Postgraduate Certificate in Diabetes and Obesity in Primary Care

Philippe-Richard J. Domeyer is a General Practitioner and Biostatistician with Special Interest in Diabetes and Obesity. He is an Academic Tutor at the Hellenic Open University since 2013, Treasurer of Primary Care Diabetes Europe (PCDE), founding President of Primary Care Diabetes Greece (PCDG) and National Representative of
Greece at the European General Practice Research Network.

Philippe is the Principal Investigator of the European Research Project entitled “Quality assessment of type 2 diabetes care in Greece: setting indicators from a primary care perspective”.

He has published research output pertaining to diabetes and cardiometabolic diseases in peer-reviewed international journals and presentations at international and national Conferences. Philippe is a member of the expert panel of the European Diabetes Forum (EUDF) Strategic Forum ‘Self Care, Technology & Digitalisation’, representing primary care, and co-authored “The Promise of Digital Tools: A roadmap for apps”, a document and series of recommendations compiled by the same expert panel. As a founding President of PCDG, he is involved in various national educational and research activities in the diabetes field. He is also the founding scientific co-programme leader of the international postgraduate ‘Diabetes and Obesity Training Programme’ delivered by Miguel-Hernandez University of Spain and Metropolitan College of Greece.

Dr. Domingo-Orozco Beltran is a General Practitioner at Cabo Huertas GP Practice, San Juan de Alicante Health Department, Spain, and Researcher at the San Juan de Alicante Research Unit. Since 2018, he has served as a Professor of Medicine at Miguel Hernández University, Spain.

He worked as a Public Health Technician for 12 years (1986-1995, 1999-2001) at the Family Medicine Teaching Unit of Alicante, where he was responsible for planning and delivering public health and community medicine programs for family medicine residents. From 1991 to 1999, he served as an Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine and Public Health and later coordinated primary care and community health internships at the University of Alicante, delivering over 800 hours of instruction. Since 2018, he has been a full-time Professor of Medicine at Miguel Hernández University.

Dr. Domingo-Orozco holds a PhD in Epidemiology, with his doctoral thesis focusing on diabetes in the province of Alicante, for which he received the PhD Extraordinary Award. He has supervised more than 40 doctoral theses and published over 200 articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals. He is a member of the Editorial Board of Diabetes Primary Care and the European Organization WONCA for family medicine. Additionally, he is part of the REDIAP research network, focusing on preventive care and health promotion, and is a key member of the ESCARVAL Study, a cohort study involving 50,000 patients in Valencia.

He completed his specialization in Family and Community Medicine at Elche Hospital after passing the MIR exam. He holds a Diploma in Public Health from the Spanish Ministry of Health and has received extensive training in epidemiology, statistics, and data management (SPSS). He also earned a Master’s Degree in Health Economics and Health Management.

Dr. Domingo-Orozco co-chaired the National Conference on Chronic Care in Seville (2011) and has been a member of the Valencian Care Strategy Committee since 2013. He coordinated the National Care Strategy for Chronic Conditions (2011-2019) under the Ministry of Health and Social Policy. From 2015 to 2022, he served as Chair of the Non-Communicable Diseases Special Interest Group at WONCA World.

He led the research team on telemedicine for chronic diseases within the Valcronic Project (2012-2017) and coordinated the ti.care electronic platform for telemedicine in Primary Care (2018–present). He is a member of the Royal Academy of Medicine in Valencia (since 2018) and has held leadership roles as Vice-Chancellor for Research (2018-2023) and Vice-Chancellor for Planning and Social Responsibility (2023–present) at Miguel Hernández University.

Francisco Adán is a general practitioner graduated in 1989. He later completed the specialty of Family and Community Medicine at the University Clinical Hospital of Zaragoza -Spain. Associate Professor in Health Sciences, he works as GP since 1991 in the Spanish National Health Service having been Director of Health Area for ten years. He holds MSc in Diabetes from the Miguel Hernández University of Elche and in Heart Failure from the Francisco de Vitoria University of Madrid (Spain).

He is a member of the executive board of GDPS network (Primary Care Diabetes Study Group) where leads the working group of Heart Failure since 2018. In 2023 he became a member of the General Assembly of the Primary Care Diabetes Europe Society (PCDE).

He is Founding president of the HTA Foundation for the prevention and treatment of Arterial Hypertension and other cardiovascular risk factors.

He teaches in the MSc on care and education for people with Type 2 Diabetes,  in the Francisco de Vitoria University, organised by GDPS network. He is a member of different Scientific Societies, including PCDE (Primary Care Diabetes Europe), SED (Spanish Society of Diabetes), GDPS network (Primary Care Diabetes Study Group) and SEMERGEN (Spanish Society of General Practitioners).

He is a known panelist at national conferences, advisory boards and expert groups of diabetes and author of numerous publications. Member of Medical Conferences Organizing and Scientific Committees and Project Manager for the Research Group on Diabetes of the Aragonese GDPS network (Spain).

Dr. Adan´s main areas of interest are research and education in Primary care, with a special dedication to diabetes and heart failure & cardio-renal-metabolic syndrome.

Dr. Georgia Argyrakopoulou is an Internist – Diabetologist. She holds a Master of Science (MSc) and a PhD in Diabetes Mellitus and Obesity from the Medical School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. She fulfilled a fellowship in the Centre of Diabetes and Metabolic Medicine, Barts and the London. She is the Director of the Diabetes and Obesity Unit of Athens Medical Center.
She has been awarded International Fellowship in Obesity Professional Education (SCOPE) of World Obesity Federation and EASO National Clinical Fellow. She is instructor in 3 Master of Science Programs of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and oversees several MSc theses in the above programs.
She participates as pilot leader of the Athens Medical Center partnership of the EU funded Project ValueCare (Value-based methodology for integrated care supported by ICT). She has participated in multiple National and International congresses related to Diabetes Mellitus and Obesity, both as an attendee and as an invited speaker. She participates in multiple clinical studies (18) related to Diabetes Mellitus and Obesity as a principal (13) or sub-investigator (5).
Her research activity focuses on the gut-brain axis, appetite regulation, the pharmacotherapy of obesity, diabetes treatment and diabetic complications.

• Publications: 30 in peer reviewed international medical journals, 977 Citations, h-index: 13
• Abstracts (oral and posters): 41 in international congresses and 30 in Greek congresses related to Diabetes and Obesity. 

Dr. Ana Cebrián is a family doctor in the Murcia Health Service, Cartagena, Spain, and an associate professor at the San Antonio Catholic University of Murcia. She is also an Academician of the Royal Academy of Medicine of Murcia.

Dr. Cebrián completed her medical degree at the University of Valencia in 1995 and subsequently completed a PhD in Medicine from the same university. She has also completed multiple master’s degrees in the fields of diabetes and family and community medicine at the Francisco de Vitoria University, University of Barcelona, University of Alcalá, and University of Valencia, all in Spain.

She is a member of the Executive Board of the ‘Spanish Diabetes Society’, member of the Executive Boar of the ‘Group for Diabetes in Primary Care redGDPS Society’ and also of the ‘Primary Care Diabetes Europe (PCDE)’, coordinator in Murcia of the ‘Spanish Society of Family Medicine Diabetes group’, and Chair of the ‘World Organization of Family Doctors, (WONCA) Special Interest Group on Non-Communicable Diseases’. She is a diabetes researcher since 2010 and author of numerous national and international publications.

Dr. Anastasia Th. Galanopoulou was born in Athens in 1979. She is a graduate of the Medical School of the University of Brescia, Italy, and holds a two-year Master’s Degree in “Organization and Management of Palliative and Supportive Care for Chronic Patients” from the Medical School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. She, also, holds a certificate of competence in Pre-Hospital Emergency Medicine and has completed certifications in emergency seminars, including ILS, ATLS, PHTLS, and BLS.

She fulfilled her rural medical service obligations at the Panarcadian General Hospital of Tripolis and the Megalopolis Health Center in 2007-2008. From 2010 to 2014, she specialized in General Family Medicine at Nikaia General Hospital “Agios Panteleimon.”

Dr. Galanopoulou has worked as a scientific associate in a major private healthcare group, as a physician in a dialysis unit, and as a medical reviewer for the insurance management company “MEDNET” (member of Munich health). In 2015, she was appointed Auxiliary Physician in Athens and subsequently became a Consultant B at the Health Center of Goura in Corinthia, where she continues to serve as a Consultant A.

In 2023-2024, she pursued further training in Diabetes at the Diabetes Center of Piraeus General Hospital “Tzaneio.” She continues to be actively involved in the center’s clinic and works as an external associate while also being a member of the Hellenic Diabetes Association.

She has authored 23 publications in Greek and international medical journals. She has contributed to 149 presentations at national conferences and 18 at international conferences, earning 19 awards at national medical congresses. Dr. Galanopoulou has served as chairperson in numerous scientific events and seminars and has delivered a wide range of lectures at national medical conferences. She is the author of chapters in three Greek medical books.

She has an excellent command of English and Italian and holds a computer proficiency certification from INFOTEST, meeting the global standards of Certiport and the IC3 certification.

Evita Gitsi is a Clinical Dietitian and Nutritionist, specializing in diabetes and obesity. She holds a Master of Science in “Diabetes and Obesity” from the Medical School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and a Bachelor of Science in “Nutrition and Dietetics” from Harokopio University of Athens (GPA: 9.24/10), graduating in both with first-class honors and receiving multiple awards for academic exellence.

Currently, she is working as a Clinical Dietitian at the Diabetes and Obesity Unit of Athens Medical Center, consulting clinic ‘s patients and patients of Clinical Trials on medical products for obesity and diabetes management. At the same time, she is also pursuing the LLL Courses Certificates from the European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (ESPEN) to obtain the ESPEN diploma in clinical nutrition. Her international experience includes training and internships in Norway (Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Bergen) and Spain (Cómocomo School, Madrid) through the Erasmus+ program. Her research focuses on nutrition and exercise interventions, diabetes management, and obesity treatment. Recently, she has published several papers and abstracts in these areas and has presented her work at national congresses.

Vasilis Gkizlis is a General/Family Doctor. He graduated from the Medical School of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in July 2000 and continued his studies with a postgraduate program in “Exercise and Health” at the University of Thessaly, completing it with excellent grades and a scholarship. He specialized in General/Family Medicine at the Hippocrates Hospital in Athens and further trained in Pre-hospital Emergency Medicine and Diabetes at the EKAB School and the “Tzaneio” Hospital, respectively.

Additionally, he is a graduate of the one-year postgraduate program in “Cardiometabolic Medicine” from the Hellenic Healthcare Group. From March 2007 to February 2021, he served at the Rural Health Center of Mavrommati, part of the Health Center of Mouzaki, where he held the rank of Consultant A’. During his tenure, he served as the Coordinator of the 2nd TOMY Karditsa, the Regional Coordinator of the Primary Care Facilities of Karditsa, and the Coordinator of the training of the General/Family Medicine Residents at the General Hospital of Karditsa.

He is a founding member and Secretary of the Greek Diabetes Network in Primary Health Care and a member of the Primary Health Care Physicians Committee of the Hellenic Diabetes Society. He is certified by the National Organization for the Certification of Qualifications and Vocational Guidance (EOPPEP) as an adult trainer and as a trainer of the European Resuscitation Council for Basic and Advanced Life Support seminars.

He has presented numerous papers and lectures at Greek and international conferences and other scientific meetings, and has contributed to the writing of 9 research papers published in peer-reviewed international scientific journals. He has volunteered for many years at the Social Clinic of Karditsa and from December 2018 to April 2022, he served as President of the Karditsa branch of the Greek Red Cross. He has also been a member of the Board of Directors of the Karditsa Medical Association and the Hellenic Society of General Medicine.

Anastasios Koutsovasilis is an Internist-Diabetologist (MSc in Biostatistics, PhD in Cardiovascular Diseases). He completed his Internal Medicine specialty training in the 1st Department of Internal Medicine at “Tzaneio” General Hospital of Piraeus, where he subsequently remained for an additional two years as a Deputy Consultant at the Diabetes Center. In recent years, he is Director of Diabetes Center in General Hospital of Nikaia-Piraeus. Since 2017, he has been the Head of the Lipid Clinic, and from 2019, he has led the Type 1 Diabetes Clinic, assuming responsibility for the Diabetes Center at the General Hospital of Nikaia-Piraeus in 2023.

He holds a Doctorate in Medicine from the University of Thessaly Medical School and a Master’s degree in Biostatistics from the Department of Statistics at Athens University of Economics and Business.
He has presented more than 300 research papers at Greek Medical Conferences, 32 of which have received awards, and over 100 at International Conferences. Dr. Koutsovasilis has contributed to the authorship of 32 medical research articles published in international journals and has co-authored 24 medical books (with the authorship of 58 chapters). Additionally, he contributed to the publication of the National Action Plan for Diabetes.

He is a member of the Editorial Board of the Greek Diabetes Association’s Guidelines Committee and serves on the Board of Directors of three medical societies, currently acting as Vice President of the Hellenic Society of Metabolic Medicine. Dr. Koutsovasilis has also participated as a speaker, chair, or moderator in more than 150 scientific events and seminars, as well as in 25 international multicenter studies. Over the past five years, he has been teaching in two postgraduate programs at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School. 

Efthimia Mandalaki is an internist with a specialization in Diabetes Mellitus. She graduated from the Medical School of the University of Athens (1985-1992) and completed her residency in Internal Medicine at NIMTS Hospital. She further specialized in Diabetes Mellitus, Diabetic Foot Disorders, and Obesity at the Diabetes Center of “Laiko” General Hospital in Athens (2001).

Ms. Mandalaki has worked as a Scientific Associate at the Metabolic Disorders Clinic of the University General Hospital of Heraklion (2002), Head of the Diabetes Clinic at the Prefectural Unit of IKA in Heraklion, Crete (2005-2013), and as a Scientific Associate at the Diabetes Center of Venizeleio General Hospital in Heraklion (2013-2016).

In 2021, she was officially certified as a diabetes specialist by the Central Health Council. From 2021 to 2023, she served as an internist-diabetologist at the Heraklion Health Center in Crete.

She completed a postgraduate programme titled “Advanced Methods and Technologies in the Therapeutic Management of Diabetes Mellitus” at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (2019-2021). Since February 2024, she has been serving as a Senior Consultant (Grade A) at the Diabetes Center of Venizeleio General Hospital in Heraklion.

Ms. Mandalaki has actively participated in numerous conferences, workshops, and training seminars on Diabetes Mellitus as an attendee, speaker, and educator. Additionally, she has been involved in 4 scientific researches.

James Richard Moore is a Specialist Nurse in Family and Community Health at the Murcian Health
Service, working at a Primary Care Center in Cartagena, Murcia, Spain.

He completed his Nursing degree at the University of Murcia in 2017. He later pursued a Master’s in “Investigation in Primary Care” at the University Miguel Hernández of Elche, graduating in 2022. In the same year, he completed a Residency Program in Family and Community Health. He is currently undertaking a Master’s in “Public Health”, at the Instituto de Salud Carlos III and is a PhD student at the University of Murcia.

Since 2019, he has worked as a Primary Care Nurse in the Murcian Health Service. He is a member of the Spanish Society of Diabetes, and an active member of the Lifestyle and Therapeutic Education Work Group, part of the national GDPS network in Spain. Additionally, he is a member of the Murcia Institute of Biosanitary Research.

James has participated in the publication of several articles in both national and international journals. His main areas of interest include primary care research, diabetic selfmangment educationand public health.

Nikolaos Papanas is Professor in Internal Medicine-Diabetes Mellitus at Democritus University of Thrace, Greece. He is Head of the Diabetes Centre-Diabetic Foot Clinic of the Second Department of Internal Medicine at Democritus University of Thrace. He has published more than 500 papers in peer-reviewed journals (more than 10000 citations). He is the Editor-in-Chief of The International Journal of Lower Extremity Wounds.
Moreover, he serves in the editorial board of other international journals (more than 90). He is the Editor-in-Chief of the Greek journal A Review of Cardiometabolic Risk Factors. He has been Guest Editor in 9 special issues of international journals. He has also participated with numerous presentations in Greek and European medical congresses and repeatedly served as invited reviewer in medical journals. He has been invited to deliver lectures in 15 foreign countries.
He has served in the Executive Committee of the Hellenic Society for Angiology. Furthermore, he is currently a member in the Executive Committee of the Study Group on Diabetes and Nervous System of the German Diabetes Association (DDG). He is also Vice President of the Greek Society for the Study of the Diabetic Foot. He has served as Secretary General and President of the Hellenic Diabetes Association (HDA), as well as President of its ethics committee. He is now Vice-President of HDA.
Additionally, he is the President of the Diabetic Foot Study Group (DFSG, www.dfsg.org). Until recently, he was also Vice-President of D-FOOT INTERNATIONAL (https://d-foot.org/). He is Visiting Professor in the German Diabetes Centre, Düsseldorf. He is an honorary member of the Cypriot Diabetes Association and of the Hungarian Diabetes Association. Since June 2024, he is also member of the Executive Committee of Central European Diabetes Association (CEDA).

Dr. Athanasia K. Papazafeiropoulou was born in Athens. She graduated from the Medical School of the University of Athens, holds a Master’s Degree in Biostatistics, and earned her Doctorate in Medicine from the same institution with a focus on Diabetes Mellitus. She specialized in Internal Medicine in the 3rd Department of Internal Medicine at the General Hospital “Agios Panteleimon” from 2006 to 2010.
Since 2014, she has served as Senior Consultant in the 1st Department of Internal Medicine and Diabetes Center at “Tzaneio” General Hospital of Piraeus and has been a member of the Board of Directors of the Hellenic Diabetes Association since 2016. In 2020, she was awarded a certification of specialization in Diabetes by the Central Health Council.

Dr. Papazafeiropoulou has published 78 papers in international and 143 in Greek medical journals and has served as a reviewer for 121 international medical journals. Her research contributions include 437 presentations at Greek national conferences and 121 at international conferences, and she has received 44 awards in Greek medical conferences.
She has authored 134 chapters in Greek books and 8 chapters in foreign-language books on Diabetes Mellitus. Furthermore, she has frequently participated as a speaker and chairperson in numerous scientific events and seminars and has contributed to 34 international, multicenter studies.

Francisco Javier García Soidán holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Medicine and Surgery and is a certified Specialist in Family and Community Medicine. With 37 years of clinical experience, he serves as a Family Doctor at the Porriño Health Center in Pontevedra, Spain.

Dr. García Soidán is the Principal Investigator of the PREDAPS Study, which focuses on assessing the risk of diabetes and vascular complications in prediabetic patients while identifying associated risk factors. His research has led to multiple publications in both national and international peer-reviewed journals.

He is the Director of the Master’s Program in Diabetes at Francisco de Vitoria University, where he plays a key role in the academic development of future healthcare professionals specializing in diabetes management.

Dr. García Soidán is an active member of the Primary Care and Diabetes Working Group of the Spanish Society of Diabetes (SED), contributing to the advancement of diabetes care in primary settings through research, education, and clinical practice.