Gastroenterologists for Colonoscopy

Το Πολυϊατρείο Affidea Περιστερίου είναι ένα σύγχρονο πολυϊατρείο που εξυπηρετεί ασθενείς από την ευρύτερη δυτική Αθήνα, προσφέροντας ολοκληρωμένη πρωτοβάθμια και εξειδικευμένη φροντίδα υγείας κάτω από μία οροφή. Με εξειδικευμένους ιατρούς σε ένα πλατύ φάσμα ειδικοτήτων, το κέντρο καλύπτει τις ανάγκες ολόκληρης της οικογένειας - από προληπτικούς ελέγχους έως εξειδικευμένη διάγνωση και παρακολούθηση.

Papadokostopoulou Aleksandra is a Gastroenterologist who maintains a private practice in Vyronas. She holds a degree from the Medical School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and a PhD from the Medical School of the University of Crete. She specialized in Internal Medicine at the Hospital of Divine Providence “H Pammakaristos” and at the 1st IKA Hospital of Athens, and subsequently specialized in Gastroenterology at the Anti-Cancer - Oncology Hospital of Athens “Agios Savvas.” She is the scientific head of the Gastroenterology Department of the Paleo Faliro Clinic “REA” and has served as a collaborator in the physiology laboratory of the General Department of Basic Medical Sciences at the School of Health Sciences of the Technological Educational Institute of Athens. Aiming for continuous education and updates, she attends Greek and international seminars on digestive system diseases and has numerous announcements and presentations at Greek and international conferences. Finally, the physician is a member of the Hellenic Gastroenterological Society, the Professional Association of Gastroenterologists of Greece, the Hellenic Foundation of Gastroenterology and Nutrition, the European Board of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, and the Hellenic Anti-Cancer Society.

Gkaragkanis Dimosthenis is a Gastroenterologist who operates a private practice in Haidari. He holds a medical degree from the Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Romania and specialized in Internal Medicine at the Pathology Clinic of the Regional Hospital of Tripoli, as well as in Gastroenterology at the Gastroenterology Clinic of the General Hospital of Athens "G. Gennimatas." He is an associate physician at the Advanced Interventional Endoscopy Department of the Athens Bioclinic and a Consultant in the Advanced Therapeutic Endoscopy Department of Metropolitan General. He completed rural service at the Neraiodhorio Regional Clinic of the Pylis Health Center and the Stemnitsa Regional Clinic of the Dimitsana Health Center in Arcadia. Finally, the doctor regularly attends numerous conferences and seminars as part of his ongoing professional development.

Dr. Zaxou Maria is an External Collaborator at the private hospitals "Lefkos Stavros" and "Mediterraneo" and a PhD candidate at the Medical School of Athens - NKUA, focusing on hydrocolonoscopy and new techniques for the removal of colorectal polyps. She is actively engaged in clinical research and has participated in Greek and international conferences, including the Pan-European UEG 2023, where she was awarded for the COLDWATER study. She is specialized in the management of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and is a member of the educational committee of the Rome Foundation. In her private practice, she addresses the full spectrum of Gastroenterology (e.g., Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, Helicobacter pylori infection, GERD, dyspepsia, etc.) and performs gastroscopies and colonoscopies using state-of-the-art equipment, ensuring painless and safe procedures.

Giorgakis Nikolaos MD, MSc, FEBGH is a Gastroenterologist practicing privately in Rhodes. He is a PhD candidate at the Medical School of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. He studied at the English-speaking program of the Medical School at Charles University in Prague and received further training in London at Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University. Dr. Nikolaos is a member of the Hellenic Society of Gastroenterology and the Hellenic Society for the Study of the Liver, as well as a member of the Specialist Register of the British Medical Council and the European Board of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. His clinic provides diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment of diseases affecting the esophagus, stomach, small and large intestines, as well as the rectum, liver, biliary tract, and pancreas. Diagnostic tests and endoscopic procedures are performed in a specially designed facility equipped with instruments and devices bearing CE marking certificates and employing state-of-the-art technology.

Dr. Raftopoulos Ioannis MD is a Specialist in Internal Medicine - Gastroenterology and maintains a private practice in Vrilissia. He graduated from the Medical School of Democritus University of Thrace. After 14 years of continuous clinical experience in Germany, he returned to Greece, bringing advanced expertise and specialized experience in interventional gastroenterology. During his tenure, he completed his specialties in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology, performing thousands of endoscopies, with a focus on advanced techniques such as ERCP and Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS).

He served for 5 years at a major Academic Hospital in Wuppertal (University of Bochum), where he was responsible for the education of medical students through seminars and presentations. Subsequently, he worked as a Consultant at Nettetal Hospital, performing a large number of interventional procedures.

He has comprehensive training and extensive experience in transabdominal ultrasound, as well as in performing numerous diagnostic and therapeutic punctures, ensuring comprehensive patient management. He specializes in interventional endoscopy (ERCP, EUS) and the use of advanced imaging techniques for the diagnosis of gastrointestinal diseases.

The physician possesses extensive clinical experience and adopts a patient-centered approach. He firmly believes in thorough investigation of each case and in building a trust-based relationship with his patients, providing high-standard medical care based on German organizational standards and medical ethics.

Oikonomaki - Vouroukou Eleni is a Gastroenterologist - Hepatologist who graduated from the General High School of Neapoli Lasithi and the Medical School of the University of Messina, Italy, with the grade "Excellent with Honors." During her medical studies, she completed an experimental thesis titled "Application of Lasers in the Treatment of Technical Injuries in Experimental Animals." In February 1989, she obtained a Medical Practice License in Italy after passing the required examinations, which was automatically recognized in Greece. She fulfilled her Rural Service at the Malies Ierapestrás rural clinic and the Ierapestrás Health Center. She served as a resident physician in the Internal Medicine Clinic of the University Hospital of Heraklion for her basic training in internal medicine and subsequently served as a resident physician in the University Gastroenterology Clinic of the same hospital. In May 1998, she successfully passed the specialty examinations in Gastroenterology – Hepatology. She then worked for two years as an unpaid Scientific Collaborator in the activities of the University Gastroenterology Clinic, specifically in hepatology. She worked as a gastroenterologist for six years at the Medical Center of Crete, Heraklion Diagnostic Center, and as the head of the endoscopy department. Additionally, she was the head of the endoscopy department at the Agios Georgios clinic for several years. Since then, she has been operating her private practice in Heraklion at 8 Arkonisou Street in Nea Alikarnassos, equipped with a fully equipped endoscopy department where endoscopies are performed (Gastroscopy – Colonoscopy – Polyp removal).

Orfanidou Afroditi is a Gastroenterologist - Hepatologist and maintains a private practice in Glyka Nera. She holds a PhD from the Medical School of the University of Ioannina and graduated from the Medical School of the University of Crete. She specialized in Gastroenterology at the University Gastroenterology Clinic of the General Hospital of Athens "Laiko".

She has attended the Clinical Hepatology School of the Hellenic Association for the Study of the Liver, the Educational Seminar on Inflammatory Bowel Diseases of the Hellenic Group for the Study of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, and the Endoscopy School of the Hellenic Gastroenterological Society. She maintains an active scientific presence, participating in Greek and international conferences with oral and written presentations, as well as publications in international scientific journals.

She possesses clinical experience in the diagnosis and management of the entire spectrum of digestive system diseases, with particular interest in inflammatory bowel diseases and diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopy. Additionally, she collaborates with private polyclinics where she performs gastrointestinal endoscopies.

She is a member of the Athens Medical Association, the Hellenic Gastroenterological Society, the Hellenic Group for the Study of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, and the Professional Association of Gastroenterologists of Greece.

Dr. Koukias Nikolaos is a Gastroenterologist with a private practice in Patras. He graduated from the Medical School of the University of Patras and received further training at renowned digestive endoscopy centers at the Royal Free Hospital in London and Jichi Medical University Hospital in Japan. He specialized in the Gastroenterology Clinic of the University Hospital of Patras. He worked for four years in London, initially as a Clinical and Scientific Associate and later as a Consultant in the University Gastroenterology and Hepatology Clinic at the Royal Free Hospital. Within the framework of his research work, he has participated in 26 publications in international scientific journals, while to date, 301 scientific publications (journals and books) have cited the results of his work. He is a member of the European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.

Georgios Anagnostopoulos is a Gastroenterologist who sees patients in Marousi at the "Mitera" Clinic. He holds a medical degree from the Medical School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and completed his Gastroenterology specialty at the 251 General Air Force Hospital. In 2002, he received a scholarship from the Hellenic Society of Gastroenterology and pursued advanced training as an Advanced Endoscopy Research Fellow at the Wolfson Digestive Diseases Centre, University of Nottingham, UK, and the Endoscopy Department, University of Mainz, Germany. His training focused on advanced micro-endoscopic diagnostic and therapeutic techniques such as magnifying endoscopy, chromoendoscopy, Narrow Band Imaging, confocal endomicroscopy, autofluorescence endoscopy, endoscopic mucosal resection, and photodynamic therapy for Barrett’s esophagus. A considerable number of his studies have been published in reputable peer-reviewed international medical journals. He has more than 100 presentations at Greek and international conferences and continues to frequently publish articles in the Greek press. It is noteworthy that his primary interests include the monitoring of patients with Barrett’s esophagus and ulcerative colitis, as well as the endoscopic evaluation of patients with precancerous lesions in the gastrointestinal tract (dysplasia). Furthermore, he specializes in complex polypectomies of flat polyps (endoscopic mucosal resection), ablation of Barrett’s esophagus epithelium using radiofrequency ablation (HALO), and obesity treatment through the revolutionary endoscopic AspireAssist method.

Gastroenterologist - Hepatologist with experience in diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopies of the upper and lower gastrointestinal tract, esophageal motility studies (achalasia), idiopathic inflammatory bowel diseases (Crohn's disease, Ulcerative Colitis)

Dr. Stefanos Tingas is a Gastroenterologist – Hepatologist – Interventional Endoscopist. In 2010, he graduated from the Medical School of the distinguished “Tor Vergata” University in Rome. After completing his military service as a military doctor with the 32nd Marine Brigade, he worked as a rural doctor at the Health Center of Sofades in Karditsa, then as a Primary Care Physician at the Vittorakis Polyclinic in Platanias, Chania, and as a sports doctor for the sports medicine company “Actionmed.”He began his specialization in gastroenterology at the 2nd Oncology Clinic of the General Oncology Hospital of Kifisia “Agioi Anargyroi,” where he completed the general internal medicine portion of his training. He then continued his gastroenterology specialization at the General Hospital of Piraeus “Tzaneio,” where he earned the title of Specialist in Gastroenterology and Hepatology.During his specialty training and overall tenure at “Tzaneio” General Hospital, he acquired significant expertise in interventional endoscopy, including techniques such as removal of large polyps, EMR (Endoscopic Mucosal Resection), small bowel investigation with capsule endoscopy, placement of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG), hemostasis of bleeding ulcers, esophageal variceal band ligation, and cauterization of angiodysplasias and other lesions using Argon Plasma Coagulation (APC).Dr. Tingas has also been trained in high-definition endoscopy (Narrow Band Imaging - NBI chromoendoscopy) for the prevention and early diagnosis of early-stage cancer and precancerous conditions of the digestive tract.He has gained extensive experience in managing patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis), as well as liver diseases, actively participating in the hospital’s hepatology outpatient clinic.Dr. Stefanos Tingas has participated in numerous conferences and seminars and has authored publications in both international and Greek medical journals. He has successfully completed and been certified by the Endoscopy School and the Clinical Hepatology School. He currently works as the Scientific Director of the Gastroenterology and Endoscopy Department at “Affidea” Diagnostic Center in Kallithea and as a collaborating Gastroenterologist at REA Maternity Hospital.

Ο Αθανασόπουλος Νικόλαος είναι Γαστρεντερολόγος - Ηπατολόγος - Επεμβατικός Ενδοσκόπος και διατηρεί ιδιωτικό ιατρείο στον Πειραιά. Σπούδασε στην Ιατρική Σχολή του Εθνικού και Καποδιστριακού Πανεπιστημίου Αθηνών. Πραγματοποίησε την ειδικότητα της Γαστρεντερολογίας στο Γενικό Κρατικό Νοσοκομείο Νίκαιας. Έχει πλήρη εξειδίκευση και μετεκπαίδευση σε όλες σχεδόν τις πτυχές της ειδικότητας. Έχει μετεκπαιδευτεί στον τομέα της επεμβατικής ενδοσκόπησης στο Ευρωπαϊκό Ενδοσκοπικό Εκπαιδευτικό Κέντρο του Πανεπιστημιακού Νοσοκομείου της Ρώμης "Universita Cattolica del Sacro Cuore" και στο περίφημο Ενδοσκοπικό Κέντρο Εκπαίδευσης των Βρυξελλών (πολυπεκτομές, αντιμετώπιση οξείας αιμορραγίας ανωτέρου και κατωτέρου πεπτικού, αντιμετώπιση περιπτώσεων ενσφήνωσης βλωμού, τοποθέτηση ενδοσκοπικής γαστροστομίας, οισοφαγικών και εντερικών stent, ERCP). Επίσης, διαθέτει σημαντική κλινική εμπειρία στις κινητικές παθήσεις του γαστρεντερικού συστήματος, καθώς ο ιατρός ήταν αναπόσπαστο μέλος του Εργαστηρίου Κινητικών Διαταραχών της Γαστρεντερολογικής Κλινικής του Πανεπιστημίου Αθηνών. Μακρόχρονη και βαθιά είναι η εμπειρία και η γνώση που έχει αποκτηθεί στην Ιδιοπαθή Φλεγμονώδη Εντερική Νόσο, καθώς είχε την τύχη να θητεύσει κατά τα χρόνια της ειδίκευσής του στο τριτοβάθμιο ειδικό κέντρο για φλεγμονώδη νοσήματα του Γενικού Νοσοκομείου Νίκαιας, ένα από τα ελάχιστα κέντρα αναφοράς ΙΦΕΝ (ελκώδης κολίτιδα και νόσος Crohn) στη χώρα μας. Ο ιατρός έχει επίσης μετεκπαιδευθεί στην κλινική ηπατολογία, έχοντας παρακολουθήσει τις εργασίες του 4ου Σχολείου Κλινικής Ηπατολογίας κατά το ακαδημαϊκό έτος 2010 - 2011. Η συνεχής και άσβεστη επιστημονική και ερευνητική του δίψα αποδεικνύεται από το πλήθος δημοσιευμένων εργασιών, ανακοινώσεων, διαλέξεων, ομιλιών σε ελληνικά και ξένα περιοδικά και συνέδρια, καθώς και από τη συμμετοχή σε διεθνείς πολυκεντρικές μελέτες για την αναζήτηση και έρευνα νέων φαρμακευτικών θεραπειών που αφορούν κυρίως στις νόσους της ελκώδους κολίτιδας, νόσου Crohn και ηπατίτιδας B και C. Το μεγαλύτερο όμως παράσημο στην ως τώρα ζωή και καριέρα του θεωρεί ότι είναι η ίδρυση και συμμετοχή σε μια ανθρωπιστική οργάνωση, που ονομάζεται "ΔΩΣΕ ΕΛΠΙΔΑ", που ως στόχο έχει την δωρεάν και ανιδιοτελή παροχή βοήθειας σε χρόνιους πάσχοντες από νεοπλασματικά και μη νοσήματα. Αποτελεί ιδρυτικό στέλεχος και είναι αντιπρόεδρος του οργανισμού από το 2010.

Koutsounas Ioannis is a Gastroenterologist with a private practice in Athens (Nea Filothei area). He is an honored PhD graduate of the Medical School of Athens and an alumnus of the Medical School of Ioannina. He has undergone advanced training in Digestive Endoscopy techniques at the internationally renowned John Radcliffe University Hospital in Oxford, United Kingdom, as a scholar of the Hellenic Gastroenterological Society. He obtained his specialization in Gastroenterology at the "Laiko" and "Sismanogleio" Hospitals in Athens, and his experience has also been enriched at major hospitals and centers abroad, such as John Radcliffe (Oxford), Queen Alexandra (Portsmouth), and the Bank of Cyprus Oncology Center (Nicosia). Currently, he holds the position of University Fellow (full-time salaried collaborator, equivalent to an attending physician) in the 3rd Medical Clinic of the Medical School of the University of Athens at "Sotiria" Hospital, within the Gastroenterology Department, where he works during morning hours. Additionally, he is one of the few gastroenterologists in Greece who holds the European Diploma in Gastroenterology and Hepatology (European Section and Board of Gastroenterology and Hepatology) after examinations. He is a member of various Greek and international scientific societies and associations, has participated in numerous gastroenterology-related conferences and seminars, and has a notable publication record in international journals. He possesses significant experience and skill in Diagnostic and Therapeutic Digestive Endoscopy (Polypectomies - EMR, Dilations, Endoscopic Hemostasis), resulting from the high-standard training he has received abroad.

Kasapidis Panagiotis MD, PhD, AGAF, FEBGH is a Gastroenterologist - Hepatologist, Director of the Gastroenterology Clinic and the Endoscopy Department at the "White Cross" Clinic. He graduated from the Medical School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and holds a doctoral degree. He is also a Fellow of the European Board of Gastroenterology and Hepatology (FEBGH) and a Fellow of the American Gastroenterological Association (AGAF). He initially specialized in Internal Medicine at the Naval Hospital of Athens and subsequently in Gastroenterology at the Gastroenterology Department of the General State Hospital of Athens. He received further training as a Clinical Researcher, supported by a fellowship from the Hellenic Gastroenterological Society, at the Gastroenterology Department of Saint Bartholomew's Hospital, University of London, United Kingdom. He then served for five years as Consultant and Clinical Researcher at the Gastroenterology Department of the General State Hospital of Athens. For 20 years, he served as Director of the Gastroenterology Clinic and the Endoscopy Department of the Central Clinic of Athens. Since 1991, he has actively participated in seminars, symposia, round tables, live endoscopic demonstrations, postgraduate seminars, and has been invited as a speaker and chairperson at national and international conferences. Lastly, he is the author of numerous foreign (English-language) publications in prestigious international gastroenterology journals. He is also a trainer of his colleagues in interventional endoscopic gastroenterological procedures. He served as president of the Professional Association of Gastroenterologists of Greece (EPEGE) for nine years.

Karatzas Pantelis is a Gastroenterologist who maintains a private practice in the Ampelokipoi area. He completed his doctoral dissertation at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and holds a Medical degree from the same university. He received advanced training in Gastrointestinal Endoscopy at the University of Hamburg, Germany, and specialized in Gastroenterology at "Evangelismos" Hospital and in General Pathology at the General Hospital of Chalkida. He is a university fellow at the University Gastroenterology Clinic of the General Hospital of Athens "Laiko" and has served as a scientific collaborator at the University Hepatogastroenterology-Endoscopy Unit of the University General Hospital “Attikon.” Furthermore, he is a member of numerous scientific societies, has attended numerous Greek and international conferences, participated in many specialized seminars, and has publications and written presentations both in Greece and abroad.