Dr. Barbara Karin Vela

Specialist Family Medicine & Diving Physician

Specializations

• Diagnosis and management of acute health conditions (Upper and Lower respiratory infections, Gastrointestinal infections, Urinary tract infections)
• Diagnosis and management of chronic health conditions (Hypertension, Diabetes Mellitus, Asthma, Hypercholesterolemia, Obesity)
• Women’s health (Pap smears, Breast screenings, Bone health)
• Pediatrics
• Immunizations and travel health
• Vitamin and mineral deficiencies
• Health check ups, preventive medicine, lifestyle advice, cancer screening
• Offshore (OEUK/OGUK) medical exams
• Diving medical exams – recreational and commercial (IMCA, UKDMC, PADI, BSAC, AIDA, SSI)
• Mental health
• Rashes, skin conditions
• Backache and joint problems
• Gastrointestinal disorders

Experience

Dr Karin Vela is a well-rounded family physician with expertise in different medical fields including diving medicine and experience with pediatric cases. Her goal is to build lasting and trusted relationship with her patients and their families. Dr Karin Vela’s approach is patient centered, holistic and evidence based.

Dr Karin Vela graduated from the University of Zagreb Faculty of Medicine in 2000 and started working as a General Practitioner first in Croatia, and then in the UAE. She moved to Dubai in 2004 to work with patients in General practice and Family medicine at Emirates Hospital’s busy walk-in clinic. In 2007, she joined Dubai London Clinic and has been working as a Family doctor ever since. To keep in touch with pediatric cases, Dr Karin Vela joined one of Dubai’s top primary schools as a part-time school doctor from 2014 to 2021. After becoming a certified recreational diver herself, Dr Karin Vela pursued and obtained a diploma in Diving medicine in 2012. She is qualified to perform assessments of working and recreational divers or compressed air workers, and can manage diving accidents, advise diving contractors and others on diving medicine and physiology.

Dr Karin Vela enjoys a variety of work in the field of Family Medicine, and have a special interest in Chronic diseases, Women’s health and Preventive medicine. She is happy to see patients of all ages and genders (children and adults).

Qualifications

• Medical doctor University of Zagreb School of Medicine
• MRCGP, Royal College of General Practitioners, London, UK
• BscMedHons (underwater Medicine), University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa
• Divers Alert Network Europe (DAN): Dive Medical Officer/Medical Director for UAE
• The European Diving technology Committee (E.D.T.C.): Associate Member of Medical Subcommittee
• International Diving Medical Expert Board (IDMEB): National Coordinator for UAE
• UK Diving Medical Committee (UKDMC): Overseas Medical Referee
• IMCA Medical Examiner of Divers: Middle East & India Initiative
• OEUK/OGUK: offshore medical examinations