School of Dentistry in Thessaloniki has already completed half a century of life and looks ahead with optimism for the years to come. It was founded on September 1959 and in December of the same year welcomed the first 52 students that succeeded in exams.
In the 50’s, the Aristotle University grows strongly and many newly established departments and faculties are founded. Specifically, in 1950 is founded the Veterinary School and follow in 1951 to 1954 Institutes of English and French Language and in 1955 to 1958 the Polytechnic School initially with the Department of Civil Engineering and then with the Department of Architecture.
The recognized dental science started in Greece in 1834 with the introduction of the Royal Medical Congress of Greece, which was the first legislation that safeguarded Public Health. And concerned physicians, dentists, pharmacists and midwives.
In 1893 the first private Karakatsanis Dental School was founded, which also was recognized immediately by the Medical Congress of Greece.
In 1911 the Law concerning “The Organization of the University of Athens” School of Dentistry is created as an annex to the Medical School, which targets to educate doctors. The school is attached to the Medical School. Attendance is three years and teaching is assigned to permanent and temporary teachers of the Medical School and a temporary professor of Dentistry and Oral Pathology is added with a special clinic.
In 1916, after the decree concerning “The operation of the Dental School, National University” began also the operation of the School of Dentistry in Athens in the building located at the George road in Kannigos Square.
In 1921 and 1922, according to a LD, dental education increases to four years and the School of Dentistry becomes independent with its own Teacher Association in which a Professor of Medicine is Head, four new dentals departments are added, apart from Stomatology and so there are, now, five dental laboratories . Therefore, members of the Association of Teachers are all teachers of medical courses and five (5) teachers of dental courses.
Ioannis Mandalidis and Vagia Mandalidis
Their journey and contribution to the Dental School
Ioannis Mandalidis was born in 1887 and Vagia in 1890 in Didymoteicho, in the Evros region. Their parents were Petros Mandalidis and Stamatia Sipka. At a very young age, they lost their father. Following his death, their mother remarried and had two more children.
Ioannis pursued his studies in Dentistry in Constantinople. Between 1907 and 1916, the two siblings resided in America, where they toiled tirelessly and amassed considerable wealth. They returned to Thessaloniki just before the fire of 1917.
Ioannis Mandalidis immersed himself in business and the stock market. He founded a flour mill and accrued substantial wealth both as an entrepreneur and a dentist. In 1931, he and Vagia purchased a six-story building on the Thessaloniki beachfront, located at 39 Vasileos Konstantinou Street, where the siblings lived together until the end of their days.
Ioannis established an electric lighting factory in his hometown, which, along with the flour mills he owned, he later donated to the Municipality of Didymoteicho. This gesture was intended to ensure that the proceeds from these assets would be allocated for the education of the most capable youth.
Ioannis was industrious, ambitious, and charismatic, particularly in his chosen profession. He spoke little, yet his profound love for humanity was deeply rooted in his soul, manifesting itself through his actions.
Vagia, or Vai Mandalidis, was a dynamic, just, and active woman, a pioneer in thought for her era. A realist, she consistently aspired to live independently and uncompromisingly in the face of the social dictates of her time. Her studies and appreciation for monuments of ancient civilization, which she adored, as well as her travels that allowed her to meet diverse places and people, were integral to the life of Vagia Mandalidis. She encountered many individuals of intellect and artistry.
The two siblings never married.
Ioannis Mandalidis passed away on July 26, 1942, at the age of 55. In his public will, drafted on July 20, 1942, he bequeathed his financial deposits and half ownership of the six-story building in Thessaloniki to the University of Thessaloniki for the establishment of the School of Dentistry.
Vagia Mandalidis died on August 23, 1973. In her public will, she left half ownership of the aforementioned building to the University of Thessaloniki, intending it to serve for the establishment and installation of a research branch of the School of Dentistry, to be named the “Mandalidis Center for Dental Research.” This building initially housed the Department of Journalism and Mass Media of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.
Subsequently, due to technical difficulties in adapting the spaces to function properly as a research center, the Dental School, in agreement with the University Council, proceeded to transfer the property to the University. The University then undertook the obligation to construct a six-story building adjoining the current Dental School, which was named the “Mandalidis Center for Dental Research” and inaugurated on July 16, 2003.
Today, the Department of Dentistry of the School of Health Sciences at A.U.Th. is situated within the campus boundaries, with a central entrance on Agiou Dimitriou Street. It consists of two buildings: an older one housing the laboratories and clinics of the School and a newer one, the Mandalidis Center for Dental Research (MCDE), a legacy of the Mandalidis family, which significantly contributes to the advancement of research in Dental Science.
