Since he has been medical director, Rensselaer has made numerous accomplishments in the area of student health. Originally, the Health Center was smaller, had no health educator, no counselors, and no obstetrician. Ten years ago, the center became an ambulatory health center with an emphasis on education and preventive care. Dr. Athanasiou also has led the center in providing quality facilities by becoming involved in a national certification program.

Dr. A, as Athanasiou is familiarly called, started the ballroom dance club, worked as an advisor for the amateur radio club, taught courses in human sexuality, and served as a physician treating patients.

Athanasiou originally came to RPI to study engineering, motivated by his hobby as a ham operator as well as the government’s announcement of an engineering gap between the U.S. and the Soviet Union in response to the launch of Sputnik. During his undergraduate years at Rensselaer, he joined Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity and met his future wife who attended SUNY Albany. He received a B.S. in electrical engineering from Rensselaer in 1962. He also earned an M.S. in psychology from Rensselaer and a Ph.D. in psychology from the University of Michigan.

While Athanasiou worked at Johns Hopkins, he “realized that the guys who were really having the fun were the physicians.” He decided to attend Albany Medical School and earned an M.D. in 1977. He notes how medical school parallels engineering school because even though the medical students do not have to take higher level math courses, they still learn how to solve problems—a perfect transfer for an engineer. After working at Samaritan Hospital for a few years and then serving as its emergency department director, he became Rensselaer’s medical director in 1985.

Regarding his retirement, Athanasiou said, “It’s like you never leave … It’s funny in a way to leave, but in another way you’re not leaving.”

He said one of the reasons why he has remained committed to Rensselaer for so long is because he has worked with incredible people. He also admires other professionals’ dedication in finding solutions. Athanasiou feels “it’s like you’re in a cocoon … you don’t have to deal with people in the outside world in some ways.”

He enjoys how he does not have to just recommend a treatment for a patient but instead can tell the student why the treatment works and the principles of science to which the treatment applies.

“They understand what you’re talking about,” he said.

Even though he has earned the title of professor of the year from RPI, more important to Athanasiou personally are the accolades he has received in the form of letters from patients he has diagnosed. These letters acknowledge the ways in which he has affected his patients’ lives. In addition to life-affecting diagnoses, he helps patients cope with illnesses and get on with their lives.

Athanasiou also brings support to his workplace relationships. He maintains a close relationship with his staff amidst all his physician responsibilities and other directorial duties. Some of his coworkers will miss his humor and the motivation he provides his staff.

“He brings so much personality here. He keeps everyone motivated. He’s a motivator,” said Bonita Bornt, a departmental insurance representative in the health center

Director of the Counselling Center Joseph Albert has found Athanasiou very easy to work with and thinks that his combination of qualities is what has allowed him to understand and fulfill the health needs of students so well. These positive sentiments reflect the sentiments of many of the health center’s staff. Some members see Athanasiou as a boss and teacher and many do not want him to leave.

Lissette Grevely, the receptionist at the Health Center, said, “I’m going to miss him greatly. He’s an inspiration … that’s why I’m going back to school.”