• PhD in Audiology: 'Socioeconomic Inequalities in Health Health' (Awarded with no corrections) - The University of Manchester (2021)
• Master of Science (M.Sc.) (with Distinction, 9,31/10) in Health Policy and Health Services Planning – Open University of Cyprus (2016)
• B.Sc. (Hons) in Psychology – Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (2007)
• Professional Specialization in Counseling Psychology and Life Coaching (Three Semesters- 1,100 credit hours)– University of the Aegean (2017)
• Deaf Communication Studies/ Full Professional Proficiency and National Certification in Greek Sign Language – Hellenic Federation of the Deaf (2010-2015)
• Geographic Information Systems (GIS) 5-Course Specialization by The University of California, Davis (2018-2021)
• International Training Programme on Behavioural Change Techniques - UCL Centre for Behaviour Change (2021)
• Certified for Online Teaching (2 month course by The Open University, 2020)
• Coaching Certification (12-month Course) at Foundation Level of the Advanced Diploma in General & Specific Coaching Sklls, which is accredited by the European Mentoring and Coaching Council at Practitioner Level (EMCC European Quality Award) (2018)
• Certificate in Health Literacy for Public Health Professionals - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), US Department of Health and Human Services, Atlanta, Georgia, USA (2017)
• PGCert in Adult Education and Training – University of the Aegean (2016)
• Qualified to practice Psychology in Greece - Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece (2007)

My vision was always to have an impact on the world around me by doing work that makes people’s lives better. 

I have an interdisciplinary background in Psychology, Audiology, Health Policy & Health Services Planning, and advanced methodological skills in Epidemiology, Mapping, Spatial and Big Data Analytics.

I am a postdoctoral researcher at the Institute for Health Policy and Organisation (IHPO). I also teach consultation skills and behaviour change and supervise the Personal Excellence Path (PEP) for MBChB Medicine (Undergraduate Medicine) and the MSc Physician Associate Studies Programme. Before academia, I served for 18 years in the Hellenic Ministry of National Defence, where I gained significant experience designing and evaluating behaviour change interventions and worked as an expert advisor to government departments on behavioural research and analysis.

My academic research over the last decade is mainly concerned with the social epidemiology and public health aspects of hearing loss, focusing on hearing health inequalities. One of the most important contributions I made in the field is the development of the Conceptual Model of Hearing Health Inequalities (HHI Model). Also, I  coined the term lifestyle-related hearing loss, proposing the reconceptualisation of hearing loss in later life as a preventable lifestyle disease during the life-course, and not an inevitable accompaniment of ageing.

Delivering world-class research, I have been awarded several honours and awards, and I develop an international reputation. In 2020 I received the International Society of Audiology (ISA) Scholarship for my pioneering research findings on prevention and early detection of hearing loss in primary care and its potential in maximising the opportunity for healthy and active ageing.

I was the Primary Investigator of the PLACE Project, updating in 2022 the hearing loss prevalence estimates in older adults in England after nearly 40 years. The New National Study of Hearing revealed a north-south divide in the prevalence of hearing loss in older adults in England, which was previously unknown. The PLACE Project was funded by the Institute for Health Policy and Organisation (IHPO) and received additional funding from the World Health Organization (WHO) to support its wider dissemination to the public.

My work has been published in peer-reviewed journals, such as JAMA, BMJ, BMC, and others.

Before awarding my PhD Studentship, I conducted a cross-sectional study concerning the health of the population with hearing loss. This was the first in Greece and one of the few studies globally, aiming to address barriers in access and disparities in the use of health services of deaf and hard of hearing adults and to assess their health-related quality of life (HRQoL). For my research, I won the 2016 First Prize for Best Oral Presentation, among 230 speakers, at the 12^th Panhellenic Congress on Management, Economics and Health Policy, under the auspice of the Greek Ministry of Health. In addition, I was the winner of the 2017 Outstanding Contribution to Social Innovation Award, in the 5^th Panhellenic Interscientific Symposium, in the frames of the 5^th Panhellenic Festival 'Deaf and Hearing People in Action’. In October 2017, I was awarded an Honourable Mention, at the 19th Pan-Hellenic Scientific Congress on Health Care Management, an event that is under the auspice of the Greek Ministry of Health, has international participations and has gained wide recognition among all health care professionals in Greece with more than 1,000 delegates annually.

As Aristotle said, we are what we repeatedly do. Striving for excellence, then, is a habit for me and this is reflected in the list of awards gained over the past 20 years. 

My research over the last eight years is mainly concerned with the social epidemiology and public health aspect of hearing. More specifically, my interests include the relationship between socioeconomic inequality and the development of hearing loss and the impact of hearing loss on the lives of older adults in terms of psychosocial well-being and multimorbidity. In my recent work, I examined the importance of the early identification of individuals with hearing loss in primary care and its potential in maximising the opportunity for healthy and active ageing. 

Projects I run as Lead Investigator:

1. National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) (01/2018-12/2020): Socioeconomic inequality and hearing health in England: examining the relationship between socioeconomic inequality and the development of hearing impairment and the impact of hearing impairment on the lives of older adults in England

2. Institute for Health Policy and Organisation (IHPO) (02/2021-07/2021): PLACE – PrevaLence StAtistiCs of Hearing Loss in England 

3. World Health Organization (WHO) (2021): Hearing Care for ALL - A virtual Gallery Project 

• World Health Organization (WHO): World Hearing Forum Newsletter Review Committee
• Faculty of Public Health: Associate Member 
• Society for Academic Primary Care: Academic Membership
• Advance HE (Former Higher Education Academy): Fellow (FHEA)
• The British Psychological Society: Chartered Psychologist (CPsychol) and Associate Fellow (AFBPSsS)
• The Division of Health Psychology (DHP): Full Member
• The Division of Academics, Researchers and Teachers in Psychology (DARTP): Full Member
• Special Group in Coaching Psychology (SGCP): Full Member
• International Society of Audiology: Webinars Working Group Convenor & Full Member
• British Society of Audiology: Full Member
• The British Academy of Audiology: Full Member
• National Community Hearing Association: Full Member
• Hellenic Health Services Management Association (HHSMA) : Full Member

I am also member of the Health Inequalities Research Network (HERON), the international public engagement network aimed at people involved in action and research in inequalities in health and health service use.

Expert Member in the following Sections of the International Society of Global Health: 

• Non-Communicable Diseases
• Global Mental Health
• Primary Health Care and Community-Based Approaches to Health
• Health Systems and Policy Research
• Universal Health Care, Social Determinants of Health and Health Equity
• Health Problems of Aging Populations

I tutor talented young students from under-represented backgrounds on the Manchester Access Programme. The Manchester Access Programme (MAP) is The University of Manchester’s flagship widening participation scheme for local Year 12 students who meet specific academic and background criteria. I try to inspire those students and to give them confidence to be proud of their background and show them that anything can be achieved.

I have attained the rank of Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA), which is the national body that champions teaching excellence. I am currently working towards Senior Fellowship (SFHEA) status.

I am a postdoctoral teaching associate in MBChB Medicine (Undergraduate Medicine) and the Physician Associate Studies Programme. 

I have previously worked as a Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) on Psychology BSc Programme (2018 to 2020) and as a Facilitator in Informatics for Healthcare System (Masters level course).

My assigned courses were:

2019-20

(a) Topics and Issues in Developmental Psychology

(b) Conceptual and Historical Issues in Psychology

(c) Perception and Action

(d) Individual Differences in Mental Health and Wellbeing

2018-19

(a) Conceptual and Historical Issues in Psychology

(b) Personality and Individual Differences 

(c) Foundations of Health Psychology