1. Name
Hellenic Diaspora Doctors Association U.K. (He.Di.D.A. UK).
2. Aim/Vision
Strengthening ties between Doctors and Dentists of Greek nationality, ethnicity or origin, working or residing in the United Kingdom (UK).
To be a scientific body of prestige and promotion of views in all areas of responsibility of its members, and the official representation of the Greek medical and dental community of the UK in Greece and internationally.
3. Character / form
Voluntary and non-profit organization, independent of political parties or other structures. Open to collaboration with other similar structures and associations of doctors and dentists of Hellenic Diaspora in the UK and the Greek community around the world.
Its form is that of an “Unincorporated Association” as described in https://www.gov.uk/unincorporated-associations
4. Terms of member participation
Anyone who fulfils the criteria bellow can become a member of this association:
4.1. Doctors or Dentists who live or work in the United Kingdom, registered with official bodies (GMC and GDC), with a full license to practice in the UK.
4.2. They have Greek nationality, ethnicity or origin as evidenced by relevant official documents submitted and evaluated by the bodies of the administrative committee.
4.3. They fulfill their financial obligations to the association (registration and annual subscription).
4.4. They agree with and promote the purposes of the association as mentioned above.
5. Member Categories
5.1. Founding Members:
individuals who worked for the formation of the association until its founding, who will have the same rights and obligations as basic members.
5.2. Administrative committee/Executive council:
The elected committee that will emerge according to the election procedures of its members.
5.3. Full Members:
Members who comply with the terms of participation in accordance with Term (5), and who have fulfilled their financial obligations (annual subscription) to the association. The full members enjoy the right to vote, to participate in the general meetings, and to apply for candidacy in the Administrative Committee.
5.4. Basic Members:
Members who comply with the terms of participation in accordance with Term (5), but due to non-fulfillment of financial obligations are deprived of the right to vote / be elected, but have the right to participate in the activities of the association. Upon fulfillment of their financial obligations, they automatically return to active – full - membership.
5.5. Associate Members:
Health professionals with academic training that live or work in the United Kingdom (e.g. biologists, biochemists, medical or dental nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, dieticians, dental hygienists, dental technicians, and opticians) that are of Greek nationality, ethnicity or origin according to Term (5.3).
These members do not have the right to vote / be elected, nor financial obligations to the association, but they have the right to participate in the activities of the association.
5.6. Honorary Members:
Members who with their contribution or presence honor and promote the interests of the association. Their registration must be unanimously approved by the entirety of the Administrative Committee of the association.
5.7. Medical and Dental students at UK universities:
These members, as described in subsections 6.5, 6.6 and 6.7, do not have the right to vote / be elected, nor financial obligations to the association, but they have the right to participate in the activities of the association.
6. Introduction of new members
6.1. The application for new members should be submitted to the administrative committee.
6.2. The application must include contact details of the candidate member in accordance with the relevant legislation (General Data Protection Regulation).
7. Resignation of Members
Any member wishing to resign from the association should contact the Secretary of the Administrative Committee in writing.
8. Expulsion of members
The Administrative Committee will have the right to expel any member who offends the mission and status of the association and whose conduct, in the opinion of the administrative committee, will make it unsuitable for active participation in the association. Prior to the removal of any member, the Secretary shall give them a written notice of twenty-one (21) days to attend a meeting of the administrative committee and shall inform them of any complaints submitted against them. No member shall be expelled without first having the opportunity to appear before the Administrative Committee and respond to the complaints made – raised - against them, nor without at least a simple majority of the Administrative Committee voting in favour of their expulsion. Failure to be represented – appear - on two consecutive summonses by the Administrative Committee for hearing, shall automatically result in the disqualification of that member. No member whose membership has been terminated under this rule will be able to acquire membership in the future.
9. Management
9.1. The affairs of the association will be managed by the Administrative Committee, which has full authority to take all actions necessary for the proper handling of these affairs.
9.2. The Administrative Committee will have a flat hierarchy with positions of responsibility that will be defined as follows:
I. President
II. Vice President
III. Secretary
IV. Treasurer
V. Member
VI. Member
VII Member
9.3. The Administrative Committee meets and arranges its meetings in any way it deems appropriate, and four (4) members of the Administrative Committee form a quorum. Members are considered to be participants in such a meeting either in person or online (electronically).
9.4. Decisions of the Administrative Committee are taken by a simple majority. In the event of a tie, the president's vote or, in the absence of the chairman – president -, the vice-president's vote shall be paramount.
9.5. The election of members in the administrative committee is done by voting in every second Annual General Meeting of the present members of the association who are members for at least six months (elections every 2 years). The five members who have shown interest in participating in the administrative committee and will – who - receive the most votes automatically constitute the Administrative Committee. The positions of the Administrative Committee are allocated by an internal vote. The Administrative Committee shall retire immediately before the vote at this Annual General Meeting, but the members of the committee shall be eligible for re-election. The members of the Administrative Committee are elected from a relevant single list of candidates where each member who has the right to vote can choose up to 7 members (marking with a cross or X next to the relevant name chosen). The electoral process as well as the counting of votes and the announcement of the members of the Administrative Committee is carried out by a 3-member electoral committee which is elected by the previous Regular or Emergency General Meeting. The members of the electoral committee may not be candidates for members of the Administrative Committee. Especially for the 1st electoral process, the members of the electoral committee are appointed by a simple majority of the members of the temporary Administrative Committee, without any restrictions on their placement.
9.6. The Administrative Committee has the power to nominate one member, from among those who ran in the last election for the administrative committee and were not elected, to fill any vacancies on the committee based on the number of votes cast in the last election. In case this is not possible, they may propose one of the active members of the association. Alternatively, in cases where live voting and ballot elections are not feasible, such as in the case of a pandemic, voting may be online and/or by mail.
9.7. The Administrative Committee has the power to speak on behalf of and to represent the members of the association. No individual member of the association will be able to represent the views or opinions of the association without the prior authorization from the Administrative Committee, except for matters which have already been made public by the Administrative Committee.
9.8. No press releases or statements are issued on behalf of the association without the prior approval of the Administrative Committee, except for matters which have already been made public by the Administrative Committee.
9.9. The members of the association have the possibility to control the activities of the Administrative Committee, if the relevant proposal is submitted to the general meeting by 75% of the active members of the association.
10. Ways of Communicating with Members
10.1. Via the association’s website and social media
10.2. Via the official email of the association
11. Annual General Meeting
The Annual General Meeting of the association will be held during the first half of each year on a date, time and place or online, to be determined by the administrative committee for the following purposes:
I. To receive from the administrative committee report and account of the year regarding the activities and events of the association and the financial control of the year (accounts, balance sheet).
II. To elect the members of the administrative committee (every two years).
III. To decide on any issue that may be submitted to the meeting in the manner provided for in the article of association.
Any member of the association wishing to raise an issue for discussion at the Annual General Meeting must notify the Secretary in writing or by email at least twenty (20) days before the date set for the Annual General Meeting and the Secretary must notify the members of the association at least ten (10) days before the date set for the Annual General Meeting.
12. Nominations for the Administrative Committee
12.1. Any member (other than those running for re-election) wishing to be elected to the Administrative Committee must submit his / her written document to the Secretary at least twenty (20) days before the date set for the election.
12.2. This member must be a member of the association for at least 3 months before the election date. This term will not apply only to the first election process of the association to allow all members of the association to participate in the election process.
13. Emergency General Meeting
The Administrative Committee may at any time, for any reason, convene an emergency general meeting upon the written request of one-fifth (1/5) of all active members of the association who have the right to vote while declaring the purposes for which the meeting is required.
14. Operation of General Meetings
14.1. The Presidency of the General Meetings is assumed by the President or in case of his / her absence the Vice President of the association.
14.2. The decisions of the General Meeting are taken by a majority of the members present and by open ballot. In the event of a tie, the vote of the President shall prevail.
14.3. Every active member present has the right of one (1) vote.
14.4. The minutes are validated at the end of the same General Meeting or at the latest within 10 days from the completion of the General Meeting and are signed by the President and the other members of the Administrative Committee.
14.5. The Administrative Committee may, if it deems it appropriate, adopt regulations allowing members of the association who are unable to attend to vote by proxy or in writing.
15. Quorum of the General Meeting
15.1. The quorum at all General Meetings, including the Emergency General Meeting, must not be less than 15% of the total active members of the association.
15.2. The members of the association are considered as participants in the General Meeting when they are present either in person or online (electronically) or through a representative, if this has been notified to the administrative committee by the member in writing or electronically.
15.3. The determination of the existence or not of a quorum is made by the President, when half an hour has elapsed from the one he / she had appointed for the beginning of the meeting.
15.4. If the existence of a quorum is not ascertained, a new repeated General Meeting is called within eight (8) days. The convergence of the repeated General Assembly is done as in the first instance. In any case, in the invitation for the General Meeting, the details of the first invitation must be indicated with the addition that it is a repeated one.
15.5. For the existence of a quorum at the repeated General Meeting, the presence of half of the members referred to in paragraph 15.1 is sufficient. If the non-existence of the required quorum is ascertained again, then a second repeated General Meeting is convened again within eight (8) days and it is in quorum, whoever is present or represented.
16. Financial Year
16.1. The financial year of the association ends on the 5th of April of every year.
16.2. At the end of each financial year, the balance sheet of the association will be made public to the members of the association by e-mail.
17. Visitors
17.1. Non-members of the association have the opportunity to participate in the events of the association.
17.2. Non-members of the association who have proven to have shown inappropriate or harmful behavior in the interests and prestige of the association will not be able to participate in the events of the association.
18. Members Contact Details
Each member is responsible for informing the Secretary of the association of their current contact details.
19. Amendment of the Articles of Association
19.1. The articles of the association can be amended by a decision of the General Meeting except for Articles 1, 2, 5 & 6 which are not subject to revision.
19.2. A decision to amend the articles of association requires at least a majority of three quarters (3/4) of those present at the General Meeting, if the required quorum has occurred.
19.3. Up to two years after the official start of operation of the association, the founding members have the possibility – right- to revise these statutes with the consent of the Administrative Committee.
20. Compensation
20.1. The members of the Administrative Committee are responsible for the actions and decisions of the Administrative Committee; however, they are not responsible for actions of third parties towards the association and possible consequential damage to the association.
20.2. The members of the Administrative Committee are entitled to compensation from the assets of the association for all expenses and other obligations they incurred for operating expenses of the association. The Administrative Committee decides by a relevant vote the approval and the amount of the compensations. Personal expenses are not covered.
20.3. All members of the Administrative Committee offer their services voluntarily and without any remuneration.
21. Dissolution of the Association
21.1. The association can be dissolved by decision of the General Meeting.
21.2. The decision to dissolve the association requires at least a majority of three quarters (3/4) of those present at the General Meeting, if the required quorum has occurred.
22. Resources of the Association
22.1. The amount of the annual subscription of the members of the association which is determined by the Administrative Committee.
22.2. The sums of money collected from all kinds of contributions and events and from donations of members and friends of the association.
23. Founding Members & Temporary Administrative Committee
1. Αθηνά Αγγελοπούλου.
Athina Angelopoulou M.D., U.E.M.S. – P.R.M.(Assoc.), Ph.D.
Consultant in Geriatric Medicine/rehabilitation
Macclesfield District General Hospital (Greater Manchester & Cheshire)
2. Ευάγγελος Βρυώνης
EvangelosVryonis, MD, MSc, FRCP(Gla), PhD
Infectious Diseases Consultant and Clinical Lead for Hospital at home
University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire
3. Αναστασία Θεριανού
Anastasia Therianou, M.D., Ph.D.
Consultant Dermatologist,
Imperial College NHS Trust
4. Κωνσταντίνα Καραμπάτσου
Konstantina Karabatsou, M.D., FRCS Ed.
Consultant in Neurosurgery and Clinical lead for Neurooncology
Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust
5. Στυλιανή Μαρία Κολοκοτρώνη
Μaria Kolokotroni, M.D., MSc.
Consultant Thoracic Surgeon
University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire
6. Νικόλαος Τζεράκης
NikosTzerakis MD
Consultant Neurosurgeon/Spinal surgeon
University Hospital of North Staffordshire
7. Εμμανουήλ Εμμανουήλ
EmmanouilEmmanouil
Dentistry BDS, King’s College London
MS Orthodontics, University of Michigan
Board-Certified, American Board of Orthodontics
8. ΑγγελοςΑγγελάκας
ΑngelosAngelakas
MD,MRCP,
Specialty Registrar in Medical Oncology in Christie Hospital in Manchester