Efthalia Karamali, MD ’97, is a St. George’s University School of Medicine graduate who was born in Thessaloniki, Greece, and raised in Astoria, Queens, NY. Dr. Karamali currently practices at the Health Center Pyli Axiou in Thessaloniki, continuing her 22-year career dedicated to pediatric and adolescent care, work that has earned recognition from the Greek Ministry of Health.
Dr. Karamali grew up with a strong sense of resilience and purpose, shaped by her family’s powerful legacy of survival and sacrifice.
“My parents inspired me to pursue higher education and medicine. Their sacrifices and encouragement gave me the strength to persevere,” she explained.
Her grandparents were refugees from Istanbul and Tbilisi, having lost everything during times of war and political upheaval. These formative stories, coupled with the determination of her parents, neither of whom finished school, instilled in her the value of education, hard work, and service to others.
Dr. Karamali earned her BA in anthropology from Hunter College in New York City before enrolling at SGU. SGU gave her the opportunity to gain a holistic, global medical education.
“Studying at SGU provided hands-on experience in real-world scenarios that helped ease my transition to practicing medicine in Greece,” she recalled, referencing rare cases like advanced heart failure and diabetic complications seen during her clinical years.
After graduation, Dr. Karamali returned to Greece, where she navigated national licensing exams and later obtained registration with the UK’s General Medical Council via the British Council in Thessaloniki. She officially began practicing in Greece in 2002.
Throughout her career, pediatrics stood out as her true calling. Her volunteer work in New York and her community health efforts in Greece, particularly coordinating vaccination programs for underserved populations solidified her passion for caring for children and vulnerable communities.
SGU News spoke with Dr. Karamali to know more about her journey from SGU to a career dedicated to serving children and families in Greece.
SGU: What inspired you to pursue a career in medicine?
Dr. Karamali: I was born in Thessaloniki, Greece during a politically turbulent time under military rule. Due to the challenges my family faced, we immigrated to New York City in 1974. My family’s history is deeply rooted in resilience: both sets of grandparents were refugees who lost everything during the 20th-century upheavals in Constantinople and the Soviet Union.
Despite limited formal education, my parents worked tirelessly, my father in construction on major Thessaloniki landmarks, and my mother as a seamstress who later built a successful Manhattan tailoring business serving high-profile clients.
Their perseverance, sacrifices, and belief in the power of education inspired me to pursue a meaningful path. Choosing medicine was my way of honoring their legacy and turning their struggles into service. Though I’ve lost both parents to cancer, their strength continues to guide me every day.
SGU: Why did you choose SGU? How did your education at SGU support your goals?
Dr. Karamali: SGU offered me a path that’s both highly competitive and personally demanding. It not only provided a strong academic foundation but also the global perspective and support I needed to navigate the challenges ahead, both practically and emotionally.
The diverse faculty from around the world enriched my learning experience and encouraged a holistic approach to medicine. Our hands-on clinical training exposed us to advanced and complex cases such as severe heart failure and diabetic foot ulcers that are rarely seen in more developed healthcare settings. This breadth of experience greatly eased my transition into clinical practice in both Greece and the UK.
SGU: What drew you to pediatrics? How are you contributing to this field?
Dr. Karamali: My interest in pediatrics began during my time volunteering in hospitals across New York City. My early research at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, where I studied how cancer treatments affect children’s cognitive development, further strengthened my commitment to medicine.
In Greece, I volunteered with Doctors of the World and supported vaccination efforts for underserved groups, including Roma communities and children with special needs. These experiences solidified my decision to pursue pediatrics.
Over the past 22 years, I’ve contributed as a pediatrician by coordinating vaccination programs for vulnerable populations across Thessaloniki, including refugees and immigrants. From 2016–2018, I led pediatric immunization efforts in seven refugee camps and collaborated with NGOs to transition families into better housing, an effort I’m particularly proud of.
SGU: How did SGU prepare you academically and clinically for your transition to the UK/Greek healthcare system?
Dr. Karamali: SGU provided a strong academic foundation and clinical exposure that helped ease my transition into the European healthcare environment. Most of my clinical training took place in the UK, with one semester in New York, which gave me valuable international experience.
Working in small clinical groups allowed us to deeply engage with patient care, taking full histories, performing thorough exams, and developing differential diagnoses. Regular case presentations and feedback from professors sharpened our clinical reasoning. This hands-on, structured training closely aligned with the healthcare systems in both the UK and Greece, making the transition smoother.
SGU: What was the most memorable part of your SGU experience?
Dr. Karamali: There were many memorable moments, from the warm welcome on day one to dinners with friends to sailing on the Rum Runner. I met inspiring people from around the world and built lasting friendships. My clinical rotations were equally rewarding, thanks to the dedicated professors and the hands-on learning that shaped my medical journey.
SGU: What advice would you give to current or prospective SGU students hoping to work in the UK or Greece after graduation?
Dr. Karamali: Follow what you love and commit fully to it. Medicine is a demanding path, so find purpose in your work. Collaborate and learn from your peers; teamwork is essential both in training and in practice. Volunteering can also be a powerful way to discover your strengths and identify the area of medicine that truly inspires you.
