Endocrinology · Diabetes · Metabolism

Dr Maria Karaflou MichalasMD, MSc, PhD

Endocrinologist & Metabolism Specialist

Athens · Oxford · London trained  ·  EMAS Mentor  ·  National SCOPE Fellow

Clinician–scientist in endocrinology and metabolism, trained in Athens, Oxford and London. Research and practice concentrate on menopause and perimenopause, metabolic bone disease, diabetes, thyroid disorders and reproductive endocrinology — with an active European role in menopause education and obesity care (EMAS Mentor; National SCOPE Fellow).

Partner with Dr Karaflou Selected publications

Credentials

Academic excellence

A continuous path from top national medical school entry through doctoral research and dual specialty recognition in Greece and the United Kingdom.

  1. Medical School entry — University of Athens

    National examinations score 19.92/20 (first place, Medical School of Athens).

  2. MD — Medicine

    Medical Degree, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.

  3. PhD — Reproductive / Gynaecological Endocrinology

    Doctorate awarded with grade Excellent, 2nd Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, University of Athens (Dir. Prof. G. Creatsas).

  4. MSc — Metabolic Bone Disease

    Master’s degree awarded with grade Excellent (supervision: E. Lambrinoudaki).

  5. Specialty — Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism

    Specialty title (Greece) and inclusion on the UK Specialty Register as Endocrinologist. GMC reference 6157304.

Global pathway

International training

Clinical and research experience across leading centres in the United States and the United Kingdom, alongside specialist training in Greece.

2004

Brown University

Elective, Department of Dermatology, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI, USA.

2007

King’s College London

Scientific collaborator, Department of Endocrinology, under Prof. Alan McGregor.

2007–2008

Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals

Specialty trainee in Medicine / Immunology, Horton & John Radcliffe Hospitals, Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust.

2013–2014

St George’s Hospital / University of London

Clinical Fellow in Endocrinology & Diabetes; investigator on PREVENT (St George’s University of London with Mount Sinai, New York).

Clinical focus

Areas of expertise

Evidence-based care across the lifespan, with particular depth in midlife women’s health, metabolic bone disease, and complex endocrine disorders.

  • Menopause & perimenopause

    Assessment and management of the menopausal transition, including hormone therapy and related metabolic considerations.

  • Osteoporosis & metabolic bone disease

    Diagnosis and treatment pathways grounded in specialised postgraduate training in metabolic bone disease.

  • Diabetes & metabolism

    Clinical endocrinology spanning diabetes care and broader metabolic disorders.

  • Thyroid disorders

    Full-spectrum thyroid care, including oncology board membership at a private hospital.

  • Reproductive endocrinology

    Gynaecological and reproductive endocrine conditions, informed by doctoral research.

  • Adolescence

    Endocrine care in adolescence, drawing on specialist paediatric hospital training.

  • Weight management (SCOPE)

    National SCOPE Fellow — structured expertise in obesity and weight control within endocrine and metabolic care.

Scholarship

Research themes

A programme linking midlife endocrine health with metabolism, bone, and health-systems questions.

  • Menopause, perimenopause & hormone therapy

    Safety signals and mechanisms under HRT (including apoptosis-related serum markers), clinical midlife care, and European menopause education.

  • Body composition across the menopausal transition

    How fat, lean mass and related measures shift through perimenopause, including corresponding-author work in Maturitas (2024).

  • Aging populations & health systems

    Peer-reviewed commentary on demographic aging and the associated societal and healthcare-system burden (Maturitas, 2025).

  • Antioxidants, diabetes & nephropathy

    Investigator role on PREVENT (St George’s / Mount Sinai) and recent work on antioxidants in menopausal transition and late-onset hypogonadism.

  • Metabolic bone disease

    Postgraduate specialisation and ongoing clinical–academic interest in osteoporosis prevention and endocrine bone care.

  • Weight & metabolic risk

    National SCOPE Fellow (weight management), integrating obesity care within endocrine practice (@hormones_metabolism_clinic).

Research

Selected publications

Peer-reviewed publications spanning menopause and hormone therapy, body composition across the menopausal transition, antioxidants and metabolic risk, apoptosis markers, and diabetic nephropathy.

  1. Antioxidants in Menopausal Transition and Male Late-Onset Hypogonadism for the Prevention of Diabetes.

    Karaflou M, Kaprara A, Goulis DG. Antioxidants (Basel), 2026.

    PubMed PMID: 42351965

  2. The growing challenge of aging populations: Addressing health and societal impacts.

    Karaflou M, Goulis DG. Maturitas, 2025.

    PubMed PMID: 40934636

  3. Body composition analysis: A snapshot across the perimenopause.

    Karaflou M, Goulis DG. Maturitas, 2024. Corresponding author: M. Karaflou.

    PubMed PMID: 38086169

  4. Modulation of endogenous antioxidant defense and the progression of kidney disease in multi-heritage groups of patients with type 2 diabetes: PREVENT.

    Earle KA, Zitouni K, Pepe J, Karaflou M, Godbold J Jr. J Transl Med, 2016.

    PubMed PMID: 27492324

  5. Estrogen plus progestin treatment: effect of different progestin components on serum markers of apoptosis in healthy postmenopausal women.

    Karaflou M, Kaparos G, Rizos D, Creatsa M, Christodoulakos G, Lambrinoudaki I. Fertil Steril, 2010.

    PubMed PMID: 20493474

  6. Apoptosis in atherosclerosis: a mini-review.

    Karaflou M, Lambrinoudaki I, Christodoulakos G. Mini Rev Med Chem, 2008.

    PubMed PMID: 18691148

Additional papers & abstracts

  • Lambrinoudaki I, Karaflou M, et al. The effect of hormone therapy and tibolone on serum CD40L and ADAM-8 in healthy postmenopausal women. Journal of Endocrinological Investigation, 2010. PMID 20436265
  • Lambrinoudaki I, Karaflou M, et al. Effect of tibolone and raloxifene on serum markers of apoptosis in postmenopausal women. Climacteric, 2012. PMID 22642937
  • Karaflou M. Body composition analysis in healthy European women aged 43–50: a snapshot across the perimenopause (conference abstract). Maturitas, 2023. Abstract

Networks

Mentorship & affiliations

Active engagement with European menopause education and membership of major endocrine societies.

EMAS JuMP Education Mentor 2025–2027 National SCOPE Fellow

Selected as an Education Mentor for the European Menopause and Andropause Society Junior Mentorship Programme (JuMP) 2025–2027, mentoring two early-career clinicians across two academic years. Her private clinic (@hormones_metabolism_clinic) is among approximately 27 European clinical settings designated to host JuMP training.

Professional societies

  • Endocrine Society
  • European Society of Endocrinology (ESE)
  • American Association of Clinical Endocrinology (AACE)
  • American Thyroid Association (ATA)
  • Hellenic Endocrine Society
  • European Menopause and Andropause Society (EMAS)
  • Hellenic Society of Climacteric & Menopause
  • Hellenic Foundation of Osteoporosis

Education & outreach

Professional & public education

Educational writing on menopause and bone health for clinicians and the public, including Greek-language practice communication.

Menopause & osteoporosis

Postmenopausal osteoporosis diagnosis and treatment selection, with reference to Endocrine Society guidance.

Read on mariakaraflou.gr (EL)

Digital education channels

Continuing professional and public updates via the Greek clinic website and Instagram @hormones_metabolism_clinic.

Partnerships

Collaborate

For research collaboration, mentorship placements, educational programmes and medical-industry scientific partnerships.

Institutional & industry contact

Practice location