The journey to becoming a doctor took an unusual route for Dr. Thanos Rossopoulos, who had worked as an oilfield drilling engineer in India and the Middle East after earning his undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering. The close friendships he made with co-workers stationed offshore for months along with volunteer work at a food pantry pulled him toward a new career path of service – and the medical field.

Dr. Thanos Rossopoulos

What this award means: “It means a lot when my actions have been recognized by my classmates, and I am honored and blessed that others consider me to exemplify the important traits of a physician. Also the word ‘Iatros’ means ‘doctor’ in Greek, and I am very proud to be Greek.”

Class of 2021 student comments: “This is a diligent student, compassionate clinician, humble life learner, dedicated serviceman, true friend, persistent community builder, honoring family man, and all-around exemplary human being.” “The student is the kind of man who sees a need, gets himself personally involved in the community, dreams up solutions, and is not afraid to act on them to see them realized.” “He values his family and meaningful relationships rather than a career and money and other forms of success. That said, he hasn’t shunned diligence and excellence in his medical/clinical education.” “I know few people as hardworking and dedicated as this student. … On top of all of these things this student is a humble man. He serves because he genuinely cares and wants to make a difference in the community.”

Background and family: “I am from Southern California. My father is Greek and my mother is Cantonese American. Their work ethics inspire me. I have a younger sister who will be studying occupational therapy next year.”

What led to your career path: “I was most attracted to medicine because of my desire to have a career helping others in which the interpersonal relationship between provider and patient is at the heart – something that was absent from my short career as an engineer. My most cherished experiences as an oil engineer were the intimate connections I made with co-workers during my monthlong shifts offshore, and after volunteering in a food pantry, I sought to develop a career in service. My love of science and service intersected perfectly with medicine.”

UTSW activities: “I founded an expanded student-led program at Union Gospel Mission (UGM) to help individuals struggling with homelessness quit smoking, serving over 300 clients from 2018 through 2019. I also co-founded the Patient Navigator Program for Individuals Experiencing Homelessness, which pairs students with UGM clients to help them navigate the health care system. In addition, I co-led a medical mission trip to the Dominican Republic as a first-year student and collaborated on a project to implement health care education sessions and primary care needs assessments for undergraduate students of Paul Quinn College.”

Surprising fact: “I spent one and a half years in India, Bangladesh, and the Middle East after graduating college, primarily working and living on oil rigs in the desert or the ocean.”

Future plans: “I am headed after graduation to a combined Psychiatry-Family Medicine Residency at UC San Diego. I want to work clinically with underserved populations in preventive primary and mental health care, focusing on patients with severe mental illness and/or addiction. I also want to improve the field of integrated/collaborative health care.”

About the award: The Iatros Award was established by the UT Southwestern Medical School Class of 1984 to honor a graduate who most emulates the complete qualities of a physician. The Iatros Award carries a cash prize provided by the Alumni Association.