We are thrilled to share that another d.HOLIDAY conference has concluded with resounding success. Taking place on 25 September in the vibrant and historic city of Athens, Greece, the event brought together patient associations, medical professionals, holiday dialysis experts, specialised travel agencies, and d.HOLIDAY coordinators from our global network to connect, collaborate and spark new ideas about the future of holiday dialysis.
Running under the title “United through holiday dialysis”, the event featured presentations by senior Diaverum executives, patient association representatives and patient advocates, as well as a visit to the Diaverum Medfil Peristeri clinic. Participants also had the opportunity to join the d.HOLIDAY Fair, where representatives presented holiday possibilities in their respective countries.
During his welcoming speech, Bruno Polizio, Diaverum’s Stakeholder Communications VP, talked about Greece’s heritage as well as Diaverum’s presence in the country, and the significant role it plays in the company’s portfolio and in the further development of the holiday dialysis sector in the region. Marta Olim, d.HOLIDAY Coordinator for Diaverum Portugal, followed, with a presentation on ‘Let’s Travel Together’ a unique initiative through which group trips are organised for Portugal-based dialysis patients and their caregivers within the country, giving them the confidence to travel.
The event featured several special guests who shared their personal perspectives about travelling while on dialysis. First, Jan Świątczak, a patient advocate and dialysis patient from Poland, provided an overview of this travel plans across borders and invaluable insights into planning trips. Next, Antonis Chatzisavvas, a patient advocate and dialysis patient from Greece, along with his wife and care partner, Eirini Kotsifakou, offered insights into life on dialysis and what patients should keep in mind when planning their holidays in Greece, emphasising the importance of early planning and travelling with a partner. Finally, Jette Thaarup, a representative of the Danish Kidney Patient Association, discussed the importance of group travel, how she plans group trips, and why the Danish KPA chooses Diaverum for holiday dialysis, highlighting the consistent, high standards of care across all clinics and our highly-skilled staff.
The presentations concluded with Peter Economides, the established brand strategist with whom we've collaborated for a number years, in bringing our brand culture to life. He discussed travel as fundamental to living a fulfilling life, and d.HOLIDAY as a powerful expression of our True care culture.
The global d.HOLIDAY leadership team commented on the event’s success. Michaela Blomstrand, Global Director Patient Experience and Stakeholder Management, shared: “I was delighted to connect with our partners from across our global network and have meaningful conversations about how to continue empowering dialysis patients to live fulfilling lives. I am truly grateful to everyone who participated and contributed to the event”. Elenor Mårtensson, Global Customer Manager, added: “Providing life-enhancing holiday dialysis experiences would not be possible without the remarkable individuals who make up our team. I am sincerely thankful to our d.HOLIDAY Coordinators worldwide and our partners, who work tirelessly to ensure dialysis patients can travel with confidence, just like anyone else”.
Bruno Polizio, Diaverum's Stakeholder Communications VP, noted: “This year, we decided to host the d.HOLIDAY conference in Greece - the 24th country proudly added to our global network this year. Our ambition is to make Greece a top destination for dialysis travellers across the world, not only for its well-known tourist attractions, but also for the high-quality dialysis care we offer in our Greek clinics”.
d.HOLIDAY offers life-enhancing holiday dialysis experiences to patients around the world. It caters to all aspects of holiday dialysis, ensuring continuity of care outside a patient’s home clinic. Visit this page to find out more about the Programme. More information about the 2024 d.HOLIDAY Conference can be found here.