The therapeutic powers of art and its meaningful impact on the psyche and the spirit have been consolidated ever since ancient times.
Alexandros Kallifatidis
The art of medicine and the remedy of art
Text: Giorgos Geronikolaou
Medicine and art, two seemingly distinct worlds, cross paths at a point of convergence where the human threefold nature (mind, soul and body) are merged into one. Alexandros Kallifatidis, a man who walks down the two-way path of science and art, embodies the profound connection between the healing of the body and the harmony of the soul. As a doctor and an artist, his course is a never-ending “dance” that binds together the precision required by medicine and the tightrope walk of free expression that goes hand in hand with art, and especially music.
As a radiology diagnostician with a multiyear experience and a specializatopm in advanced cardiovascular imaging (cardiac CT scan and MRI), Alexandros Kallifatidis seeks the truth unveiled by the images of the human body while exploring the innermost secrets of the heart, which he envisages not only as the most pivotal human organ but also as a symbol of life; he feels its pulse, striving to connect with the fathomless rhythm of the universe.
He is a member in several medical scientific societies of high prestige, among which stand out the following: European Society of Radiology, European Society of Cardiovascular Radiology (ESCR), Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance (SCMR), European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging (FEACVI), Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography, and the Hellenic Radiology Society. He also serves as Secretary for the Radiological Society of Northern Greece, he is a holder of the European Diploma in Cardiovascular Radiology, and a founding member of the Cardiac Intelligence company. In tandem with his professional activity in the field of medicine, Alexandros Kallifatidis is a performer and a musician, mostly self-taught, with an innate drive and passion for new collaborations and journeys across the unexplored space-time of music.
“We come and go like fluffs in the northerly wind…” sings Alexandros (in the beloved Song “To pio megalo psema” [The Biggest Lie]), a true benchmark in his music career), before adding: “Always leaving a trace, the scent that gets carved in the memory of people we touched, and of those we’ll touch as time goes by…”. Having studied and worked in Greece, Germany and France, but mainly through his work as an artist, Alexandros Kallifatidis bridges two seemingly different worlds, and by means of his dual identity he foregrounds the grandeur of human expression. His diagnoses and melodies serve as a reminder that life is a constant dialogue between the mind and the heart.
“The therapeutic powers of art and its meaningful impact on the psyche and the spirit have been consolidated ever since ancient times. In Ancient Greece, music and poetry, in combination with physical training, were considered as prerequisite means of edification and harmonious completion,” stresses Alexandros. “On the other hand, the art of medicine is not contained in the diagnosis and the treatment of illnesses. A doctor in the full sense of the word is also equipped with the gifts of communication, empathy and nursing, relating to the patients’ feelings and acknowledging their needs; and that is a form of art that hard to be taught in university schools, as it is cultivated through experience and sincere human contact,” he meaningfully adds.
The therapeutic powers of art and its meaningful impact on the psyche and the spirit have been consolidated ever since ancient times. In Ancient Greece, music and poetry, in combination with physical training, were considered as prerequisite means of edification and harmonious completion.
Alexandros Kallifatidis was born in Thessaloniki and grew up in the town of Katerini. He studied Medicine at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and is a practicing doctor working as a specialized radiologist. In addition, he has been involved with music ever since his adolescent years, having taken on guitar lessons, but mainly as a self-taught musician both in musical instruments and vocals.
1996 He took part at the Thessaloniki Song Festival, ranking in 4th place and obtaining positive reviews on his performance.
1998 He made his debut appearance in a music album. Renowned composer Giorgos Stavrianos selected him as the lead singer in his time-honored album To pio megalo psema [The Biggest Lie], where Alexandros performed a total of six tracks, including the titular song, in lyrics written by Myrto Kontova, and featuring legendary artists such as Manolis Mitsias, Pantelis Thalassinos and Nena Venetsanou.
2004 He was the runner-up at the song festival hosted by the Municipality of Lefkimmi in the island of Corfu.
2006 He released his debut CD single titled Stis agapis ta chronia [In the Years of Love], interweaving latin, jazz and rock features with the Greek sound. The recording was carried out in the historical studio Magnanimous by iconic sound mixer Giorgos Pentzikis.
2007 He was the runner-up at the all-Greek singing contest hosted by the radio station Mythos in Thessaloniki.
2008 He scored the documentary The Skyrian Horse directed by Giorgos Sourgiadakis.
2013 He takes part in the forming of the music band Nouvelles Routes, joining forces with Alexis Karavergos, intertwining retro, swing, jazz, tango, flamenco, rebetiko and French songs elements.
2017-2014 As a member of the Passa Tempo music band and alongside remarkable musicians Nakis Petropoulos, Yannis Pimenidis and Giorgos Nerantzis, they tour across Greece, performing covers of rebetiko and jazz manouche songs, as well as original compositions.
2023 ZAS Records owned by producer Alexandros Karozas re-releases his album Stis agapis ta chronia [In the Years of Love] as an EP, featuring the hit song “Akrovateis” [Walking in a Tightrope]. The same EP includes the song “To pio megalo psema” [The Biggest Lie] covered by Dimitris Lappas.
2024 His song “To proto dakry” [The First Tear] composed by Dimitris Markatopoulos, with lyrics written by Christos G. Papadopoulos, was released by ZAS Records. The song was orchestrated by Antonis Pitliakas, whereas the recording was carried out at the Stigmatized Productions studio by Takis Dalamitras.
He has taken part in various music events hosted by the Greek omogenia in Vienna and Düsseldorf, as well as in concerts held in the USA. He has appeared in TV and radio shows, and in various art events all over Greece. Moreover, he has always offered his pro bono support to cultural and social endeavors and initiatives, such as the ones hosted by the “Friends of the City Museum of Katerini” non-profit organization.
Over the last years he has participated as a solo performer in concerts within the context of the “Musics of the World” project, in a musical journey filled with both Western and Oriental emotions and hues, with a series of acclaimed musicians by his side (Andreas Ziakas, Nikos Katsamagkas, Yannis Pimenidis, Vangelis Bousmalis, Jason Germetzes). In addition, he records old and new songs scheduled to be released shortly.
Videoclips and recordings by Alexandros Kallifatidis are available at various digital platforms (YouTube, Spotify, iTunes etc.).
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