Health professionals for Obesity in Athens

Η Δρ. Ευφροσύνη Δρακοπούλου είναι Παθολόγος και απόφοιτος της Ιατρικής Σχολής του Πανεπιστημίου Αθηνών. Έχει ειδικευτεί στην Εσωτερική Παθολογία στο Γενικό Νοσοκομείο "Ο Ευαγγελισμός" και έχει ολοκληρώσει μεταπτυχιακές σπουδές στην Εθνική Σχολή Δημόσιας Υγείας. Διαθέτει πολυετή κλινική και νοσοκομειακή εμπειρία, καθώς και εξειδίκευση στην Ηπατολογία, τη Μεταβολική Ιατρική, την Παχυσαρκία, την Προληπτική Ιατρική και τη Μακροζωία (Longevity Medicine). Διατηρεί το ιδιωτικό της ιατρείο στο Κολωνάκι όπου παρέχει ολοκληρωμένη ιατρική φροντίδα ενηλίκων με έμφαση στην πρόληψη, την έγκαιρη διάγνωση και τη σύγχρονη θεραπευτική αντιμετώπιση παθολογικών νοσημάτων. Επιπλέον, παρέχει και κατ’ οίκον επισκέψεις κατόπιν συνεννόησης για ασθενείς με δυσκολία μετακίνησης ή για όσους επιθυμούν με στόχο την ασφαλή και εξατομικευμένη ιατρική φροντίδα.

Η Σακαρέλλου Σταυρούλα,MSc είναι Ψυχολόγος με άδεια ασκήσεως επαγγέλματος και εκπαιδευόμενη στη Γνωσιακή Συμπεριφορική Θεραπεία (ΓΣΘ) στο Αιγινήτειο Νοσοκομείο καθώς και στη Συστιμική Ψυχοθεραπεία στο ΑΚΜΑ. 

Είναι απόφοιτη του Τμήματος Ψυχολογίας με κατεύθυνση Κλινική Ψυχολογία του University of Kent (BSc) και κατέχει Μεταπτυχιακό Τίτλο Σπουδών (MSc) στη Γνωστική Νευροεπιστήμη και Νευροψυχολογία από το ίδιο πανεπιστήμιο.

Έχει ολοκληρώσει επιπλέον εκπαιδεύσεις στη στη Σχολική Ψυχολογία και στη θεραπευτική αντιμετώπιση Διατροφικών Διαταραχών και Παχυσαρκίας, ενώ βρίσκεται σε συνεχή κλινική εκπαίδευση και εποπτεία.

Έχει αποκτήσει κλινική εμπειρία σε δημόσιες και ιδιωτικές δομές ψυχικής υγείας. Συγκεκριμένα, έχει εργαστεί στο Πανεπιστημιακό Γενικό Νοσοκομείο ΑΤΤΙΚΟΝ, συμμετέχοντας στην ψυχολογική αξιολόγηση και υποστήριξη ασθενών, καθώς και στη διεπιστημονική συνεργασία στο πλαίσιο νοσοκομειακής φροντίδας. Επιπλέον, έχει συνεργαστεί με ιδιωτικές δομές, όπως το Thalpos, παρέχοντας ψυχολογική υποστήριξη σε ενήλικες.

Παράλληλα, εργάζεται ως online ψυχολόγος στην πλατφόρμα HIWELL, προσφέροντας συνεδρίες εξ αποστάσεως. Έχει επίσης εμπειρία στη χορήγηση και ανάλυση ψυχομετρικών εργαλείων (MMPI-II) μέσω της συνεργασίας της με το MED24.

Έχει παρακολουθήσει πληθώρα σεμιναρίων στον τομέα της ψυχικής υγείας και της κλινικής ψυχολογίας. Στο θεραπευτικό της έργο εφαρμόζει επιστημονικά τεκμηριωμένες παρεμβάσεις, προσαρμοσμένες στις ανάγκες του κάθε θεραπευόμενου.

Πιστεύει ότι η θεραπεία είναι μια διαδικασία αυτογνωσίας και ενδυνάμωσης, η οποία, παρότι συχνά συνοδεύεται από αβεβαιότητα ή φόβο στην αρχή, μπορεί να αποτελέσει ένα ουσιαστικό βήμα προς την κατανόηση του εαυτού και την αλλαγή. Μέσα σε ένα ασφαλές και υποστηρικτικό πλαίσιο, στόχος είναι να αναγνωριστούν μοτίβα σκέψης και συμπεριφοράς, να καλλιεργηθεί η ψυχική ανθεκτικότητα και να δοκιμαστούν νέοι, πιο λειτουργικοί τρόποι αντιμετώπισης της καθημερινότητας.

Anna Gavrieli is a Dietitian - Nutritionist and operates a dietetic office, the Nutrition Studio, in Ampelokipi (Athens Tower / Hippocrates) in Athens. She is a graduate and PhD holder from Harokopio University, with postdoctoral training at Harvard Medical School/BIDMC. Additionally, she is a former research lead for Compass (BAMCO) at Google. She provides a wide range of nutritional support services for health, various conditions, and different life stages, but focuses on habit change for weight loss and weight loss maintenance. She firmly believes that lifestyle habit changes are the key for individuals to take control of their weight and health. Her philosophy is that in order for someone to achieve long-lasting results, they must change the habits that lead to problematic behaviors and consequently weight gain. Her goal is to investigate problematic habits and pleasantly restructure new ones based on existing behaviors. In this way, long-term maintenance of results can be achieved, allowing the individual to enjoy a healthy weight and an improved lifestyle.

Florou Athina is a Dietitian - Nutritionist and maintains a private practice in the Zografou area. She graduated from the Department of Dietetics and Nutrition Science at Harokopio University of Athens in 2022, successfully completing her undergraduate studies. During her internship at the 251 General Airforce Hospital, she gained valuable knowledge and experience in nutrition support, designing personalized diet plans, nutritional counseling, and assessing patients' nutritional status. She continued her studies at University College London (UCL), where she obtained a master's degree in Eating Disorders and Clinical Nutrition with distinction. As part of her postgraduate education, she worked at St Ann’s Hospital/Eating Disorder Service, making a significant contribution to the rehabilitation of patients with eating disorders. Athina is a member of the Panhellenic Association of Dietitians-Nutritionists (PSDΔD), the European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (ESPEN), and the Association for Nutrition (AfN) in the UK. She has experience in managing clinical cases through collaboration with physicians of various specialties in both hospital and private settings. She applies individualized nutritional interventions based on scientific evidence, aiming for the holistic support of health.

As part of her active involvement in international scientific networks, she participates as a member of the Working Group of the European project HEALTH UP! of EFAD (European Federation of the Associations of Dietitians), contributing to the scientifically substantiated evaluation and updating of the Guide on Eating Disorders, aiming to enhance dietetic care practice at the European level.

Lampros Kontogiannis is a Dietitian - Nutritionist - Pediatric Nutritionist - Metabolism Specialist and operates a private dietetic office: "Scientific Metabolism Center" in Sepolia, next to the Attiki metro station. He holds a degree from the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics at the Higher Technological Educational Institute of Thessaloniki. In 1997, he moved to the United Kingdom, where he attended specialized seminars at the Department of Clinical Psychology, "Eating Disorder," with a project titled “Anorexia Nervosa” at the private British College "British College." Simultaneously, he participated in a postgraduate program specializing in Counseling and Integrative Psychotherapy, MSc in "Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy" at the University of Derby. Currently, he has completed his specialization in systemic family therapy and couples therapy. He expanded his studies in childhood obesity at the Agia Sophia Children's Hospital - Panagiotis & Aglaia Kyriakou and, as a pediatric dietitian, participated in a four-year research study by the World Health Organization, under the auspices of the Ministry of Education in 2011, undertaking the study and documentation of anthropometric data of children from various primary schools in Athens to produce results related to childhood obesity in Greece. Subsequently, he completed the pediatric dietetics program and earned the title of Master Nutritionist in Pediatric Nutrition. He has been trained in quality control and taste evaluation and apprenticed under a specialized Tibetan teacher, knowledgeable in Tibetan medicine, focusing on neuropathy and chiropractic. Finally, the dietitian-nutritionist combines two disciplines, offering a holistic approach and solution by investigating psychological, physical, and spiritual factors, providing a comprehensive assessment and advice tailored to the individual needs of each patient.

Anastopoulou Filippa is a Psychologist (MSc) offering online sessions. She holds a degree from the Department of Applied Psychology at the University of Derby and a postgraduate qualification in Clinical Psychology and Counseling. She continually enhances her knowledge through specialized seminars on mental health and psychotherapy topics, while also undergoing training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). She is a member of the Cyprus Association of Cognitive Behavioral Psychotherapists (S.G.S.P.K.) and the EABCT. She possesses significant clinical experience, having worked in mental health facilities, including a Psychiatry department, providing support to individuals with various psychological difficulties. Her work focuses on the management of anxiety, somatoform and depressive disorders, grief, addictions, and other mental health issues. With scientific training and a person-centered approach, she delivers high-quality psychological support and therapy services.

Mastorantonakis Stylianos is a Pathologist - Hypertension Specialist with a private practice in the Ampelokipoi area. He holds a PhD from the University of Athens focusing on morning blood pressure increase, graduated from the Medical School of the University of Crete, and specialized in Pathology at the 3rd University Pathology Clinic in Athens. He has expertise in hypertension, following training initially at the STRIDE Hellas-7 Hypertension Center of the 3rd University Pathology Clinic at the General Chest Diseases Hospital of Athens "Sotiria," and subsequently at the clinical and research International Circulatory Health Center (ICCH) of Imperial College London. In recent years, he has collaborated with Hygeia Hospital as a pathologist for patient hospitalization. He sees patients in his practice for pathology issues, with a special interest in the diagnosis of arterial hypertension, investigation of secondary hypertension, accurate blood pressure measurements, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, monitoring, and therapeutic management of blood pressure. Finally, the doctor is a member of the European Society of Hypertension and has served as secretary of the Hellenic Society of Cardiovascular Health.

Doksastaki Anna is a Psychotherapist specializing in Psychoanalytic Art Therapy and runs the private practice "Art Can Talk Dramatherapy and Wellness Centre" in Heraklion, Crete. She completed postgraduate studies in Applied Theatre "Applied Drama: Theatre in Education, Community and Society" at the University of London, as well as in Psychoanalytic Dramatherapy at Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge. Her training is based on a psychodynamic approach, and consequently, her clinical practice is rooted in psychoanalytic theory. During her stay in the United Kingdom until 2015, she worked in numerous organizations, theatres, counseling centers, and schools as a Theatre Facilitator, Dramatherapist, and Director. The main focus of her studies, academic research, and professional experience is depression and anxiety disorders in children and adults. Additionally, she has conducted research on the beneficial effects of art and play in health crisis situations and has led workshops in Greece and the UK on managing anxiety and grief through creative activities.

Manta Dimitra is a Mental Health Counselor - Psychotherapist with private practices in Kolonaki and Agios Stefanos. She completed her undergraduate studies in Business Administration at the University of Portsmouth and gained extensive experience working in human resources and organizational management departments. Through this path, she realized the crucial role that psychological needs play in everyday life as well as the importance of managing personality elements. Consequently, she specialized in Business Psychology and pursued postgraduate studies in Counseling and Psychotherapy at the University of East London. Psychotherapeutically, she works integratively, adapting her knowledge to the unique needs of each individual, with a priority on creating a stable and safe environment in which the client feels comfortable trusting their inner self. She has specialized in anxiety disorders, self-development, and healthy relationships, and through group work, focuses on assertive behavior, self-awareness, and emotional attachment. Finally, considering education to be a continuous process, she consistently engages in professional development by attending training programs, seminars, conferences, and workshops.

Markada Al Xasount Aleksandra is a Dietitian practicing in Galatsi. She studied at the University of Hertfordshire and has worked as a Dietitian at the Cardiology Clinic of the University General Hospital "Attikon" and at Metaxa Hospital. She possesses extensive experience and manages issues such as the management of diabetes mellitus, obesity, eating disorders, nutritional counseling, clinical nutrition, and more.

Papalazarou Karolos - Epicurean Diet is a Dietitian - Nutritionist who maintains a private practice in Kolonaki, while concurrently serving as the Head Dietitian of the Cardiometabolic - Diabetology Center at Metropolitan Hospital, as well as the Head of the Dietitian Department at Therapis General Hospital. He holds a degree from the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics of the School of Food Technology and Nutrition in Thessaloniki and has specializations in diabetes mellitus, clinical dietetics, and eating disorders. The dietitian office in Kolonaki offers personalized nutrition programs in a pleasant and familiar environment. Specifically, specialized nutrition programs are provided for children, adolescents, adults, elderly individuals, pregnant/lactating women, and athletes. Additionally, nutritional monitoring is offered for pathological conditions such as obesity, anorexia nervosa and other eating disorders, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, cardiovascular diseases, gastrointestinal diseases, nephropathies, and cholecystopathies.

Anastasiou Savvina is a Psychologist and Scientific Director at the Psychotherapeutic Center - Multipurpose Space Animus Corpus, located in Ilisia. She holds a degree in Psychology from the Department of Psychology at Panteion University and received further training in Clinical Psychopathology at the Athens University Hospital "Aiginiteio." Additionally, she has attended educational seminars on Psychotraumatology, a Counseling Psychology workshop, as well as training in the MMPI-II Personality Test. The psychotherapeutic interventions she applies include Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy and EMDR. Finally, she is a member of the Hellenic Psychological Society and the Hellenic Olympians Association, due to her distinction in Synchronized Swimming.

Galazoula Georgia is a Psychologist and a certified Gestalt Psychotherapist, specializing in individual psychotherapy for adults and adolescents. Through the therapeutic relationship, she provides space for individuals to express themselves, gain greater self-awareness, and be empowered to approach their personal choices and challenges with increased clarity and freedom. Throughout her therapeutic practice, she has supported individuals facing anxiety, panic attacks, self-esteem issues, psychosomatic difficulties, relational challenges, as well as periods of existential searching or personal transitions. In her professional journey, she regularly participates in individual and group supervision to ensure the quality and ethical integrity of the therapeutic process. Concurrently, she herself engages in individual and group psychotherapy, viewing continuous personal work as a fundamental pillar for her development and authenticity as a psychotherapist. Her approach is experiential and focused on the here and now, emphasizing authentic contact and respecting the pace of each client. Her goal is to cultivate a therapeutic relationship founded on trust, where the individual can feel acceptance and safety, enabling a deeper connection with the self and fostering new ways of understanding and managing their life.

Dr. Kiortsis Dimitrios, Endocrinologist - Diabetologist, is a Professor at the Medical School of the University of Ioannina. He maintains private clinics in Athens and Ioannina. He specialized in Paris at the university hospitals Pitie-Salpetriere, Saint Louis, Hotel Dieu, Trousseau, and Cochin. He holds a three-year diploma in Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases (DU Paris V). He earned his PhD through collaboration between the Universities of Paris (Paris VI) and Athens. He has 35 years of experience across the full spectrum of endocrinological disorders, with particular expertise in obesity and metabolic diseases. He is a European-certified specialist and trainer of new physicians in obesity (European Scope). He has served as President of the Hellenic Medical Society for Obesity and is currently President of the Hellenic Society of Metabolism, Nutrition, and Well-being. His original research work includes over 200 publications in international journals, and he has authored numerous chapters in international and Greek books. His work has received multiple awards. He continues his research in collaboration with leading institutions in Europe and the USA. His clinic offers a fully personalized approach to all endocrinological disorders, with an emphasis on the contemporary therapeutic management of metabolic diseases and obesity. Combining academic research with extensive clinical experience, his goal is to improve patient quality of life through scientifically substantiated knowledge.

Η Καψάλη Χαρά είναι Ενδοκρινολόγος και διατηρεί ιδιωτικό ιατρείο στους Αμπελόκηπους. Σπούδασε στην Ιατρική Σχολή του Πανεπιστημίου Πατρών, με εξάμηνη φοίτηση στην Ιατρική Σχολή του Πανεπιστημίου “Goethe university Frankfurt” στη Φρανκφούρτη της Γερμανίας. Στο πλαίσιο της ειδικότητας, εργάστηκε δύο χρόνια ως ειδικευόμενη παθολογίας στο ΓΝΑ «Σισμανόγλειο-Αμαλία Φλέμινγκ» και, εν συνεχεία, ειδικεύτηκε στην Ενδοκρινολογία στη Μονάδα Ενδοκρινολογίας και Κέντρο Μεταβολισμού και Σακχαρώδη Διαβήτη στο ΓΝΑ «Γεώργιος Γεννηματάς». Κατά τη διάρκεια της ειδικότητας εκπαιδεύτηκε επίσης στο Πανεπιστημιακό Τμήμα Κλιμακτηρίου και Εμμηνόπαυσης στη Β΄ Μαιευτική και Γυναικολογική Κλινική του «Αρεταιείου» Νοσοκομείου Αθηνών, στην αντιμετώπιση ενδοκρινοπαθειών κατά την κύηση στο Γ.Ν «Έλενα Βενιζέλου», και στο Ενδοκρινολογικό Τμήμα Αύξησης Ανάπτυξης στο Γ.Ν.Π.Α. «Παναγιώτη και Αγλαΐας Κυριακού». Πραγματοποιεί μεταπτυχιακές σπουδές στη Γυναικεία Αναπαραγωγή στο Εθνικό & Καποδιστριακό Πανεπιστήμιο Αθηνών και έχει αναλάβει το συντονισμό πολυκεντρικής μελέτης που αφορά στην βλαπτική επίδραση της αλδοστερόνης σε ασθενείς με σακχαρώδη διαβήτη. Διαθέτει, επίσης, πιστοποιήσεις στην προνοσοκομειακή παροχή πρώτων βοηθειών:«ATLS» από το Αμερικάνικο Κολλέγιο Χειρουργών και «ALS» από την Ελληνική Εταιρεία Καρδιοαναπνευστικής Αναζωογόνησης. Έχει εκπαιδευτεί και διαθέτει μεγάλη κλινική εμπειρία σε μεγάλο εύρος ενδοκρινολογικών παθήσεων, συμπεριλαμβανομένων του σακχαρώδη διαβήτη, των νοσημάτων θυρεοειδούς και παραθυρεοειδών αδένων, της οστεοπόρωσης και των νοσημάτων του μεταβολισμού ασβεστίου, των διαταραχών εμμήνου ρύσεως και εμμηνόπαυσης, του υπογοναδισμού, των νοσημάτων των επινεφριδίων και της υπόφυσης, της ενδοκρινικής υπέρτασης, της παχυσαρκίας, των διαταραχών λιπιδίων, και των ενδοκρινοπαθειών κατά την κύηση. Επιπλέον, κατά τη διάρκεια της πανδημίας covid-19, προσέφερε τις ιατρικές της υπηρεσίες με εφημέρευση στο τμήμα Covid της Α΄ Παθολογικής κλινικής του ΓΝΑ «Γ. Γεννηματάς». Έχει συμμετάσχει σε ελληνικά και διεθνή συνέδρια Ενδοκρινολογίας και Διαβήτη και σε δημοσιεύσεις σε έγκυρα ιατρικά περιοδικά. Τέλος, διατελεί μέλος της Ελληνικής Ενδοκρινολογικής Εταιρείας.

Απο το 2022 έως το 2024 είχε αναλάβει ως επιστημονικά υπεύθυνη το ενδοκρινολογικο τμήμα του ιδιωτικού πολυιατρείου "Doctor hall" στην Καλλιθέα. Επίσης από το 2023 διατελεί επιστημονική συνεργάτης της Accurate health auditing and consulting AE.