Scientific Advisory Committee

Our Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) supports the wider mission of EHMA providing advice on research and scientific issues. Building on EHMA reputation for academic excellence, the SAC comprises EHMA Members who bring the highest standards of research governance to ensure that the EHMA work programme and activities are of an internationally recognised high standard.

The SAC plays an important role in providing a focus and voice for the EHMA research community. SAC Members advise the Board on the key directions for health management to be pursued in the future. They also contribute to the EHMA Conference by proposing themes and research topics for the development of the program. SAC Members are also asked to advise on the Call for Abstracts and have an active role in assessing and clustering the abstracts submitted to the Conference. The SAC provides advice and guidance on the engagement of EHMA in European-funded research projects. SAC Members also provide expert advice, as requested, or suggest names of experts for events, trainings, projects, and other EHMA activities.

Prof Sandra C. Buttigieg, MD
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Prof Sandra C. Buttigieg, MD

University Malta, Malta

Prof Sandra C. Buttigieg, MD

University Malta, Malta

Prof Sandra C. Buttigieg is Professor and Head of the Department of Health Systems Management and Leadership (HSML), Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Malta, Malta. She is a Consultant in Public Health Medicine, Head-Clinical Performance Unit, and Chair-Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Team, at Mater Dei Hospital in Malta. She is the outgoing Global-Representative-at-large of the American Academy of Management-HCM Division. She lectures in HSM, Public Health, Family Medicine, Research Methodology and Evidence-based Health Research (EVBRES).

She authored/co-authored several articles in peer-reviewed international journals, and widely participated in international conferences, and congresses. She is on the Editorial Boards of PloS One, Health Services Management Research, International Journal of Human Resources Management, Journal of Health Organization and Management, and Frontiers Public Health. She is Frontiers Topic Editor: “Network for Evaluation of One Health (NEOH) Case Studies”; “Patient Safety: Delivering Cost-Contained, High Quality, Person-Centered, and Safe Healthcare” and “Health Service Management and Leadership: COVID-Style”.

She is a Fellow of two programmes of the Salzburg Global Seminar, related to health care, which were led by amongst others, past presidents of the Institute of Medicine, namely, Donald Berwick and Harvey Fineberg.

Prof Buttigieg has been visiting scholar in the US (JMU -Harrisonburg, VA), UK -University of Birmingham and Aston University, Birmingham, and Kuwait (Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Kuwait University).

Prof Americo Cicchetti
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Prof Americo Cicchetti

Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Italy

Prof Americo Cicchetti

Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Italy

Prof Americo Cicchetti has served as a Professor of Management at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Faculty of Economics, Rome since 2006. He is also currently the Director of the Graduate School of Health Economics and Management at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore. In addition to his academic experience, Dr Cicchetti was a member of the Price and Reimbursement Committee of the Italian National Drug Agency from 2009 to 2015. He is a member of the European Network of Health Technology Assessment; Member of the Innovation Steering Group of the National HTA Program for Medical Devices (Ministry of Health, Italy); Member of the National Immunisation Technical Advisory Group at the Ministry of Health, Italy since 2019; Member of the Health and Research Commission of the Rome Foundation since 2007; and a Member of the Board of Directors of the Health and Research Foundation since 2017.

Furthermore, Prof Cicchetti is the Chief Executive Officer and Director for Molipharma, whose core business is the research and development of new drugs and diagnostics aimed at predicting, detecting and treating female oncological diseases. He also serves as an independent board member for Foundation Health and Research, and Leonida SICAF, a fixed capital investment company. He obtained his PhD in Management from the University of Bologna, and his B.A. from the University of Rome.

Dr Rui Dang
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Dr Rui Dang

Westminster University in Tashkent, Uzbekistan

Dr Rui Dang

Westminster University in Tashkent, Uzbekistan

Dr Rui Dang is a senior lecturer in economics at Westminster International University in Tashkent and guest professor in demographic economics at the Gdansk University of Technology and a Global Labor Organization fellow (Bonn, Germany). He is a member of the Education Committee, Global Health Competencies Sub-Committee and SDG (Sustainable Development Goals) Taskforce at the CUGH-Consortium of Universities of Global Health (Washington D.C., USA) 

In addition to his role with EHMA’s SAC committee Rui is an associate editor for the IJTAHC-International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care, Cambridge University Press, and editorial board member of the Journal of Migration and Health, Elsevier, serves as a co-convener for the Special Interest Group of the Economics of End-of-Life Care and Palliative Care, as well as Special Interest Group of Early Career Researchers under the iHEA-International Health Economics Association(https://www.healtheconomics.org/). Since 2020 he is engaged in the knowledge mobiliser network of the UK parliament.  

Rui has served as a European Commission external expert, in the abstract review committee of the International Health Economics Association Scientific Committee Review Panel, the CUGH-Consortium of Universities for Global Health Conference, the 6th International Clinical Trials Methodology Conference 2022 and the jury for the Lancet Global Health-CUGH Global Health Best Poster Competition 2022.  

Nabil Jamshed, MSc MBA BBA
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Nabil Jamshed, MSc MBA BBA

Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, United Kingdom

Nabil Jamshed, MSc MBA BBA

Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, United Kingdom

Mr Nabil Jamshed works as a Head of Corporate Governance for Integrated Specialist Medicine Clinical Group and Chief of Staff at Guy’s and St. Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust.

He has over 20 years of experience working in the NHS and, internationally, with the Ministry of Public Health and other health agencies in Qatar.

He has operating experience in working with a variety of boards in facilitating the development of effective governance structures and successful board dynamics. He has first-hand experience in introducing constructive governance and risk management models, developing national policy and strategy, working with several Integrated Care Systems (ICS) and understanding and experience in dealing with complex IT systems.

In addition to working with the NHS and health organisations, Nabil had worked in other sectors such as the English Cricket Board and charities, helping with governance and risk management developments and improvements.

As the elected member of the European Health Management Association (EHMA) Scientific Planning Committee, Nabil contributes to wider European healthcare management developments. He has a personal interest in the inclusion agenda and has led various developments within the NHS to support the Equality Diversity and Inclusion efforts and served as a co-chair of the NHS staff BAME network.

Last year, Nabil was appointed as a Non-executive Director at the Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. He contributes to the national development and debate on the Equality Diversity and Inclusion through his active membership with the Seacole group of NHS NED and contributions to the APNA (Asian Professionals’ National Alliance) NHS which is a South Asian Heritage NHS Staff Leaders’ network across health and social care.

Prof Marija Jevtic, MD
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Prof Marija Jevtic, MD

University of Novi Sad, Serbia

Prof Marija Jevtic, MD

University of Novi Sad, Serbia

Prof Dr Marija Jevtic is a full professor at the University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Medicine, specialist in Hygiene (Public Health) at the Institute of Public Health of Vojvodina with sub specialisation in medical ecology; research collaborator at the Université Libre de Bruxelles, Research Centre on Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health; associate member of the Academy of Medical Sciences Serbian Medical Society; group analytic therapist and System Psychodynamic Organizational Consultant; EU Climate Pact Ambassador.

She has 25 years of experience in the research and education process and advocacy in public health and environment and health. Field of interest and work: public health, environment and health, SDGs, climate change, disaster and health, migration, mental health, school health, food safety, nutrition, health management, reproductive and sexual health, group psychotherapy, organizational consulting. As a university professor, she has been involved in different curricula development in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Novi Sad in the field of Public Health, Nursing, Disaster medicine, Nutrition, Medical ecology, and Hygiene. She is also a professor at the Faculty of Technical Sciences University of Novi Sad (undergraduate and postgraduate studies) in the field of disaster and vulnerability, public health and emergencies, mental health and psychosocial support in emergencies).

She has been Director of the Institute of Public Health of Vojvodina; Head of the Department of Hygiene at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad; Assistant minister Ministry of Health RS.

Prof Teresa Magalhães
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Prof Teresa Magalhães

National School of Public Health, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa Portugal

Prof Teresa Magalhães

National School of Public Health, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa Portugal

Prof Teresa Magalhães has a PhD in Public Health in the speciality of Health Policy, Management and Administration from Universidade Nova de Lisboa and a post-graduate in Hospital Administration from Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública (ENSP) and a degree in management computing. As a Professor at the National School of Public Health, her research activity focuses on the areas of health information systems and predictive and efficiency models. 

Teresa is currently President of the Executive Committee of the Hospital da Cruz Vermelha Portuguesa (Portuguese Red Cross Hospital) and Coordinator of the Working Group for Health Information Management of the Portuguese Association of Hospital Administrators. 

Previously, she has acted as Advisor to the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Norte for organisational innovation and information technology and administrator of the department of Heart and Vessels and an Executive Member of the Board of Directors of Setúbal Hospital 

Prof Dr Henk Nies
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Prof Dr Henk Nies

Vilans, The Netherlands

Prof Dr Henk Nies

Vilans, The Netherlands

Prof Dr Henk Nies studied psychology with a specialization in gerontology at the Catholic University of Nijmegen. After graduation, he maintained an interest in the relationship between policy, practice and research at the National Hospital Institute (later Prismant) Netherlands, among others. 

Henk is a professor by special appointment of organization and policy of care at the Free University in Amsterdam and a member of the board of directors of Vilans, a national organisation specialising in knowledge management for healthcare and support in the Netherlands. 

From 2001 to 2006 he served as director of NIZW Zorg at the Netherlands Institute for Care and Welfare. After the division of this institute and the merger with several other organizations to create Vilans, he became chairman of the board

Prof Mag Dr Manfred Pferzinger
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Prof Mag Dr Manfred Pferzinger

IMC University of Applied Sciences, Austria

Prof Mag Dr Manfred Pferzinger

IMC University of Applied Sciences, Austria

Prof Manfred Pferzinger has more than ten years of industry experience. He is Deputy Academic Head, Head of the Institute of Health Management and Programme Director for Management of Health Institutions at the IMC University of Applied Sciences in Krems, Austria. Furthermore, he is a research associate at the private University for Health Sciences, Medical Informatics and Technology (UMIT) in Hall in Tyrol, Austria and at the Institute for Management and Economics in Health Care (IMÖG).  

In recent years, Manfred has intensified his scientific activities in human-centred innovation in healthcare and the future of health using the method of Design Thinking. 

Prof Dr Rui Santana
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Prof Dr Rui Santana

National School of Public Health, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Portugal

Prof Dr Rui Santana

National School of Public Health, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Portugal

Prof Dr Rui Santana is an Associate Professor, Deputy Director of NOVA-NSPH, Portugal where he is Head of the Department of Health Policy and Management Responsible for Internal Quality. His research interests include the study of Integrated Care, Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions, Healthcare Financing and Cost Methods in Health Organisations. Rui also serves as a member of the Pedagogical Council, Scientific Council and Management Council at ENSP-Nova and is a member of the Public Health Research Centre (CISP).  In addition to his academic activity, Rui also has over 15 years of professional experience as a Hospital Administrator.

WHAT OUR MEMBERS SAY

I have been active in EHMA since the first years of the '90s and I have seen its evolution from a small association of members interested in sharing knowledge on health management practices to the current status of reference and advisory key player for EU, health systems and organisations, stakeholders associations, industry and universities. EHMA is now a unique knowledge hub, policy advisor, community of practice and network of best in class organisations involved in health policy and management. A place where health managers can build their competences, policy-makers and stakeholder associations envision how to implement and sustain change through health management, industry leaders understand how to engage more effectively with health organisations and systems. The right place to nurture and grow health management capabilities and capacity for every stakeholder of health systems.

Prof. Federico Lega, University of Milan, Italy

Health management has a crucial function in shaping public health and health system challenges. The Medical University of Varna, Bulgaria had success in collaborating with EHMA on EU-funded projects that has resourced us to create new health management competencies for the future workforce. In addition to all classical definitions, health management is a science dealing with individuals, groups, and society at large. It is an art contributing to the beauty of our lives and an interactive communication process at all levels of institutions and human energy. I have also had the pleasure to chair the South Eastern European Special Interest Group which gives members a space to discuss and tools to address how health systems are managed in our regions.

Prof. Todorka Kostadinova, Medical University of Varna, Bulgaria

I enjoy the high level of interaction and engagement in EHMA’s activities, in particular during the annual conference where the panel discussions are rich and well prepared. As a hospital manager and professor of health management, EHMA motivates and inspires me to be creative. You go back home feeling energised from seeing old friends and making new connections, as well as being convinced of serving as EHMA’s ambassador. It’s a strong feeling of interdisciplinary engagement, but it also feels like being part of family-like community.

Prof. Sandra C. Buttigieg, University of Malta, Malta

EHMA is a pre-eminent organisation for everyone working in planning, managing and delivering health services across Europe. As a long standing member of EHMA I have always been impressed by the vibrant community of managers, researchers and academics it has created and by the many opportunities for sharing knowledge and funding opportunities it has brought to its members. Its international scope is impressive and its impact is often felt in management and research across European and national health systems.

Prof. Axel Kaehne, Edge Hill University, UK

Health workforce has become more essential in operating, managing and maintaining health systems lately, particularly in crisis and emergency situations. European healthcare professions and the workforce need to be high on the agenda of managers and decision makers. The Health Services Management Training Centre, Semmelweis University in Hungary is a longstanding EHMA member, because it connects us with collaborators and experts, with whom we can have complex debates, from whom we can learn and at the end find solutions in various challenging fields of healthcare management.

Dr Eszter Kovács, Health Services Management Training Centre, Semmelweis University, Hungary

As a hospital administrator and health management professor, I see on a daily basis that the healthcare challenges require talented and skilled managers to transform it. the EHMA membership has been beneficial to bring healthcare management research and education to the demanding healthcare services world, promoting healthcare management competencies and knowledge creation.

Dr Alexandre Lourenco, APAH - Association of Portuguese Hospital Managers, Portugal

Many healthcare systems in Europe and beyond are facing similar challenges which require innovative and creative solutions. EHMA’s annual conference, webinars, Programme Directors’ group and other activities and resources provide incredible opportunities for networking, connecting and sharing experiences. A distinct feature of EHMA is the diversity of members with representation from many countries, sectors and different communities of practice – academic, policy-makers, practitioners, managers, leaders and students. The annual conference is a highlight in the calendar year, offering a friendly, fun and learningful environment for emerging and established members to engage, collaborate and meet up with old and new friends. I am proud to be a member of the EHMA Board.

Prof. Ann Mahon, University of Manchester, UK

Society evolution, pandemics and ageing modify health needs. So, health policies and services are to change dramatically. EHMA, through webinars, workshops and annual conference provides an excellent insight to a professional changing world, favouring closeness to management innovation and the protagonists of these changes. As a primary care services’ manager, participating in EHMA activities is really worth it and allows to involve oneself in the innovation processes.

Dr Antoni Peris Grao, Consorci Castelldefels Agents de Salut (CASAP), Spain