Despina Varaklas
My story
My story
My interest in the medical field and patient care started early on in my life, leading me to make my first steps when barely a teenager, as a volunteer in my hometown hospital, at Hadassah Medical Center, a contribution that lasted several years.
During these years, I helped many patients with their medical procedures and their communication with the medical staff. What really drew my attention though at the time was the communication between patient and HPs. Some health professionals were very polite, others showed compassion, others were very considerate, and others more rigid. Some smiled, and others didn't, some were patient and others were not, and a lot more.
Very interesting though was the effect that these characteristics had on the patients, who were either scared or brave, optimistic, or sad, etc., how these behaviors affected the way these patients would react and act toward their disease, and even affected the path of therapy that lied ahead.
This gave me such a zeal to do something about it.
I understood that diagnosing a patient should not be something limited to the disease, and the more inclusive the image we have about the patient, the better we can treat them, because the better we understand them, their wishes, and their capabilities.
When the time came and I was studying to become a health professional myself, as a clinical dietitian, I realized that from the very beginning, I couldn't accomplish my work without taking the emotional state of patient as part of the assessment. I acquired a second degree in Psychology.
Years later, I managed eventually, to create a new theory in patient counseling and patient approach, the WWYP approach, which I use in my own consultations, and also successfully teach to other health professionals.
During these years, I helped many patients with their medical procedures and their communication with the medical staff. What really drew my attention though at the time was the communication between patient and HPs. Some health professionals were very polite, others showed compassion, others were very considerate, and others more rigid. Some smiled, and others didn't, some were patient and others were not, and a lot more.
Very interesting though was the effect that these characteristics had on the patients, who were either scared or brave, optimistic, or sad, etc., how these behaviors affected the way these patients would react and act toward their disease, and even affected the path of therapy that lied ahead.
This gave me such a zeal to do something about it.
I understood that diagnosing a patient should not be something limited to the disease, and the more inclusive the image we have about the patient, the better we can treat them, because the better we understand them, their wishes, and their capabilities.
When the time came and I was studying to become a health professional myself, as a clinical dietitian, I realized that from the very beginning, I couldn't accomplish my work without taking the emotional state of patient as part of the assessment. I acquired a second degree in Psychology.
Years later, I managed eventually, to create a new theory in patient counseling and patient approach, the WWYP approach, which I use in my own consultations, and also successfully teach to other health professionals.
Today, a freelancer, a Health Educator, Clinical Dietitian, and International Speaker.
Academic and professional path:
Academic Education:
Despina began her path in the 90’s with her college education:
A dual degree +:
- Nutrition & Dietetics.
- Psychology.
- Supplementary classes in Religious Studies.
As she claims, these three domains seem to have completed one another so well for what she was about to do later in her career.
Late 90’s – Clinical training:
Internship - Programmed by the American Academy of Nutrition, took place in the main hospitals in Tucson Arizona, and included training bodies like world renown company Morrison, and top names in the field like authors of books published by the ADA.
1999 - 2009
Further advanced her clinical experience through work in diverse settings like with the diabetic Pima Indians, private health centers, hospitals, outpatient clinics, and even prestigious restaurants for the food service domain. She has practiced her profession in several countries; as a dietitian, a health advocate, a nutrition consultant, later as Food Service manager and on to Director of Nutrition at the Athens Medical Group in Athens, Greece.
Despina has also participated in research, publications, and knowledge transfer through the media. Her name is found in respected journals and websites.
2008
Expands her academic education and further certifies and completes her knowledge and experience as Coach and Health Educator after a three-year training program by a known New York coaching school.
2011 - 2013
Completes a training program from the Gestalt institutes of San Francisco and Paris, with top names in the field as her trainers; the purpose was to master Gestalt psychotherapy through experiential interactive methodologies.
Member of Several Associations Worldwide
January of 2005:
Nominated and appointed to complete a 5-year term as Honorary Secretary of the Diabetes Education Study Group (DESG) of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD).
In 2016:
- Member of the Executive Committee at the European Federation Of Associations of Dietitians (EFAD). (2016-2018).
- Chair of the Communications Working Group CWG in EFAD for a year. (2017-2018).
- Appointed as Delegate of the Union of Dietitians - Nutritionists of Greece at the International Confederation Of Dietetic Association (ICDA). (2016-current).
In 2018
Became member of the council at the THI True Health Initiative - USA. This honor gives her a tool and an opportunity to be an ambassador of her work and her profession. (2018-current).
Creator of the WWYP approach in Patient Counseling:
It was only natural that Despina's years of diverse and rich experience have led her to gain strong skills in management and leadership. Her real pathos, however, lies in Patient Education and Patient Approach, with a main focus on chronic disease.
As a natural course of things, this led her, in 2009, to eventually put together her own patient approach system, what she calls the "WWYP Approach", OR the "Work With Yourself Work With Your Patient" Approach; its aim: a more Patient-Centered Care, or simply put: better healthcare. Within a few years, the WWYP approach not only becomes a revolutionary patient approach system, but an umbrella that engulfs several leadership projects in health and healthcare around the world.
More than 5000 people of whom the majority are in healthcare, have been introduced to this approach. Of those who participated in her workshops, almost 82% claim that they see a difference in their relationship with their patients, while more than 33% of them ask for further training in this approach.
In 2017:
Despina received an invitation to submit the WWYP approach as an editorial article in a medical journal.
In 2018:
Editorial published. http://despinavaraklas.com/workshops.html
An International and Inspirational Speaker in demand
Having been educated and having worked in various countries and continents worldwide, this multilingual dietitian has gained valuable experience in cultural and religious differences as well as inter-cultural relations, all necessary for today's diverse communities which she serves so well.
Her continuous participation in national and international conferences for more than 20 years now, has made her an international and inspirational speaker in demand, earning the title of "best speaker" twice. A 2007 invitation to Egypt has also awarded her the title of “most honorable speaker” at the Suzanne Mubarak Center in Alexandria.
Recognitions:
In 2020:
- A professional PhD granted from the European International University.
- Ranked in the top 100 healthcare specialist for 2020, voted by the IFAH, the International Forum on Advancements in Healthcare, USA, for her contributions in the industry.
Became Vice president at FTIEA Fame Times International Excellence Awards Organization. 2021 - 2023.
YouTuber:
In 2021:
She launched her YouTube channel "Straight from Nature", a video library on nature's products, a way of contributing to sustainability and a sustainable food system.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvVp6TT5crLkZcTgzc-Cjrg
In 2022:
She receives a grant from the ICDA SFS committee supporting her YouTube channel as a contributor to food sustainability.
As for nutrition, for her, DIET is: A way of life, a life-style concern, your life-style.
Despina Varaklas
Clinical Dietician-Psychologist
Health Educator
Graduate of Arizona State University
+30 6976 490 430
+972 503956389
despina@despinavaraklas.com
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