 Rev. Dr. Michael Bahlatzis was born in 1957 in Brooklyn, NY to Dionysios and Angeliki of Greece. Fr. Michael graduated with highest honors from the Kent State University College of Podiatric Medicine with the D.P.M. (Doctor of Podiatric Medicine) degree in 1987 and from UHSA School of Medicine in 2007 with the M.D. (Doctor of Medicine) degree. He received the Dr. H. Harvey Haber Memorial Award for Excellence and Proficiency in Clinical Diagnosis in 1987. Fr. Michael received his theological education from St. Tikhon's Orthodox Seminary from 2004-2007. Presently, he is Senior Attending Podiatric Surgeon in the Orthopedic Surgery Department at Bassett Medical Center, in Cooperstown, N.Y., performing all facets of Orthopedic surgeries of the foot and ankle. He is also a retired Lt. Colonel in the US Air Force where he served as a medical officer. Fr. Michael is the Proistamenos/Presiding Priest of the Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation, in Vestal, N.Y., a suburb of Binghamton. His congregation has greater than 150 adult members and over 60 children. Fr. Michael is also the Presiding Priest and Pastoral caretaker of the Holy Trinity Church in Binghamton, N.Y., which has additional 30-40 members. His wife, Presbytera Kimberly (Maria), (former instructor at the Elmira Business Institute and now retired) is the Youth Director and head of the JOY/HOPE Program for both communities. Fr. Michael and Presbytera Kim have two daughters, Angela, a former captain and medical officer in the US Army, who graduated with a Master's degree as a Physician Assistant and is married to Jacob, a Major in US Army on active duty serving in Germany. Ashley Maria, was also a former captain and medical officer in the US Army and also graduated with a Master's degree as a Physician Assistant and is soon to be married to Jorge Casares, a captain in the US Army on active duty serving in Kansas. Ashley works in Emergency Medicine for an Army Medical Center and Angela works for the Dept. of Defense in Primary Care Medicine and Urgent Care at an Army base clinic. Fr. Michael is a Fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons, Fellow of the American Society of Podiatric Surgeons, and is an active member of the American Podiatric Medical Association and New York State Podiatric Medical Association. His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas elevated Fr. Michael to the offikia of Economos in November 2014 and Pnevmatikos (Confessor) in November 2018.
Fr. Michael is presently on the Board of Directors and serves as Vice President of the St. Panteleimon Medical Society for the Metropolis of Detroit. Fr. Michael was ordained to the Priesthood by His Eminence, Metropolitan Nicholas on June 21st, 2008. Fr. Michael and Presbytera Kimberly love to travel and accompanied His Eminence, Metropolitan Nicholas to the Phanar in Constantinople in 2010. |