Karavanaki Kyriaki Athina

Professor Emeritus of Pediatrics and Pediatric Endocrinology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA).

Professor Kyriaki Karavanaki is a graduate of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki Medical School, from which she graduated with distinction ("Excellent").

She completed her residency in Pediatrics at the 1st Department of Pediatrics of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, "Agia Sophia" Children's Hospital. She subsequently undertook three years of postgraduate training in the UK as a Research Fellow, specializing in Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) and Pediatric Endocrinology within the Pediatric Endocrinology Unit of the University Department of Pediatrics at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Bristol, UK. It was there that she also completed her doctoral thesis (PhD, University of Bristol, UK).

Following this, she underwent a further three years of specialized training in Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes at the Endocrinology Unit of the 1st Department of Pediatrics of the University of Athens. Based on the aforementioned postgraduate training, she was awarded the specialization title in Pediatric Diabetology by KESY (Central Health Council) in 1992 and 2022.

In 2003, Professor Karavanaki was elected Lecturer at the 2nd Department of Pediatrics of the University of Athens (2nd PPK) at the "P. & A. Kyriakou" Children's Hospital. She worked there for 23 years, progressing through all ranks of the university academic hierarchy. In September 2018, she was elected Full Professor of Pediatrics and Pediatric Endocrinology. During her tenure at the 2nd PPK, she headed the Department's Diabetes and Metabolism Unit, which monitors approximately 300 children and adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes -utilizing modern technologies such as insulin pumps, continuous glucose monitoring systems, and hybrid closed-loop systems, as well as patients with rare forms of diabetes, prediabetes, or obesity. Prof.Karavanaki has also focused extensively on growth disorders in children and adolescents, including their investigation and management.

Prof. Karavanaki serves as an editorial board advisor for international scientific journals and has an extensive body of published work, comprising over 185 papers in scientific journals and garnering 3,500 citations. She has also been an invited speaker at numerous Greek and international seminars and conferences, contributing to the continuing education of pediatricians in the fields of pediatric diabetes and endocrinology. Furthermore, she has extensive experience in educating parents and young patients regarding Type 1 Diabetes.

Following her retirement, Professor Karavanaki, in collaboration with pediatric endocrinologist Dr. Feneli Karachaliou, established a Children's Clinic for Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolism at the Metropolitan Hospital. The Clinic has been operating daily since September 1, 2026, providing care to children and adolescents with diabetes, obesity, or other endocrine disorders through the use of state-of-the-art technologies. The Clinic is supported by a multidisciplinary team, including a pediatric nutritionist and other medical specialists, to address the full spectrum of the young patients' needs.

Graduate of the Medical School of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece
Admitted via national entrance examinations with an honorary scholarship and graduated with the grade "Excellent" (Arista) (1977-1983)

Three-year subspecialization in Diabetes Mellitus and Pediatric Endocrinology
Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes Unit, University Department of Pediatrics, Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Bristol, UK. This postgraduate training was funded by two scholarships (Onassis Foundation; Juvenile Diabetes Foundation International, USA) (1985-1988)

Residency in Pediatrics at the 1st Department of Pediatrics
National and Kapodistrian University of Athens at "Agia Sophia" Children's Hospital (Professor N. Matsaniotis) (1989-1993) 

Three-year subspecialization
Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes at the Endocrine Unit of the 1st Department of Pediatrics, University of Athens (Professor A. Dakou-Voutetaki). Based on the aforementioned postgraduate training, she obtained the subspecialization title in Pediatric Diabetology from KESY in February 1992 and May 2022, following written and oral examinations (1993-1996)

Doctoral Thesis
During her three-year postgraduate training in the United Kingdom - at the Department of Child Health, University of Bristol (Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Bristol) - she conducted her doctoral research (Doctor of Philosophy, Ph.D.) on the topic: “Early markers of diabetic neuropathy and nephropathy in children and adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes in the Avon County, UK.” 

• Senior House Officer in Pediatrics (National Health System - ESY), 2nd Department of Pediatrics, "Agia Sophia" Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece (1998-2003)
• Lecturer in Pediatrics, 2nd Department of Pediatrics (NKUA), "P. & A. Kyriakou" Children's Hospital, Athens (2003-2009)
• Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and Diabetes Mellitus, 2nd Department of Pediatrics (NKUA), "P. & A. Kyriakou" Children's Hospital, Athens (2009-2013)
• Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Diabetes Mellitus, 2nd Department of Pediatrics (NKUA), "P. & A. Kyriakou" Children's Hospital, Athens (2013-2018)
• Professor of Pediatrics and Pediatric Endocrinology, 2nd Department of Pediatrics, NKUA, "P. & A. Kyriakou" Children's Hospital, Athens. During her 23 years of service at the 2nd Department of Pediatrics, NKUA, she was responsible for one of the Department's four Pediatric Units and carried out full clinical and educational duties involving Pediatric Residents and Medical Students (2018-2026)
• Scientific Head of the Diabetes and Metabolism Clinic of the 2nd Department of Pediatrics for 23 years; the Clinic monitors over 300 children and adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes (T1DΜ) (2003-2006)
• Retirement from NKUA (8/2026)
• Professor Emeritus of Pediatrics and Pediatric Endocrinology, NKUA (9/2026)

Professor Karavanaki’s specific research and clinical interests include:

1. The study of early markers of long-term complications of T1DM, particularly diabetic neuropathy (affecting the autonomic and peripheral nervous systems) in children and adolescents, and their investigation using all modern techniques
2. Co-existing autoimmune diseases in children and adolescents with T1DM (such as thyroiditis, celiac disease, autoimmune gastritis, etc.)
3. Childhood and adolescent obesity: investigating its etiology and complications, and management with all modern pharmacological therapies
4. Disorders of physical growth and development in children and adolescents, particularly regarding the use of growth hormone in children with short stature of various etiologies (participation in the pan-European KIGS study)

Professor Karavanaki has an extensive body of published work, comprising 185 publications in international scientific journals and conference proceedings (including 102 full papers), with a cumulative impact factor of 430.66 and 3,548 citations in international literature (h-index: 62).
She has authored chapters in 26 books and presented papers at numerous conferences in Greece and abroad (>300). She has also participated as an invited speaker or moderator in numerous scientific conferences. Finally, she has supervised 14 doctoral theses and 5 master's theses.

1. Scholarship from the Onassis Foundation ($10,800) for postgraduate studies in the United Kingdom (1985-1988)
2. Scholarship from the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation International, New York, USA ($15,000) for postgraduate studies in the United Kingdom (1985-1988)

1. "Choremeion" Award (1995, 2005)
2. "Ioannis Kalaitzoglou" Award (1996)
3. "Dionysios Ikkos" Award (1999)
4. Honorary awards for best oral and poster presentations at 14 international and 2 Greek conferences

1. Member of the Board of Directors of the National Diabetes Center (EKEDY) (2014-2017)
2. Member of the Ministry’s Examination Committee for Subspecialization in Diabetes Mellitus (2024-2025)
3. Member of the Board of Directors of the Hellenic Obesity Society (2014-2017)
4. Member of the Hellenic Pediatric Society, the Hellenic Diabetes Association, the Hellenic Society for the Study and Education of Diabetes Mellitus, the Hellenic Society of Pediatric and Adolescent Endocrinology, and the Hellenic Endocrine Society
5. Professor Karavanaki serves on the editorial advisory boards of numerous international scientific journals

Following her retirement in August 2026, Professor Karavanaki, in collaboration with Pediatric Endocrinologist Dr Feneli Karachaliou, established a Children's Clinic for Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolism at Metropolitan Hospital. The Clinic has been operating daily (Monday through Friday) since September 1st, 2026, providing care to children and adolescents with diabetes mellitus, obesity, and other endocrine disorders through the use of state-of-the-art technologies. The Clinic is supported by a multidisciplinary team, including a pediatric nutritionist and other medical specialists, to address the full spectrum of the young patients' needs.
Patient assessment, including diagnostic testing curves and other laboratory analyses, is conducted in collaboration with the Metropolitan Hospital’s Pediatric Department; this collaboration also extends to the management of children with newly diagnosed diabetes or other serious endocrine conditions, as well as the education of their families.

Email: kkarav@yahoo.gr