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Thursday September 18 September 18
20:00
Dinner
- Underground Floor | Level -1
- Olympia Hall
Friday September 19 September 19
09:15 - 10:00
Opening Ceremony
Chair: Andri Phoka, Katy Antonopoulou
- Μezzanine Floor
- Aegean-Lemnos Hall
09:15 - 09:40
Opening Adresses
Thanos Askitis
Regional Vice Governor of Health Deputy
Despoina Limiotaki
Appointed Municipal Councilor for Public Health and Municipal Clinics
Giorgos Patoulis
President of Athens Medical Association (AMA)
Dr. Nelly Konstantopoulou
MD, PhD; Rheumatologist; NHS Director, ‘G. Gennimatas’ General Hospital of Athens; Treasurer of ERE-EPERE
09:40 - 10:00
Opening Keynote Speech
Neil Betteridge
Senior Director, GAfPA; Chair, Global Remission Coalition
10:00 - 12:00
Holistic Approaches to Managing RMDs
Chair: Andri Phoka
- Μezzanine Floor
- Aegean-Lemnos Hall
10:00 – 10:15
Beyond Medication
The role of nutrition, physiotherapy, and complementary therapies in managing RMDs
Dr. Elena Nikiphorou
Speaker
10:15 – 11:00
Workshop on: Beyond Medication
Dr. Elena Nikiphorou
Instructor
11:00 – 11:15
Pain Management Innovations
New technologies, lifestyle changes, and non-pharmaceutical approaches
Dr. Martina Rekatsina
Speaker
11:15 – 12:00
Workshop / Discussion on: Pain Management Innovations
Dr. Martina Rekatsina
Instructor
12:00 – 13.30
Lunch Break
- Ground Floor
- Riva Restaurant
13.30 - 16:00
Advances in Treatment & Research
Chair: Katy Antonopoulou, Igor Medojevic
- Μezzanine Floor
- Aegean-Lemnos Hall
13.30 - 14.50
13.30 - 14.40
Introductory Discussion
Dr. Antonios Fanouriakis
Speaker
13.40 - 13.50
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Dr. Georgios Demirtzoglou
Speaker
13.50 - 14.00
Sjögren’s Disease
Dr. Loukas Chatzis
Speaker
14.00 - 14.10
Lupus
Dr. Dimitrios Boumpas
Speaker
14.10 - 14.20
Scleroderma
Dr. Stylianos Panopoulos
Speaker
14.20 - 14.30
Axial Spondyloarthritis
Dr. Panayiotis Vlahoyiannopoulos
Speaker
14.30 - 14.40
Psoriatic Arthritis
Dr. George Fragoulis
Speaker
14.40 - 14.50
Roundtable Discussion - Closing
14.50 – 15:10
Personalized Medicine in RMDs
How genetics and biomarkers shape individual treatment plans
Dr. Prodromos Sidiropoulos
Speaker
15:10 – 15:30
The Role of AI in Rheumatology
How artificial intelligence is revolutionizing diagnosis and care
Dr. Yiannis Koumpouros
Speaker
15:30 – 15:50
Vaccination & RMDs
What patients need to know – Medical Perspective
Dr. Gikas Magiorkinis
Speaker
15:50 - 16:00
Vaccination & RMDs
Childhood and adolescent vaccination in the context of paediatric rheumatic diseases
Evaggelia Mpakola
Speaker
16:15
Cultural Overview of the Historic Center and Acropolis Museum
- Offsite
- Hotel Lobby
20:00
Dinner
- Offsite
- CityZen Athens
Saturday September 20 September 20
10:00 – 12:00
Special Focus: Autoimmune Diseases
Chair: Boryana Boteva
- Μezzanine Floor
- Aegean-Lemnos Hall
10:00 – 10:30
Fat, Inflammation & Joint Pain
The role of obesity in RMDs
Dr. Valentini Konstantinidou
Speaker
10:30 – 11:50
Aegean-Lemnos Hall
Workshop
Hormones & Autoimmune Diseases – The impact of menopause and hormone therapy on RMDs
Dr. Chrysanthi Sardeli
Instructor
10:30 – 11:50
Myrina Hall
Workshop
Living with Multiple Autoimmune Conditions: Managing comorbidities and overlapping syndromes
Dr. Mrinalini Dey
Instructor
Andri Phoka
Instructor
11:50 – 12:00
Plenary Feedback of the 2 workshops
12:00 – 14.00
Lunch Break
- Ground Floor
- Riva Restaurant
14:00 – 15:00
Young Patients & Family Support
Chair: Machi Salamaliki, Artemis Margariti
- Μezzanine Floor
- Aegean-Lemnos Hall
14:00 – 14:10
Growing Up with an RMD
Challenges faced by children and young adults with juvenile arthritis (pre-recorded video)
Dr. Roubini Smerla
Speaker
14:10 - 14:20
Growing Up with an RMD
Patient Experience
Theognosia Apostolou
Speaker
14:20 – 14:40
Family & Caregiver Support
How families can better support patients while maintaining their own well-being
Nadia Malliou
Speaker
14:40 – 15:00
Fertility, Pregnancy & RMDs
Managing reproductive health with an autoimmune disease
Dr. Chrysanthi Sardeli
Speaker
15:00 – 16:00
Physical Activity & Rehabilitation
Chair: Sebastian Micallef
- Μezzanine Floor
- Aegean-Lemnos Hall
15:00 – 15:20
Exercise as Medicine
Tailoring movement therapies for RMD patients
Dr. Matina Koutroumpi
Speaker
15:20 – 15:40
Hydrotherapy & RMDs
The science behind aquatic therapy for joint health
Prof. John N. Giannios
Speaker
15:40 – 16:00
Ergonomics & Daily Life Hacks
Practical adaptations for work and home
Dr. Panagiotis Vitalis
Speaker
16:00 – 16:30
Closing & Recognition
Chair: Andri Phoka, Katy Antonopoulou
- Μezzanine Floor
- Aegean-Lemnos Hall
16:00 – 16:10
Best Practice Award
16:10 – 16:20
Update on Bulgaria’s Initiatives (the hosting country in 2026)
16:20 – 16:30
Closing Remarks & Introduction of the New Board
18:45
Athens Riviera Overview
- Offsite
- Hotel Lobby
20:00
Dinner
- Offsite
- Psaroskala Piraeus