and Brigham and Women’s, and teach at universities including Harvard, Stanford, and Georgetown.
The law’s passage was formally announced by the Prime Minister, who officially met with the Deon team online, owing to their role in shaping the reform. Shortly after, the Ministerial Decision was signed, marking the official start of implementation.
The new process is designed to be simple and fair. U.S.-trained Greek doctors who hold certifications from the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) will now be able to apply for recognition of their specialty through a straightforward online process, without having to repeat exams or training. The reform includes a full mapping of ABMS specialties to the corresponding Greek medical specialties, ensuring clarity and transparency for applicants.
The policy isn’t just a symbolic gesture. It’s a practical move to strengthen Greece’s healthcare system at a time when it faces growing demand, regional disparities, and shortages in critical specialties. Many of the doctors who may now return are trained in high-need areas like cardiology, oncology, anesthesiology, pediatric subspecialties, and critical care. Their presence could ease pressure on hospitals, bring cutting-edge clinical practices into the public system, and improve patient outcomes across the country.
The benefits extend beyond clinical care. Many of these physicians are also researchers, educators, and mentors who can help modernize medical training in Greece and build new academic and institutional partnerships with their U.S. counterparts. The reform also positions Greece as a more attractive destination for medical collaboration and health tourism.
Deon’s report, Unlocking Brain Gain in Medicine, outlines the full scope of the opportunity. It argues that retaining and re-integrating internationally trained Greek doctors is not just a matter of fairness, but a strategic investment in public health and national development.
The Deon Policy Institute will continue working towards this goal. In terms of next steps, we want to expand our research beyond the United States, in countries like the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
About Deon Policy Institute
Founded by a group of Greek academics, entrepreneurs, and professionals, the Deon Policy Institute is a non-partisan think tank that aims to organize and transform the Hellenic Diaspora into a catalyst for the progress of Greece.