# Meet the Harvard Students of the 2026 Genomic Medicine Course in Nafplio September 24, 2026 This past April, two members of the Harvard community joined the inaugural [Genomic Medicine Course in Nafplio](/seminar-programs/genomic-medicine "Genomic Medicine Course in Nafplio"), an intensive three-day program organized by the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) Medical School and Harvard's Center for Hellenic Studies in Greece (CHS Greece), held at the CHS Greece facilities in Nafplio from April 23 to 25, 2026. Bringing together select students from NKUA Medical School and Harvard Medical School, the program paired an intensive curriculum in clinical genomics, pharmacogenomics, gene therapy, and AI-driven diagnostics with the enduring medical traditions of ancient Greece, taught by distinguished faculty from both institutions. The two Harvard students were awarded scholarships by CHS Greece to cover the expenses associated with their participation in the program. Ahead of the course in Nafplio, the Harvard participants also took part in a short pre-course immersion, visiting the NKUA Medical School campus in Athens. Irene Antony and Jessika Baral, both students at Harvard Medical School, took part as the two Harvard participants in the program's inaugural edition. You can read more about the [Genomic Medicine Course in our recap of the program](/news/genomic-medicine-course-april-2026-summary "A Glimpse into the Inaugural "Genomic Medicine Course in Nafplio""). Below, they share their reflections on the experience. ![Participants and organizers gather for a group photo outside the CHS Greece building in Nafplio.](/sites/g/files/omnuum7151/files/2026-09/GMC-2026-Nafplio-Group.jpeg) ## Guest Post by Irene Antony When I first learned about the Genomic Medicine Course in Nafplio, I was immediately excited by the opportunity to spend a week learning from leading experts in genomic medicine against such a rich and fascinating historical backdrop. Beyond the science, I left with something I hadn't anticipated: new ways of thinking, genuine friendships, and a sense of belonging to an international community united by a shared commitment to improving healthcare around the world. Sitting in on classes and exchanging ideas with students and faculty there was a fascinating window into a different approach to medical education. ![Students present a research project to an audience in a lecture hall.](/sites/g/files/omnuum7151/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2026-09/GMC-2026-Nafplio-Lecture%20Hall.jpeg?itok=C6EjkUux) As an MD-PhD student at Harvard studying genomics, I spend a lot of time thinking about the field from inside the laboratory. What made this course so refreshing was the chance to step back and see genomics from many different angles at once. The lectures covered everything from gene therapy and clinical trials to the ethics of genomic medicine, and every session felt more like a conversation than a class. One of my favorite moments was a bioethics workshop where we debated real clinical cases in small groups before coming together as a class. Hearing classmates engage with the same questions through the lenses of different healthcare systems, cultures, and professional backgrounds was one of those experiences that genuinely shifts how you think. Another highlight of the week was the opportunity to collaborate with an exceptional group of classmates. Working together on presentations about emerging topics in genomic medicine allowed us to learn from one another's different backgrounds and experiences. Some of the best conversations happened outside the classroom, whether over meals, during coffee breaks, or while walking through the beautiful streets of Nafplio. Those moments made the course feel especially collaborative and reminded me how much we can learn by sharing ideas with colleagues from different countries and disciplines. Visits to the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School added another wonderful dimension: sitting in on classes and exchanging ideas with students and faculty there was a fascinating window into a different approach to medical education. ![Participants attend a lecture and discussion session at CHS Greece in Nafplio.](/sites/g/files/omnuum7151/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2026-09/GMC-2026-Nafplio-Sanoudou.jpeg?itok=eMSSzNzG) I also treasure the memories of the evenings in Nafplio. The conversations that started in the classroom continued naturally over dinner or while walking through the town, drifting from genomics to medicine to bigger questions about research, the future, and what kind of doctors and scientists we want to become. Those evenings turned classmates into real friends. I am genuinely grateful to the Center for Hellenic Studies in Greece and especially to Professor Despina Sanoudou and Evan Katsarelis for making this experience possible and so memorable. I returned to Boston with new scientific perspectives, friendships I know will last, and a deeper appreciation for the role of community in both science and medicine. I hope many future students will have the chance to experience the same. ### Irene Antony Irene Antony is an MD-PhD student in the Harvard-MIT Health Sciences and Technology Program at Harvard Medical School. Her research focuses on using genomic technologies to study somatic mutations in the human brain and their role in neurological disease. In addition to her research, Irene serves as a teaching fellow for Harvard Medical School courses and is a chair for the Graduate Student Council. Outside of medicine and research, Irene loves to dance and holds dance workshops for different patient groups in Boston. She values opportunities to connect with people from different backgrounds and is grateful for experiences like the Genomic Medicine Course that meld science, education, and history in exciting ways. ![Portrait of Irene Antony](/sites/g/files/omnuum7151/files/styles/hwp_1_1__480x480/public/2026-09/GMC-2026-Irene-Antony.jpg?itok=Jg6F8nM1) ## Guest Post by Jessika Baral I found out about the Genomic Medicine Course in Nafplio from my PhD program administrators, and it was immediately clear how special of an opportunity it was to not only learn from leaders in the field of genomics, but also understand medical practices abroad. Shortly after I applied and heard back, I met the whole cohort and felt accepted into a new family of brilliant Greek medical students. It was incredibly refreshing to work with students who had a new take on medicine and a different worldview when it came to the critical issues that personalized genomic medicine faces. ![Three participants pose for a photo at the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens, with Olympic flags visible in the background.](/sites/g/files/omnuum7151/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2026-09/GMC-2026-Athens-Stadium.png?itok=dNtph4ZR) Over the course of the next few months, we had numerous Zoom meetings and forged international friendships, all while thinking critically and deeply about research topics within the field of genomics, from pharmacogenomics to the role of AI in genetic counseling. It was incredibly refreshing to work with students who had a new take on medicine and a different worldview when it came to the critical issues that personalized genomic medicine faces. Simultaneously, it was exciting to toss ideas back and forth with a new research community of students so excited to learn alongside me. When we got to Greece, it was truly surreal to meet everyone in person. I had arrived a few days before the actual course began; many of the students were generous with their time and energy in showing me around Athens, walking me through the hospitals, explaining how healthcare in Greece differed from that of the US, and even in allowing me to sit in on their classes. Our conversations flowed between academic and social topics, moving seamlessly between our hobbies and passions to the kinds of physicians we wanted to become. ![Four participants stand in front of the CHS Greece building in Nafplio beneath a Harvard flag.](/sites/g/files/omnuum7151/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2026-09/GMC-2026-Nafplio-CHS-Greece.png?itok=jjdEasJ5) During the course, we then all traveled together to the beautiful city of Nafplio, a breathtaking environment to be learning from world-class experts on genomics and ethics. The talks ranged from the advancement of AI in genomics research to ethical debates about how to handle sensitive conversations with patients about their genetic data usage. Everyone in the room approached the discussion both by building on their background knowledge and personalized experiences, as well as by growing off of each others' ideas. On the last day, we presented our own investigations in groups. In just a matter of months, everyone had created rigorous research presentations and literature analyses across subfields of genomic medicine. I've loved being able to carry out research and exercise my intellectual curiosity from my desk at the lab, but to be able to do it immersed in Greece itself was an incredible complementary opportunity that enriched my academic training beyond expectation. All of this was possible because of the Center for Hellenic Studies in Greece, Professor Despina Sanoudou, Evan Katsarelis, my PhD mentors, and the amazing Greek medical students that I hope to remain close to for decades to come. I am already excited to hear about what next year's cohort learns! ### Jessika Baral Jessika Baral is an MD-PhD student in the Harvard-MIT Pathways Program at Harvard Medical School. Her research focuses on cancer vaccine design and generative AI in genomics/therapeutics. Outside of the lab, Jessika is the co-lead of Harvard Dance Crew, helps lead Harvard Biotech Club courses, and is a teaching fellow for Harvard Medical School courses. She’s always loved learning about new cultures and traveling, and this course was an amazing way to combine that with her research interests! ![Portrait of Jessika Baral](/sites/g/files/omnuum7151/files/styles/hwp_1_1__480x480/public/2026-09/GMC-2026-Jessika-Baral.png?itok=Q_qYWzux) [ Learn about the Genomic Medicine Course arrow\_circle\_right ](https://greece.chs.harvard.edu/seminar-programs/genomic-medicine) See also:- [ Seminar-based Programs ](/activities-type/seminar-based-programs) - [ Health ](/activities-field/health) - [ Harvard graduate students ](/target-audience/harvard-graduates) - [ Undergraduate students non-Harvard ](/target-audience/undergraduates) Share on:- [ Facebook ](#) - [ Twitter ](#) - [ Linkedin ](#)