Health professionals with experience in Obesity in the Northern suburbs of Athens

Dr. Ioannis Virlos is a General Surgeon who maintains a private practice in Glyfada. He graduated from the Medical School of Alexandroupolis, Democritus University of Thrace, obtaining his medical degree in 1990. In 2000, he earned a Master’s degree in Surgical Sciences (MSc in Surgical Sciences) as well as a Diploma from Imperial College London (Diploma Imperial College), United Kingdom. In 2009, he was awarded a Doctorate (Medical Doctorate) from the University of Manchester, UK.He has been a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (FRCSEd.) since 1998 and of the Intercollegiate Board in Surgery of the United Kingdom (FRCS (Gen Surg)) since 2008. Since 2011, he has been a Fellow of the European Board of Surgery in the field of Colorectal Surgery (FEBS (Coloproctology)).Dr Ioannis Virlos is a specialized colorectal and bariatric surgeon, also trained in minimally invasive surgery — both laparoscopic and robotic. He has received training not only in Greece but also in the United Kingdom, Australia, and Belgium.After completing his military service in 1992, he trained in General Surgery in hospitals in Athens and the United Kingdom between 1992 and 1999, obtaining his specialty title in General Surgery in 1999. From 2002 to 2012, he served as a surgical consultant in hospitals in the UK, Australia, Belgium, and Greece. Specifically, he worked at the following hospitals in the UK: North Middlesex, Arrowe Park, Derriford, Torbay, Exeter, Cheltenham, and North Bristol, as well as at Sir Charles Gairdner University Hospital in Perth, Australia, and Sotiria Hospital in Athens (as Senior Consultant).During the same period, he received advanced training in laparoscopic colorectal surgery and laparoscopic bariatric surgery at Singleton Hospital in Swansea, UK, and Heilighart Ziekenhuis in Roeselare, Belgium.From 2012 to 2021, he worked as a Consultant Surgeon at the following hospitals in the UK: Ealing Hospital, Homerton University Hospital, John Radcliffe & Churchill Hospitals in Oxford, Royal Hampshire County Hospital, Northampton General Hospital, and University Hospitals of Derby and Burton. He returned to Greece in 2021.Since 2023, Mr. Virlos has been the Director of Surgery at Metropolitan General Hospital in Athens. He also serves as the General Secretary of the Hellenic Society of Coloproctology. Finally, for the period 2025–2028, he will represent Greece at the European Society of Coloproctology.

Gkougkoulia Anna is a Dietitian - Nutritionist and maintains a private practice in Vrilissia. She holds a degree in Nutrition (BSc in Human Nutrition) from the University of Westminster, London, and a Master's degree (MSc) in "Applied Dietetics - Nutrition" with a specialization in "Nutrition and Public Health" from Harokopio University of Athens. She is a member of the UK Voluntary Register of Nutritionists, the Panhellenic Association of Dietitians - Nutritionists, and the Hellenic Atherosclerosis Society, and has contributed presentations and papers at conferences.

Anna Georgiou BSc, MSc is a Dietitian-Nutritionist and maintains a private practice in Agia Paraskevi. She holds a degree from the Dietetics department of Queen Margaret University in Scotland and a postgraduate degree in "Applied Dietetics and Nutrition" from Harokopio University of Athens. She has worked as a Clinical Dietitian at the Athens Medical Center, and currently, in addition to her private practice, she works as a Dietitian-Nutritionist at IASIS Medical Diagnostic Centers. Finally, she is a regular member of the Hellenic Association of Dietitians-Nutritionists.

Manolopoulou Thomi is a Clinical Psychologist - Psychoanalyst and maintains a private practice in Ampelokipoi. She studied Psychology at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and subsequently pursued postgraduate studies in Clinical Psychology and Psychopathology as well as in "Psychoanalysis and Social Field" at the University of Paris. Additionally, she has trained in Psychoanalysis at the Psychoanalysis School of the Lacanian Field Forums in Paris and is a member of the clinical training committee of the Athens Forum (Psychoanalysis School of the Lacanian Field Forums), serving as a lecturer and seminar facilitator. She has extensive clinical experience, having worked both in Greece and abroad in hospitals, NGOs, and other institutions, such as the Psychiatric Hospital of Prémontré in France (where she holds a position as Clinical Psychologist and seminar facilitator), the Intensive Psychiatric Care Unit of Château-Thierry Prisons, and the Reception Center for Refugees and Asylum Seekers in Thessaloniki. Simultaneously, she provides supervision to trainee Psychoanalysts, Clinical Psychologists, Psychiatrists, and Educators.

Miliordou Kristi MBA, MSc, MBPsS is a Psychologist, Psychotherapist - Sports Psychologist - Psychotherapy for Adolescents and Adults and maintains a private practice in Marousi. She is a Psychology graduate of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens with further training in Cognitive-Behavioral Psychotherapy at Aiginiteio Hospital and in Health Psychology, holds a Certificate in Psychology for High Performance Sports, and a Professional Diploma in Neurobiology and Psychology in Team Sports from Barca Innovation Hub, Universitas. Additionally, she has specialized in Health Unit Management, Sports Management, and Marketing. Currently, she works as an independent professional psychologist at her office in Marousi, as a Sports Psychologist at the Olympiacos BC Academy, and as an external collaborator-psychologist for employees through the company Hellas EAP. Furthermore, she participates in conferences related to Mental Health and has created the asynchronous seminar "Small Movements - Big Changes, The Beginning of a New Life," focusing on integrating exercise and movement into daily life.

Together with her colleagues at the office, they operate as a Team with continuous collaboration and supervision, offering scientifically substantiated and high-quality care.

Xantzaridis Petros is a Military Dietitian - Nutritionist, founder and Director of the Clinical Diet dietetic office in Agia Paraskevi. He was admitted to the Veterinary Medicine Department of the Military School of Officers Corps (SSAS) in Thessaloniki and was commissioned as an Officer of the Hellenic Army in 1996, having been honored with scholarships and commendations from the State Scholarships Foundation (I.K.Y.). In 2000, he was admitted to the Department of Nutrition & Dietetics of the School of Food Technology & Nutrition at ATEI Thessaloniki and graduated in 2003, again receiving scholarships from I.K.Y. In 2009, he was selected by the Health Directorate of the General Staff of the Army as a recipient of an honorary educational scholarship in the field of Dietetics. The prestigious New York University in the United States selected him among numerous candidates from around the world and accepted him into the Graduate Program of Clinical Nutrition, from which he graduated in 2010 with a Master of Science in Clinical Nutrition, receiving favorable reviews from leading international Nutrition professors. Since 2005, he has served for several years as Director of the Dietetic Department of the 401 General Military Hospital of Athens. His daily management of clinical cases at the 401 General Military Hospital of Athens, his extensive experience, and the breadth of his studies allow him to have a comprehensive understanding of the food chain, nutritional risks, and their proper management both preventively and in clinical settings. Finally, upon requests from Harokopio University of Athens and the Department of Nutrition & Dietetics of the Technological Educational Institute of Crete, he has undertaken the training of many final-year students as part of their practical training.

Keydiet - Katerina Vamvouka and Associates are based in Chalandri. Katerina Vamvouka is a Clinical Dietitian - Nutritionist, graduate of Harokopio University and holder of a postgraduate degree in Public Health and Health Services Administration from the Medical School of the University of Crete. Since 2006, she has maintained a private dietetic office in Chalandri, while in the early years of her career, she served as the scientific head of the dietetic unit at the private hospital "Hygeia" and later at the rehabilitation and recovery center "Filoktitis," gaining extensive experience in predominantly clinical cases with specific nutritional needs. Subsequently, she decided to focus exclusively on managing obesity cases in both adults and children at her private practice, as well as providing counseling and proper guidance for balanced nutrition and exercise, thereby helping many people change their relationship with food and adopt healthier habits and lifestyles. In recent years, she established the Keydiet dietetic unit, where, together with a highly qualified team, she continues to provide dietetic services to an even broader range of cases. Together with her team and always prioritizing the individuality of people and their needs, she personalizes dietary and exercise instructions and strives, through proper guidance, to educate them to adopt a healthier dietary approach that they will maintain over a longer period.

Η κ. Μοναστηριώτη Νικολέττα είναι Ενδοκρινολόγος-Διαβητολόγος και διατηρεί το ιδιωτικό της ιατρείο στη Νέα Κηφισιά. Εχει πραγματοποιήσει την εξειδίκευση της στην Υπερηχογραφίκη εκτίμηση παθήσεων του θυρεοειδούς αδένα, στο αντικαρκινικό νοσοκομείο Πειραιά ''Μεταξά'' και έλαβε την άδεια εκτέλεσης υπερήχων θυρεοειδούς αδένα. Είναι πτυχιούχος της Ιατρικής Σχολής του Πανεπιστημίου Πατρών, απ' όπου και αποφοίτησε το 2013. Ειδικεύτηκε στην Ενδοκρινολογία στη Μονάδα Ενδοκρινολογίας και Κέντρο Μεταβολισμού και Σακχαρώδους Διαβήτη στο Γενικό Νοσοκομείο Αθηνών ''Γεώργιος Γεννηματάς'' και στην Παθολογική κλινική του Γενικού Νοσοκομείου Κέρκυρας. Κατά τη διάρκεια της ειδικότητας της, εκπαιδεύτηκε, επίσης, στο τμήμα Κλιμακτηρίου και Εμμηνόπαυσης στη Β' Μαιευτική και Γυναικολογική Κλινική Πανεπιστημίου Αθηνών, στις Ενδοκρινικές Παθήσεις κατά την Κύηση στο Ενδοκρινολογικό Τμήμα ΓΝ '' Έλενα Βενιζέλου'' και στην Παιδοενδοκρινολογία στο Ενδοκρινολογικό τμήμα Αύξησης και Ανάπτυξης, Γ.Ν.Π.Α ''Παναγιώτη & Αγλαΐας Κυριακού''. Έχει ολοκληρώσει με επιτυχία τον κύκλο μαθημάτων του Προγράμματος Μεταπτυχιακών σπουδών '"Έρευνα στη γυναικεία αναπαραγωγή'' της Ιατρικής Σχολής του Εθνικού & Καποδιστριακού Πανεπιστημίου Αθηνών. Διατελεί μέλος του Ιατρικού Συλλόγου Αθηνών και της Ελληνικής Ενδοκρινολογικής Εταιρείας. Έχει συμμετάσχει σε πληθώρα ελληνικών και διεθνών συνεδρίων και σεμιναρίων Ενδοκρινολογίας και Σακχαρώδους Διαβήτη με συνεχή ενημέρωση για τις εξελίξεις της επιστήμης στον τομέα της. 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. Στο ιατρείο της αντιμετωπίζει εξατομικευμένα και με ενσυναίσθηση τον κάθε ασθενή, με σκοπό την παροχή υψηλού επιπέδου υπηρεσιών.

Stefanakis Lykourgos is a Dietitian-Nutritionist with a private office in Chalandri. He holds a degree in Applied Dietetics from Canterbury Christ Church University and is an accredited member with ISAK level 1, after completing the educational program of the International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry, focusing on Anthropometry. He completed his internship at the Metabolic Self-Regulation and Wellness Center "Homeostasis S.A." He has also attended the specialized program "Sports Nutrition Specialist" by the Academy of Sports Nutrition and is a Scientific Collaborator at Exodos Fitness, where he provides dietary services to athletes. At his private office, Mr. Stefanakis offers a holistic approach to nutrition, combining scientific knowledge with personal interaction. By thoroughly studying the needs of each individual, he designs personalized nutrition programs based on the principles of balanced nutrition.

Piki Eirini works as a psychologist, psychotherapist, family therapist, lecturer and supervisor. She is a member of the ‘Greek Psychological Association’ as well as the ‘Hellenic Association of Systemic Therapy (HELASYTH). She has also obtained the European Certificate in Psychology (EuroPsy), and a work license as a psychologist (No. 5522/07). She completed her undergraduate degree (BSc) at the University of North London and her postgraduate (MA) and doctoral (PhD) studies at Goldsmiths University of London. Furthermore, she completed a training in individual, group and family psychotherapy at the Laboratory for the Study of Human Relations. She has worked for several years in different contexts in the field of psychology, such as in prisons, nursing homes and orphanages. She has given lectures at Goldsmiths University of London (UK) and at Mediterranean College (Greece). Since 2002, she has taken part in several seminars, with the aim of informing either the laymen or specific groups, such as parents, teachers and/or mental health care professionals. Since 2005, she has been working in private practice at her office in Agia Paraskevi, Athens, as a psychologist-psychotherapist for children, adolescents, adults, couples, families, as a group therapist, and also as a supervisor. Moreover, since 2005, she has been cooperating with a number of nurseries and, since 2012, she is in collaboration with the European Network of Women, which is an NGO dealing with issues of interfamilial violence and racial discrimination.

Iliana Papadopoulou is a clinical dietitian-nutritionist with ten years of experience in clinical cases, which she acquired in major hospitals in the United Kingdom. Over the past four years, she has worked exclusively in one of the largest nephrology departments at Manchester Royal Infirmary in the United Kingdom, where she managed a broad range of patients with kidney diseases, supervised, and was the responsible dietitian in dialysis centers. She is recognized as a certified dietitian meeting the requirements set by the Health and Care Professions Council of the United Kingdom and is a member of both the British and Greek Dietetic Associations. Iliana maintains a private practice in Vrilissia. Her primary focus is the nutritional assessment of patients and the provision of nutritional education and guidance by offering personalized dietary programs based on their needs using evidence-based practice. She specializes in kidney diseases and also provides services for other clinical conditions such as gastroenterological and hepatic disorders, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, eating disorders, food intolerances, nutrition across life stages, and particularly in the elderly. Her office also offers body composition analysis and bioelectrical impedance measurement using the globally recognized and accurate Tanita analyzer. Additionally, she provides the capability for immediate communication with patients through a dedicated mobile application.

Iliopoulos Dimitrios MD, PhD is a Specialist in Internal Medicine - Diabetology with a private practice in Marousi. He holds a PhD from the Medical School of the University of Crete. He has specialized training in diabetology and serves as a scientific collaborator at the diabetes center of the 2nd University Clinic at the General Hospital of Athens "Hippokration." He is also an internal medicine collaborator at the "Mitera" Hospital. His primary goal is a patient-friendly approach, thorough clinical examination, and timely diagnosis and management of medical issues. In a simple and explanatory manner, patients fully understand their condition, are informed about the latest medical data, and have any questions addressed. The practice manages a wide range of conditions such as infections, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, metabolic syndrome, and hyperlipidemia (cholesterol). Preventive screening is also conducted, including clinical examinations and the prescription of laboratory and imaging tests. Finally, the physician provides health certificates for sports and work, as well as medical reports for submission to KEPA committees.

Kyriakos K. Trigkidis, MD, MSc is an Internal Medicine and Intensive Care Medicine specialist practising at his private Office in the city of Chalkida, Evia and in the city of Agios Stefanos, Attica (within the premises of "Medica' Medical Centre).

He graduated from the Medical School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and completed, in the same Faculty, the post-graduate programme on the field of Resuscitation receiving a Master in Science (MSc) Degree. He is currently preparing his Doctoral Thesis on the subject of ultrasound assessment of hemodynamic status of Intensive Care Unit patients. He has contributed to the scientific literature by publishing articles in peer-reviewed, high-profile journals and by presenting his work in international conferences (ISICEM, ESICM).

Dr. Trigkidis completed his specialty training in Internal Medicine and further specialised in Intensive Care Medicine in "Evangelismos" General Hospital of Athens, one of the most prestigious hospitals of the greek Capital. He is registered with the UK General Medical Council as a specialist in General Internal Medicine, having worked as a Senior Clinical Fellow in the Intensive Care Unit of the Royal London Hospital and in the Accident and Emergency Department of Queen's Hospital in London, UK.

Currently, apart from private practice, he is employed as an Intensive Care Medicine specialist in the Intensive Care Unit of Athens Medical Centre.

Garzonis Spyros is an Internist - Diabetologist and maintains a private practice in Cholargos. He graduated from the Medical School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and specialized in Internal Medicine at the General Hospital for Chest Diseases of Athens "Sotiria". Additionally, he received further training in Diabetes Mellitus and Diabetic Foot at the Diabetology Center of the General Hospital of Athens "Laiko," where he remained as a collaborator for over 10 years. He holds official specialization in Diabetes Mellitus. He has a particular interest and involvement in diabetes technology and insulin pumps. He has participated as a volunteer physician in a Doctors Without Borders - Greece mission in Zambia and in programs within Greece. Finally, he is a member of the Hellenic Diabetological Association, the European Association for the Study of Diabetes, the Hellenic Society for the Study of Diabetic Foot Disorders, the Hellenic Society of Internal Medicine, and Doctors Without Borders - Greece.

Kakoulidis Ioannis is an Endocrinologist - Diabetologist maintaining a private practice in Nea Ionia. He holds a degree from the Medical School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and a Master's degree in "Research in Female Reproduction" from the Medical School of NKUA. He specialized in Endocrinology at the Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism of the General Hospital - Maternity Hospital of Athens “Elena Venizelou.” During his specialization, he focused on Pregnancy Endocrinology and Andrology, and received training in thyroid ultrasound. He has participated in conferences both in Greece and internationally and has been actively involved in the design and implementation of prospective and retrospective studies in the Endocrinology department, which have been subsequently published or presented in national and international journals and conferences. In 2019, he was awarded by the Hellenic Endocrine Society with the I. Giannatos Award for Best Research Work in Clinical Endocrinology. His practice manages cases covering the entire spectrum of Endocrinology, specifically: Thyroid - Parathyroid Glands, Gestational Diabetes, and Pregnancy Endocrinology.