Speakers of the 5th Eastern European Conference of Mental Health
IN AND OUT OF YOUR MIND
30 September – 2 October 2021
DRAGOS ALEXANDRU (Romania)
Graduate degree (Sep 2004) in both Medicine (followed by MSc in Management of Health Care Units) and Informatics (followed by MSc in Artificial Intelligence and Communications Technologies), PhD in Medicine (Sep 2012, Physiology). Specialist M.D. in Public Health and Management (Dec 2009). Junior Teaching Assistant (Oct 2005) and Teaching Assistant (Mar 2009) in the Department of Medical Informatics and Biostatistics of the University of Pharmacy and Medicine of Craiova. Contributions to many scientific papers from various fields of medical practice and research, published in international and national peer-reviewed journals, due to his involvement in Biostatistics.
YAZAN AL-SARAYRAH (Jordan)
Senior Resident in Psychiatry Department in King Hussein Medical Center in Amman-Jordan. He has a Bachelor degree in Medicine and Surgery from Mutah University in Jordan. He Currently holds rank of 1st Lieutenant, Military Doctor in Royal Medical Services / Jordanian Armed Forces. He was Part of Psychological Care Team for COVID-19 Patients in Jordan. His fields of interest are in Research of Mood and Anxiety Disorders.
MOHAMMED AL-SBOU (Jordan)
Professor in Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Mutah University, Jordan. He has a Bachelor degree in Medicine and Surgery from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece, PhD from the University of Liverpool, and MSc from the University of Manchester in the UK. He is currently the Chairman of the Pharmacology Department at the Faculty of Medicine. He is the chairman of the Health and Hazzard Evaluation Committee at the Jordan Food and Drug Administration (JFDA) and Head of the Pharmacovigilance Center for South Jordan at Al-Karak Governmental Teaching Hospital. He is chairman and a member in several committees at the Faculty of Medicine, Al-Karak Teaching Hospital and JFDA. He has many publications in national and international peer reviewed journals.
HIROAKI AMBO (Japan)
Professor atYamagata Prefectural University of Health Sciences, Japan is PhD (Health Sciences), University of Tokyo (2005), Master of Health Sciences, University of Tokyo (2002), and Bachelor of Health Science in Nursing, University of Tokyo (1999). He is also Japan Registered Nurse License (RN), Certified Public Health Nurse (PHN), and Certified Psychiatric Social Worker (PSW) and Certified Clinical Psychologist. Member of Japan Academy of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing, Japan Academy of Public Mental Health, Japan Academy of rehabilitation for mental disorders, Japan Psychiatric Nurses Association (JPNA), Japan Nurses Association (JNA), and reviewer for Japan Journal of Nursing Sciences and Japan Journal of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing. Member of the Yamagata Committee of Suicide Prevention Board, of the Coalition for Higher Education for social work and care management, and Mental Health Education Instructor.
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MIHAI BRAN (Romania)
Psychiatrist, digital health enthusiast and co-founder of Inomedica, an NGO that promotes online information and education for both patients and medical specialists and co-founder of Atlas (atlashelp.ro), the first platform for online video psychotherapy sessions.
MONICA LAURA CARA (Romania)
Specialist in Public Health and Management. Associated lecturer of the Public Health Department at University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova. Experience in social services management, working with children with mental illness as coordinator of a Community Services Complex (residential center and rehabilitation center for children with disabilities), under The General Directorate of Social Assistance and Child Protection Dolj, Romania. Special research interests in maternal fetal health, genetic and rare diseases, quality management in healthcare, mental health. Numerous scientific papers at national and international conferences. Member of European Public Health Association (EUPHA).
JANA CHIHAI (Moldova)
Psychiatrist and psychotherapist, Associate Professor in Psychiatry Department of State Medical and Pharmaceutical University Nicolae Testemitanu in Chisinau, and senior Mental Health Advisor in Trimbos Institute Moldova, project MENSANA. President of National Society of Psychiatrists, Narcologists, Psychotherapist and Clinical Psychologists. She studied medicine and psychiatry, received psychotherapeutic specialization in European School of Psychotherapy, Socio- and Somatoanalyse in Strasbourg, France and Association of Integrative Psychotherapy and Clinical Psychology, Iași, Romania. Since 2000 she promoted a new approach in mental health – Community-based services and is very implicated in mental health reform in Republic of Moldova.
COSTIN CIBEA (France)
Registered psychiatrist since 2012, when he opened his own private practice in Bucharest. Currently employed on a fixed term contract as a psychiatrist, by the Psychiatric Unit of the Centre Hospitalier de Roanne in France. His areas of interest are psychotherapy and a phenomenological - existential focus. He had complete a training as psychotherapist, in the Existential Analysis method developed by Doctor Alfried Laengle and the Viennese School of Existential Analysis (GLE International).
CATALINA CRISAN (Romania)
Specialist in Adult Psychiatry and Lecturer at the Department of Neurosciences, Discipline of Psychiatry and Pediatric Psychiatry, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Iuliu Hatieganu Cluj-Napoca. Her research interests are devoted towards evaluation of the awareness of disease in psychiatric disorders, forensic psychiatry and the evaluation of psychiatric symptoms in neurodegenerative disorders, especially Huntington disease. Her expertise in the field of psychiatry is completed with courses in the field of psychosis and mood disorders at Maudsley Forum, King’s College London (2007), Mental Health Futures: Schizophrenia Masterclass, Madrid, 2013 and project European standards for competitive postdoc formation programs in the domain of advanced reaserch and forensic psychiatry (2011-2013). She is a member in the New Comission of psychiatric forensic expertise and of the Huntington’s disease service in Romania.
CAMELIA CRISMARIU (Romania)
Psychologist specialized in the field of Special Psychology and Special Education, with a master’s degree in Speech Therapy for Language and Communication Disorders at the University of Bucharest, in Applied Behavior Analysis at Clemson University and in Cognitive Psychodiagnosis and Psychological Counseling at the Ecologic University Bucharest. She started working with children with autism implementing applied behavior analysis techniques since 2009. In 2015, she started her collaboration with Help Autism association where she activates as therapist, coordinator for the individual intervention plans for children with ASD, evaluator and trainer of courses in ABA therapy.
GIOVANNI DE GIROLAMO (Italy)
Head of the Unit of Psychiatric Epidemiology and Evaluation, IRCCS St. John of God Clinical Research Centre, Brescia, Professor, Faculty of Psychology, Lab on Psychology and Psychiatry, Catholic University, Milan, Professor, Post-Graduate School in Psychiatry, Medical School, University of Milan Bicocca. In 1977, he graduated with first class honors in Medicine the 2nd Medical School, University of Naples, with a Doctoral Thesis in Psychiatry. Former Scientific Director of the St. John of God Clinical Research Centre, he was involved as Principal Investigator in several international and national research projects, nowadays being the coordinator of a research team. Dr. De Girolamo is editor referee and member of editorial board of numerous international scientific journals. In 2016, he received the Award of the Physician Association of Salerno (Ordine dei Medici), and in 2019 he was nominated among the 80 Italian researchers most cited from all disciplines.
INA DIMITROVA (Bulgaria)
She received her PhD in social and political philosophy from Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Institute for the Study of Knowledge and Societies, and currently is associate professor at Plovdiv University Paisii Hilendarski in social philosophy and bioethics. She is also honorary lecturer at St. Kl. Ohridski Sofia University in the MA programme Integrative Bioethics. Her research interests include disability studies, politics of reproduction and population, social studies of science, technology, and medicine.
SVETLANA DIMITROVA (Bulgaria)
She is PhD in psychology, graduate psychotherapist, certified member of the World Association of Positive Psychotherapy - Wiesbaden, Germany. She graduated Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski in 2003 and has a professional experience in a therapy field of counseling and clinical psychology with children and adults, works with crisis and anxiety disorders, addictions and eating disorders. She has practices in the family system and individual psychotherapy of children and adults and has specialized in the family and child psychology. She has published articles and reports in scientific journals and she has participated to international conferences, seminars and other scientific forums.
VERONIKA DIMITROVA (Bulgaria)
Assistant Professor at the Department of Sociology, Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski. She is co-author of the book Portraits of disappearing Sofia (2012), author of Governmentality of poverty. Hygiene and medicine in interwar years (2018) and coordinator of the research team of the project Mental health and social inequalities. Fields of interest: sociology of medicine, history of medicine and urban studies.
LISA DIXON (USA)
Edna L. Edison Professor of Psychiatry at the Columbia University Medical Center where she directs the Division of Behavioral Health Services and Policy Research and the Center for Practice Innovations (CPI) at the New York State Psychiatric Institute. Dr. Dixon is an internationally recognized health services researcher with over 25 years of continuous research funding from the National Institute of Mental Health, the VA and foundations. As CPI director, she oversees activities for the New York State Office of Mental Health in implementing evidence based practices in behavioral health programs throughout the state. Dr. Dixon assumed the role of editor in chief of the journal, Psychiatric Services in January, 2017.
FLORIDA DOBI (Albania)
PhD since 2015, she is a child and adolescent psychiatrist with 15 years of experience in clinical work and specialized in infant neuropsychiatry at the National Neurology Institute Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy. Director of Albanian National Center for Children Rehabilitation and Treatment and a lecturer in Faculty of Medical and Technical Sciences in Speech Therapy Department. Member of the working groups for drafting mental health policies and clinical treatment protocols, Ministry of Health.
ROBERT DRAKE (USA)
MD, PhD, with more than 40 years of experience in psychiatric rehabilitation research. He is recognized internationally for his many contributions to transforming services toward greater alignment with client goals and the recovery process. He is co-developer of the IPS model of supported employment, one of the most successful and influential evidence-based practices in psychiatric rehabilitation.
LAVINIA DUICA (Romania)
Associate Professor at Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu, Chief of the Clinic Department of the Dr. Gh. Preda Psychiatric Hospital Sibiu and residency coordinator. She has graduated University of Medicine and Pharmacy Craiova and Faculty of Psychology, Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu; she has been trained in Psychiatry in Craiova and Sibiu and in Existential Analysis and Logotherapy Counselling and Psychotherapy School in Bucharest. She obtained her PhD at the Gr. T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy Iasi. Dr. Lavinia Duica participated at numerous national and international scientific manifestations and is the author of many scientific works. Her areas of interest are suicidal behavior, schizophrenia, affective disorders, mental health services and existential analysis psychotherapy.
FATIME ELEZI (Albania)
Lecturer of Psychiatry at the Tirana Medical University, is currently clinical Head of Emergency Unit, Psychiatry Division, Department of Neuroscience, Tirana University Hospital Center Mother Teresa. Head of Albanian Psychiatric Association and active member of European Psychiatric Association. Member of the working groups for drafting the Regulation of Mental Health in Albania and the curricula of the Faculty of Medical and Technical Sciences.
AGIM GJIKOPULLI (Albania)
PhD since 2016, paediatrician endocrinologist at University Hospital Center Mother Teresa, Neurology–Endocrinology-Gastroenterology service in Pediatric Department. Experienced clinician in pediatric endocrinology field, as well as in pediatric emergency and metabolic disorders. Master in Pediatrics and author of many publication in child endocrinology and metabolic disorders. A lecturer in Tirana Medical University and Member of Albanian Pediatric Association.
DONALD GOFF (USA)
Dr. Goff is a translational clinical researcher who studies and treats schizophrenia, former Director of the Schizophrenia Clinical and Research Program at the Massachusetts General Hospital and Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School prior to moving to New York in 2012 to become the Marvin Stern Professor and Vice Chair for Research in Psychiatry at New York University Langone Medical Center and Director of the Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research. He earned his medical degree at UCLA and completed his internship in Internal Medicine at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles and his residency in Psychiatry at MGH in Boston. His research fellowship in Psychopharmacology was completed at Tufts-New England Medical Center in Boston. He is the recipient of the Kempf Award for Mentorship in Biological Psychiatry from the APA; the Wayne Fenton, MD, Award for Exceptional Clinical Care; the Stanley Dean Award for Research in Schizophrenia from the American College of Psychiatrists and the Research Award from the APA. He is also a member of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology and Associate Editor for Psychiatry at JAMA.
KAMAL CONSTANTIN KAMAL (Romania)
Lecturer in the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova. MD-GP concerned with diagnostic, therapeutic, prevention and information activities, involving also the management of mental health diseases. He has acquired a PhD degree since 2013 at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova. He obtained a master’s degree in Management of Health Services since 2017 at the same university. Beside his clinical and teaching activities, he is also involved in research, he had published books and articles in his expertise field. He was an active member both in international and national teams, on several research projects.
KLEIDA MATI RAMIZI (Albania)
University Lecturer Faculty of Technical Medical Sciences at the Tirana Medical University. Medical Oncologist at Regional Hospital in Vlora city, and Scientific Social Media Officer of European School of Oncology. Actively involved in breast cancer and in psychological aspects of patients with cancer (psycho-oncology) as well as in personalised cancer medicine and patient education. President of Medical Institute of Albania
ALEKSANDRA MILICEVICI-KALASIC (Serbia)
Specialist in neuropsychiatry, holds a PhD on neuro-psychiatric disorders in the elderly and a master’s degree in neuropsychology. She is the founder of the Department of Mental Health and Pain Treatment at the Institute of Gerontology, Palliative Care, and Home Treatment, where she still works, improving systematical approaches for the elderly, disabled, functionally dependent people with psychiatric and neurologic disorders. Former Associate Professor at the Singidunum University - Department for Social Work since 2013, forensic expert since 1996, Professor at the Specialized Medical School in Belgrade in the period 2011-2014 and Fogarty fellow at the University of California, Berkeley. Dr Milićević-Kalašić worked as a National Counterpart for WHO Mental Health programs from 2003-2011. She has been the co-chair of the OAP section of WPA since 2013-2019. Moreover, dr Milićević-Kalašić is involved in humanitarian work as a volunteer and lecturer.
DAVOR MUCIC (Denmark)
Psychiatrist in Copenhagen with special interest in e-Mental Health, who established the Little Prince Psychiatric Centre where he developed telepsychiatry since 2000. In 2011 DM launched Telemental Health Section within EPA, and in 2015 he re-activated the Section on Informatics within WPA and is a board member of the section. He is Editor-in-Chief of Edorium Journal of Psychiatry and he published a number of scientific articles related to telepsychiatry development in Denmark. DM described a variety of e-Mental Health applications and services in the edited book e-Mental Health, published by Springer in 2016. Currently, he coordinates Expert Group on e-Mental Health within WPA aimed to propose a plan of action related to WPA response to the COVID-19 pandemic. DM is the author of WPA Telepsychiatry Global Guidelines (in press). For excellent service to the WPA, he has recently been awarded as an Honorary Member of WPA.
MIHAI MUTICA (Romania)
He has graduated Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy from Iassy. He has completed his PhD from University of Medicine and Pharmacy Craiova in 2016 and in present he is certified physician practicing psychiatry at Elisabeta Doamna Psychiatry Hospital, Galati, Romania. He is involved in numerous research and advocacy projects in mental health.
VLADIMIR NAKOV (Bulgaria)
Psychiatrist, head of the Mental Health Department in the National Centre of Public Health and Analyses, Sofia, Bulgaria. He studied medicine at the Medical University – Pleven. Since 1998 he worked at several psychiatric hospitals as a psychiatrist. In 2002, he became a specialist in psychiatry. Since January 2015 he is defending PhD study in the field of social medicine. Since 2007 he has been working in the field of mental health promotion and prevention of mental disorders, especially of prevention of suicide in Bulgaria. He wrote over 40 publications for academic journals and book for suicides in Bulgaria. Dr. Nakov is a Governmental expert on dementia since 2018, member of the Section of Suicidology and Suicide Prevention on EPA and representative for Bulgaria. One of the founders of the Mental Health Association of South-Eastern Europe.
ANDREEA MIHAELA NITA (Romania)
Senior Lecturer at University of Craiova, Faculty of Social Sciences, teaching a variety of courses in Sociology domain at Department of Sociology, Philosophy and Social Work. Since 2009 she is PhD in Sociology at the University of Bucharest – Faculty of Sociology and Social Work and she also has graduated two master programs: Management and development human resources, and Communications and public relations. Her main research interests include analysis of labour market and human resources, institutional communication, community development and sociology of education, family and organizations. She is the author and co-author of several sociological quantitative researches and qualitative in the field of Sociology of work and organizations, labour market, project management, sociology of family and sociology of education.
PETRE RADESCU (Romania)
Counselor, psychotherapist, psychiatrist in Bucharest, since 2012; psychotherapy training since 2014. He has graduated Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Craiova (2003) and he have became Psychiatric specialist – University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Carol Davila”, Bucharest (2011). Specialized training in logotherapy, existential analytical support and counseling, SAEL Romania (2009), existential analytical psychotherapy, SAEL Romania (2013), existential analytical psychotherapy, GLE International (2013). Master in Sports Performance, National University of Physical Education and Sport, Bucharest (2016), Doctoral studies – Performance in Sport, National University of Physical Education and Sport, Bucharest, 2015-2018.
MARCO SARCHIAPONE (Italy)
Psychiatrist and psychoanalyst, is Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Molise, Italy. He is the Chairman of the Section of Suicidology and Suicide Prevention of the European Psychiatric Association (www.suicidologysection.org), member of the Section of Suicide of the World Psychiatric Association, member of the International Academy of Suicide Research, member of the Task Force of Genetic of Suicide of the World Federation of the Biological Society of Psychiatry, member of the International association of Suicide Prevention, member of the European Brain Council –Suicide Prevention Working Group-, member of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ECNP) – Suicide Network and the ECNP – European Unified Suicide Prevention Platform (EUSPP). He is the Editor in chief of the open access journal Suicidology Online (www.suicidology-online.com) and associate editor of BMC Psychiatry.
EUGJEN SOTIRI (Albania)
University Lecturer Department of Neuroscience at the Tirana Medical University. Experienced psychiatrist at Emergency Unit, Psychiatry Division, Department of Neuroscience, Tirana University Hospital Center Mother Teresa. General Secretary of Albanian Psychiatric Association and Board member of Albanian Medical Institute. Member of the working groups for drafting psychiatric clinical treatment protocols and national screening protocol on depression, Ministry of Health.
BIANCA DANIELA SUCIU (Romania)
Assistant professor at the Department of Neurosciences, Psychiatry and Pediatric Psychiatry Chair, Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania. PhD student of the doctoral School in the field of Medical Science at UMF, Cluj-Napoca, Romania. Cognitive behavioural psychotherapist in training, Romanian association of Cognitive behavioural therapies, University Babeș Bolyai and Albert Ellis Institute USA, Cluj-Napoca (Romania). Level I EMDR psychotherapist, Romanian association of EMDR. Psychotherapist in positive therapy in training, Elipsiona, Cluj-Napoca (Romania).
SONILA TOMORI (Albania)
PhD since 2015, child and adolescent psychiatrist at University Hospital Center Mother Teresa, Pediatric Department in Neurology-Endocrinology-Gastroenterology service. As a researcher in Albanian Rare Disease Center, her work is focused on psychiatric and psychologic aspects of patients with rare diseases and other comorbidities. Her clinical work consists in children with autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders, psychosomatics and pediatric psycho-oncology. A lecturer in Tirana Medical University and one of the founders of Albanian Medical Institute.
AGNES VERBRUGGEN (Belgium)
Social worker, sociologist, lawyer, mediator. Lecturer at University College of Ghent, Belgium. Supervisor in the workfield among with mobile mental health teams. Independent practice in mediation in private and labour situations. Author of several books on the topic of integrity and professional ethics.
GERMAIN WEBER (Austria)
Professor of Psychology at the University of Vienna, Faculty of Psychology, Department of Health, Development, Enhancement, Intervention. From October 2008 to September 2016 Prof. Weber acted as Dean of the Faculty of Psychology at the University of Vienna, and subsequently as Vice-Dean. At the Université du Luxembourg Professor Weber holds an associate professorship where he teachers clinical psychology on a regular basis. Further, Dr. Weber acts as president of “Lebenshilfe Österreich”, the major Austrian NGO offering systems of support for over 10.000 persons with intellectual disabilities and advocating for them on a national and European level. Since many years Dr. Weber is involved in European Union funded research projects on learning disabilities, intellectual disabilities, aging and assistive technologies.
MICHAEL NOAH WEISS (Norway)
Associate professor at the Department of Educational Science / University of South-Eastern Norway and has a PhD in philosophy. In 2012 he received the Trilogos Diploma and for several years he practiced as a trainer and teacher at the Trilogos Institute in Zürich. Currently he is advisory board member of the Trilogos Foundation.
HEINZ KATSCHNIG (Austria)
Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry of the Medical University of Vienna, where he was Chairman of the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy from 1991 to 2007. From 1978 to 2014 he was Director of the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Social Psychiatry in Vienna. He has a longstanding research record, on, among others, the topics of health services research, epidemiology, public health, quality of life and life change events with a focus on mental health and physical comorbidity. He was work package leader of several EU-funded projects and of the Austrian COMET project DEXHELPP. His list of publications comprises more than 400 items. He was and is member of national (e.g. Advisory Board for Mental Health of the Austrian Ministry of Health), and international committees (WHO, European Commission, World Psychiatric Association) related to mental health policy and planning.
FELIX SISENOP (Germany)
MA in Sociology, PhD student on resilience, resilience trajectories and lifetime events. Works on population-based surveys on resilience, well-being and mental health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
VIRTUT VELMISHI (Albania)
Gastroenterologist pediatrician at university medical center Mother Teresa of Tirana, Albania. He graduated the faculty of medicine of Tirana in 1999, and after was specialized as general pediatrician. In 2008 he was specialized for a year at Armand Trousseau in the field of pediatric gastroenterology. He is a regular participant to numerous national and international conferences and has a good number of articles published in international journals. His field of interest remains inflammatory bowel diseases in children.
AFERDITA TAKO (Albania)
MD, PHD, pediatrician neurologist at Mother Theresa University Hospital and assistant professor of pediatrics at University of Medicine, Tirana. Her doctoral studies focus on the comorbidity of epilepsy in autism spectrum disorder and monogenic syndromes with autistic features. She is an active member of European and Albanian pediatric societies.
TEDI MANA (Albania)
Academic Staff, Department of Science Communication at Tirana Medical University. Clinical Psychologist at Neuroscience Integrated Unit, Psychiatric Division, Tirana University Hospital Center Mother Tereza. Consulting on individual assistance plans, therapeutic interventions in community environment and follow-up. His main focus is in the social rehabilitation and Respect Human Rights of inpatients with mental health conditions. He is author of many reports and training manual regarding the Protection of Human Rights Principle in vulnerable groups in restricted institutions.
ERMIRA DERVISHI (Albania)
Dr. Ermira Dervishi graduated from the Faculty of Medicine, University of Tirana, Albania in 2001. Specialized in the pediatric gastro-hepatology field since 2010 works as a pediatrician gastro-hepatologist. She works with Gaucher disease in pediatric age and rare metabolic diseases. Problems of a functional nature in children have been her focus too, working with a multidisciplinary team in making a correct and accurate diagnosis and managing the problem from several angles. Her clinical interest is also feeding problems in children such as those with functional and organic character. After all the correct nutrition of the child to have an optimal growth is imperative for a pediatrician
ALMA MIHALJEVIC-PELES (Croatia)
Full Professor tenure at the Chair of Psychiatry and Medical Psychology on the School of Medicine, University of Zagreb. She received the Medical doctor degree from the University of Zagreb, School of Medicine, Croatia, in 1984. Since 1984 she was a Research Fellow at the University of Zagreb and received from 1985-1986 Postgraduate training in clinical pharmacology. From 1987 to 1990 she became psychiatrist. Doctoral dissertation in 1996 was on the topic The importance of lowered arylsulphatase A activity in the diagnostics and development of psychiatric disorders. Currently, she is the Head of the Division for Affective and Anxiety Disorders, University Hospital Centre Zagreb. She is mainly interested in the field of biological psychiatry and clinical psychopharmacology and has published over 300 scientific and professional papers. She is co-lecturer in various postgraduate courses. In addition, she is the actual President of national Croatian Psychiatric Association.
DANIJELA STIMAC GRBIC (Croatia)
MD, PhD, Specialist in Public Health with over 20 years of experience, Professor of Social Medicine and Organization of Healthcare at the Andrija Stampar School of Public Health - University of Zagreb, and Head of Department for Mental Health and Addiction Prevention in Croatian Institute of Public Health. She was a Research Technical Adviser on the EU Twinning project Ensuring optimal care for people with mental disorders for Croatia and she is senior researcher in the project RECOVER-e, associate at the EU Joint Action (JA) projects JADECARE and Tobacco and head of the EU-JA project ImpleMENTAL for Croatia. Since 2016, she is Croatian Focal Point for Alcohol at the WHO, and a member of the European Commission's Working Group on National Alcohol Reduction Policies (CNAPA). She is the Head of the program of specialist training in public health medicine in Croatia and she has a prodigious national and international scientific activity.
TEA VUKUSIC-RUKAVINA (Croatia)
Associate Professor at the Department of Medical Sociology and Health Economics at the Andrija Stampar School of Public Health, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb. In 2011 she obtained her PhD in Public Health, in 2012 she specialized psychiatry. From 2002-2008 she was assistant coordinator of the County Public Health Capacity Building Project – Healthy Counties program that won Management Training Excellence Award in 2006 and Global Health Program of Distinction Award in 2013 from Sustainable Management Development Program, Division of Public Health Systems and Workforce Development, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA. Since 2002 she is a director of the Media and Health Course, annual course that promotes collaboration among journalists and health professionals.
ARIEL COMO (Albania)
Professor of Psychiatry at the Tirana Medical University, is currently clinical Head of Psychiatry Division, Department of Neuroscience, Tirana University Hospital Center Mother Tereza, Deputy Dean for Continuing Medical Education at the Faculty of Medicine, Tirana Medical University. Member of the Directors’ Council of postgraduate schools in Neurosciences (including General Psychiatry and, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry), member of the National Steering Committee on Reforming the Mental Health Sector, and member of working group on developing inter-sectorial strategy on Child and Adolescent Mental Health. Since 2010 is National Coordinator at the South East European Autism Network, and Scientific Director of the Tirana Regional Center on Autism.
DONJETA BALI (Albania)
MD, PhD, Associate Professor at Medical University of Tirana. Since 2001 works in Oncohematologic Service, at Pediatric Department at University Hospital Center Mother Teresa, in Tirana, Albania. Author/co-author of oral presentations in national and international events in the field of healthcare, general pediatrics and pediatric oncohematology problems, of about 30 original publications and training manuals. General Secretary of the Albanian Pediatric Society since 2013, member of the Albanian Pediatric Association, Albanian Hematology and Transfusiology Association, European Hematology Association, Albanian Group of Palliative Care, and of the Task Force on Palliative Care in Albania. Participations as officer to the General Assemblies and Council of EPA/UNEPSA. She is involved in numerous scientific activities in national and international level.
MARIA MARTINOVA (Bulgaria)
PHD in Sociology. Her research interest are in the fields of sociology of medicine, childhood and parenthood studies.
VASKA STANCHEVA-POPKOSTADINOVA (Bulgaria)
Professor in Child Mental Health and Head of Department of Medical Social Sciences, Faculty of Public Health, Health Care and Sports, South-West University “Neofit Rilski”, Blagoevgrad. Bulgaria. Her experience and publications are in the field of child mental health: early childhood development, mental health promotion, child abuse and neglect-prevention and interventions, and play in children with disabilities. She is a member of International Society for Early intervention, International Society for Prevention of Child abuse and Neglect, International Association of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Allied Professions, Bulgarian Union of Scientists. She was involved in various research and educational projects as a scientific coordinator for Bulgaria and expert in EU funded projects (FP6, FP7, DAPHNE, COST, Structural Funds ). She is an author and co-author of more than 70 publications in national and international journals.
RUMIANA DINOLOVA (Bulgaria)
Psychiatrist, Chief Expert at the Mental Health Department of National Center of Public Health and Analyses, Sofia, Bulgaria. In 1995, she graduated in Medicine at the Medical University – Pleven, in 2004, she acquired Specialty in Psychiatry at Sofia Medical University, and in 2018, she defended her doctoral thesis on Adverse childhood experiences and risky health behaviour among students in helping professions and medicine. She has held additional specializations in Kinki University, Osaka, Japan, Trimbos Institute, GGZ, Nederland, King`s College, London, UK. Member of Bulgarian Psychiatric Association, IERA and Bulgarian Medical Association. Secretary of the Sofia Psychiatric Society (2006 – 2008), Associate lecturer at Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski and Southwestern University St. Ivan Rilski Blagoevgrad. Focal point for Bulgaria on the violence for the WHO.
JUTTA LINDERT (Germany)
PhD, full professor of Public Health at the University of Applied Sciences Emden – Leer, Germany and also affiliated as Visiting Professor at the Women`s Research Center at Brandeis University, United States. She has a long experience in Public Mental Health research, especially in the effects of social and physical environment and (relationships, violence, genocide and war) and its impact on mental health over the life course. Recently, she is working on COVID-19 pandemic and mental health outcomes. Additionally, she is Vice President of the Section on Public Mental Health of the European Association of Mental Health (EUPHA) and WHO-advisor for Mental Health and COVID-19. Currently, she is involved in several multicentre research-projects investigating mental health and resilience of vulnerable population groups.
SO YAYAMA (Japan)
Specialized in education and research in psychiatric nursing and researcher in the field of dementia care and personal recovery support. Currently, his main research theme is the Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP). PhD in Nursing at Osaka University (March 2013), and MS in Health science (Osaka University, 2007). Since 2019 Lecturer at the Department of Nursing, Kansi Medical University, Osaka. Between 2015-2019, Lecturer and Associate professor at the Department of Nursing, Kyoto Gakuen University, Kyoto, and between 2010-2015, Assistant professor and Lecturer at the Department of Nursing, Senri Kinran university, Osaka. Member of Japan Academy of Nursing Science, Japan Academy of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, Japanese Association of Psychiatric Rehabilitation, Japan Academy of Nursing Education, Japanese Psychiatric Nurses Association.
TIBERIU MIHAI BRATU (Romania)
Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, University of Bucharest, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences. Master’s degree in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy. Has over 7 years of experience in implementing Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy. Has provided specialised lecturing for Help Autism’s published books. Currently works in Help Autism’s Research & Development.
MAGDALENA CUCIUREANU (Romania)
She received her PhD in Pharmacology from Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy. She is currently a Senior Consultant in Clinical Pharmacology and is serving as a lecturer for the Department of Pharmacology, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iasi, Romania. She was a recipient of Go8 European Fellowship, the University of Adelaide, Australia in 2010 with a project regarding PTSD. Her primary interests include psychopharmacology, stress, nutrition, eicosanoids, magnesium, mycotoxins, drug interactions. She is co-author of two book chapters in international publishing houses and four books in national ones.
CORNELIA ADEOLA (Moldova)
Psychologist, psychotherapist, expert on the rights of people with intellectual and psycho-social disabilities, national trainer in mental health, within the MENSANA project; Master in Psychology, Re-master at the Nicholas C. Petris Center, University of California, Berkeley (USA).Clinical experience of over 18 years in the field of mental health (anxiety, depression, personality disorders, PTSD, complex traumas, addictions), outpatient and inpatient services, including with NATO military, in the Republic of Moldova and Netherlands. Professional skills: mentalization-based therapy, schema-based therapy, narrative therapy and narrative exposure therapy for trauma (NET), positive psychology, CBT, and positive CBT, human rights.
HERTA AGAJ (Albania)
She graduated in the University of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine in January 2017. After graduation she has worked as a general practitioner in a private practice in Tirana. In May 2018 she has started the residency program for Psychiatry in University Hospital Center Mother Teresa in Tirana
SANJA HARHAJI (Serbia)
MD, PhD, specialist in social medicine, graduated at the University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Medicine in 2006, completed her postgraduate master studies in 2011 and doctoral studies in the field of Public Health completed in 2016. She has been working at the Institute of Public Health of Vojvodina (Novi Sad, Serbia) since 2007 in the Centre for Informatics and Biostatistics in Health Care. She also works as an Assistant Professor at the Department of Social Medicine and Health Statistics with Informatics at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad. She participated at the Fogarty Fellowship Research Training Program: Socio-Economic Determinants of Mental Health Service Delivery in South-Eastern Europe (2012-2015) provided by The University of California, Berkeley and Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
ANDI ANDONI (Albania)
He has graduated in the University of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine in 2016. In February 2017 he has started work as a general practitioner at the local medical center. In July 2017 he has started working as a general practitioner also in the Penal Sentences Execution Institution. In 2018 he has started a residency program in Psychiatry in University Hospital Center Mother Teresa Tirana.
KRISTI KOLA (Albania)
He graduated in 2017 in Medicine at the University of Medicine, Tirana. After graduation he has worked as an Emergency Doctor in Shkoder and in 2018, he started the residency program for General Adult Psychiatry at the University Health Clinic Mother Teresa, Tirana, Albania
BLERINA SARACI (ALBANIA)
She graduated with honors from the Faculty of Medicine in the field of general medicine, Tirana in 2010 and later graduated as a radiologist in 2015. Since 2016 Dr. Saraci is giving her contribution in clinical and academic activity in the University Hospital Center Mother Teresa, being attached to the Pediatric Hospital, the only one in the country. Dr. Saraci is also a lecturer in Radiology at the Faculty of Medicine in Tirana and also lecturer of Nuclear Medicine and PET CT at the Faculty of Aldent, Tirana. Dr. Saraci is an active member of WFUMB and EFSUMB certified by them in Ultrasonography Trainings and legal secretary of AUA.
COLLEEN L. BARRY (USA)
The Inaugural Dean of the Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy at Cornell University has authored over 200 peer-reviewed publications, and she has led large-scale research studies. She was elected to the National Academy of Medicine in 2019, and she chaired the Forum on Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (2017-2021) and served on the Policy Council and as Vice President of the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management. Dr. Barry was the Fred and Julie Soper Professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Chair of its Department of Health Policy and Management (2017 - 2021). She was the founding director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Mental Health and Addiction Policy (CMAP) and established the John Hopkins StigmaLab. She was a faculty member at Yale School of Public Health (2004 – 2010) and received her PhD in health policy from Harvard University (2004) and her Master of Public Policy from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University (1999).
MIHAIL CRISTIAN PIRLOG (Romania)
Associate Professor in Medical Sociology at the School of Medicine – University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova; Sociologist and Coordinator of the National Mental Health Program developed by Romanian Ministry of Health and Clinical Hospital of Neuropsychiatry of Craiova. President of Mental Health Association of South-Eastern Europe (MHASEE). He has been involved in many national and international research projects and clinical trials in the field of mental health. His research interests are in social and economic factors involved in psychiatric pathology and mental illness stigma.