EPIONI, in collaboration with the associations “The Heart of the Child,” “Skitali,” and the “Union of Cardiac Patients of Hellenic Navy – Coast Guard Officers and Friends,” successfully organized the 8th Conference on Tuesday, June 25, 2025, at the ESIEA Hall, under the theme: “Supporting Individuals with Heart Conditions and the Contribution of Their Caregivers.”

The event was held under the auspices of the Region of Attica, the Municipality of Athens, and the Global Heart Hub.

The conference was greeted by:

The conference was greeted by:

  • Anna Ntina, Vice President of the “Skytali” Association, who emphasized the need for collaboration between associations and the state in supporting patients with chronic illnesses.
  • Panagiota Manou, Head of the Directorate for Disability Policies, who highlighted the importance of integrating caregiving into the disability policy agenda.
  • Elena Kountoura, Member of the European Parliament, who stressed the need for equal access to healthcare and continued support for caregivers at the European level.
  • Joanna Ten-Kate, representative of the Global Heart Hub, who presented good practices from across Europe regarding patient empowerment.
  • Athina Koltsidopoulou, from the association “The Child’s Heart,” who spoke about the challenges faced by parents of children with heart conditions.
  • Spyridon Zorbas, Chair of the Board of EPIONI, who addressed the importance of recognizing the role of informal caregivers and strengthening support networks.

The conference featured speeches by:

The conference featured speeches by:

  • Ignatios Oikonomidis, Professor of Cardiology at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), who spoke about the modern management of cardiometabolic patients and new therapeutic options.
  • Konstantinos Kyriazopoulos, Head of the Heart Attack Unit at the Naval Hospital of Athens, who addressed non-pharmacological interventions and the crucial role of caregivers in patient recovery.
  • Antonios Psaroudakis, Retired Navy Captain, who shared his personal experience as a heart patient, emphasizing the importance of dignity and mental strength.
  • Georgios Zervas, Physician – Researcher at NKUA, who explained the role of clinical studies and encouraged patients to stay informed and participate.
  • Vasiliki Varela & Maria Vlachopoulou, Psychologists from NKUA, who presented the psychological impact of hereditary heart diseases and the support needs of patients and their families.

The conference concluded with an open discussion with the audience, reinforcing the message that cardiac care requires an interdisciplinary and human-centered approach.

The event was supported by Bodossaki Lectures on Demand (BLOD), the online lecture library (blod.gr) of the Bodossaki Foundation.

📞 For more information: +30 6946 00 3522

The event program: Program 25.06.25

We warmly thank our communication sponsors: Blod.gr – iatronet.gr – psychologynow\.gr – healthdaily.gr