Curriculum Vitae
Diakonis Vasilios MD PhD
Surgeon Ophthalmologist
Medical Degree: University of Crete
Ph.D.: Institute of Vision and Optics (Supervisor: Prof. Ioannis G. Pallikaris)
Ophthalmology Specialty: University Hospital of Heraklion, Crete
Fellowship: Cornea & Ocular Surface Diseases, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, U.S.A.
Academic Positions:
– Voluntary Assistant Professor, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute
– Instructor of Ophthalmology, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute
Specialist in: Cataract, Keratoconus & Refractive Surgery
Surgeon Ophthalmologist Vasileios Diakonis was born in New York, USA, and completed his secondary education in Montreal, Canada. In 2005, he graduated from the Medical School of the University of Crete and subsequently worked as a research associate at the Vardinogiannis Eye Institute for Transplantation and Microsurgery until 2008, where he completed his Ph.D. in the field of refractive surgery under the supervision of Professor Ioannis Pallikaris.
From 2009 to 2013, he pursued his ophthalmology residency at the Ophthalmology Clinic of the University Hospital of Heraklion, Crete.
After completing his residency, he moved to the United States to take up a research fellowship position at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami (ranked #1 ophthalmology hospital in the U.S.), supported by a scholarship from the Hellenic Society of Intraocular Implants and Refractive Surgery (Georgaras Scholarship), for a period of 6 months.
He then completed a clinical fellowship in Cornea and External Diseases at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami, specializing in corneal and ocular surface disorders, for a duration of 18 months.
Subsequently, he worked as a specialist ophthalmologist in cataract, corneal diseases, keratoconus, and dry eye at the Eye Institute of West Florida in the U.S. for a period of 4 years.
In 2021, he returned to Greece and has since been working at Metropolitan Hospital, where he serves as the head of the anterior segment department of the hospital’s Ophthalmology Clinic.
Mr. Diakonis offers both clinical and surgical services in the areas of cataract, refractive surgery, keratoconus, cornea, and ocular surface disorders.
Mr. Diakonis has over 90 publications in scientific journals and serves as a peer reviewer for more than 10 ophthalmology journals. His main research interests include corneal refractive surgery, corneal cross-linking for keratoconus, and modern laser-assisted cataract surgery.
He was a member of the Young Ophthalmologists Committee of the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS) for a period of 4 years.
Regarding keratoconus, Mr. Diakonis was recognized by the National Keratoconus Foundation (NKCF) in the U.S. as a leading surgeon in the country.
Medical Licenses
- Medical License (2005), Prefecture of Heraklion.
- Medical Specialty License in Ophthalmology (2013), Prefecture of Heraklion.
- Medical License, Medical Faculty Certificate, Florida Board of Medicine, Florida, USA. Educational medical license (MFC1714, April 2014 – April 2016). (appsmqa.doh.state.fl.us)
- Unrestricted Medical License, Florida Board of Medicine, Florida, USA (ME 130196, October 2016).
Awards & Scholarships
- Scholarship from the Hellenic Society of Intraocular Implants and Refractive Surgery, February 2014, “Spyros Georgaras”.
- Best Paper Award in Refractive Surgery at the 15th ESCRS Winter Meeting, Istanbul, Turkey, February 18–20, 2011
“Outcomes of corneal collagen cross-linking with riboflavin and ultraviolet-A irradiation in keratoconic patients with thin corneas” - Best Poster Award at the XXV ESCRS Congress, September 2007, Stockholm, Sweden “Effect of excimer laser repetition rate in post-PRK haze formation”
- Best Research Paper in Dry Eye Disease at the 39th Panhellenic Ophthalmology Congress, Thessaloniki, June 7–11, 2006 “Study of corneal changes in postmenopausal women with dry eye”
- School spirit award, Kells Academy, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, 1996.
- Biology award, Kells Academy, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, 1996.
Education – Postgraduate Training – Diplomas
General education
- High School Diploma, Kells Academy, Montreal, Quebec, Canada (1997).
Undergraduate education
- University of Crete, Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Medicine Degree: Very Good (1997–2004)
- Clinical training in Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School (April 2003)
Postgraduate education
- Paid research associate at the Vardinogiannis Eye Institute for Transplantation and Microsurgery (January 2005 – May 2008), Medical School, University of Crete.
- Ph.D. Dissertation (June 2005 – October 2012), Medical School, University of Crete
Grade: Excellent
Title: “Study of corneal wound healing response using confocal microscopy after surface photorefractive surgery for the correction of refractive errors.” - Residency (May 2009 – May 2013), Department of Ophthalmology, University General Hospital of Heraklion (PAGNI) Specialty Title (2013): Ophthalmology
Postgraduate training abroad
- Postgraduate training in eye surgery (phacoemulsification course), Eye Research Center & Dr. Agarwal’s Eye Hospital, Chennai, India (October 2011 – November 2011).
- Postgraduate training in eye surgery (advanced phacoemulsification workshop), Sai Surya Netra Seva, Pune, India (November 2011 – December 2011).
- Postgraduate training (research fellowship), full-time position with scholarship, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami, USA (January 2013 – June 2013).
- Postgraduate training, specialization in cornea and ocular surface diseases (clinical fellowship in Cornea and External Diseases), full-time salaried position, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami, USA (November 2014 – April 2016).
