Experience
Employment
Global public health/public health/healthcare
1.
2018 – 2019
Doctors without Borders, Operational Centre Brussels, Belgium
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONAL RESEARCH UNIT IN LUXEMBOURG (LuxOR) AND OPARATIONAL RESEARCH COORDINATOR FOR OPERATIONAL CENTRE IN BRUSSELS
Main activities and responsibilities
- Overall Medical Department coordinator with regard to guiding global policy and strategic aspects of operational research
- Member of the MSF-Luxembourg management team as LuxOR director
- Management and support to the human resources of LuxOR in Brussels and Luxembourg
- Organisation of the global strategic orientation and coordination between different sectors ad individuals working within dynamic and diverse portfolio of operational research and related medical data collection/analysis needed for the research
- Coordination the capacity building activities
- Organisation of Operational Research Day
- Organisation and conceptualisation of strategic retreats
Main achievements
- New strategic directions of operational research proposed
- Detailed overview of the current organisation’s stage of operational research and the key challenges
- Reorganisation of LuxOR proposed
- Promotion of the LuxOR within Medical Department in Brussels and in Luxembourg including positioning the unit as an integral part of Luxembourgish society.
2.
2002 – 2014
Institute of Public Health of Vojvodina, Novi Sad, Serbia
HEAD OF HIV, HEPATITIS, STI & TB DEPARTMENT (2007-2014), EPIDEMIOLOGIST (2005-2014), TRAINEE IN EPIDEMIOLOGY (2002-2005)
Main activities and responsibilities
- Design, management and monitoring and evaluation of HIV, hepatitis, STI and TB surveillance, including data collection and databases and coordination of the activities in Autonomous Province of Vojvodina
- Design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of preventative programmes and coordination of the activities in Autonomous Province of Vojvodina
- Management of an NGO network (Vojvodinian HIV Network) and collaboration with NGOs and decision-makers
- Collaboration with MoH, provincial authorities, local self-administration, humanitarian organisations, schools, professional associations, hospitals, healthcare institutions, private practice, companies, NGOs
- Development of strategies, policies and legislation
- Development of technical reports on communicable diseases
- Outbreak investigation and control
- Pandemic preparedness and response
- Regular field visits and supervision of disease surveillance and reporting, immunisation coverage, cold chain and infection control practices
- Management of HIV and hepatitis laboratory
- Editor-in Chief of Vojvodinian Epidemiological Monthly (2003-2008)
- Continuous medical education: Communicable Disease Surveillance in Primary Health Care (2007)
- Training in surveillance, voluntary counselling and testing, prevention and control of professional exposure to blood borne infections, immunisation and infection control, postgraduate GP training in surveillance and disease reporting
- Supervision of procurement of laboratory equipment and donations
- Board of Ethics, chairman, 2007-2009.
- Committee for Security on Work, member. 2008-2009
- Committee for Donations, member, 2008-2009.
- Team for Project Development, member, 2008-2009.
- Executive Board of the Union of Healthcare Workers,. member, 2010-2014.
- Supervisory Committee of the Union of Healthcare Workers, member, 2010-2014
Main achievements
- Introduction of second generation of HIV surveillance
- Development and introduction of hepatitis surveillance, including second generation surveillance and laboratory surveillance
- Development and introduction of surveillance of professional exposure to blood borne infections
- Expanding HIV, hepatitis and STI voluntary counselling and testing services, including outreach
- Establishment of HIV, hepatitis, STI and TB Unite
- Introduction of new diagnostic tests for HIV and hepatitis, including confirmatory tests, monitoring and supervision of the laboratory
- Introduction of ISO standards to the laboratory
- Effective management of large outbreaks (e.g. measles, norovirus, hepatitis B and C, salmonellosis, shigellosis) and those of higher importance (e.g. anthrax, meningitis, brucellosis)
- Establishment of the Injury Prevention Unit and injury surveillance system
- Development of technical reports on communicable diseases
- 65 technical (annual surveillance) reports developed, plus many periodical reports
- Projects: i) Psychosocial Support to People Living with HIV in Novi Sad (2006-2008), Regio Emilia Romagna, Italy / City of Novi Sad / Red Cross of Novi Sad / Ecumenic Humanitarian Organisation / Youth of JAZAS Novi Sad / Novi Sad Humanitarian Centre ii) HIV prevention in Novi Sad (2004-2014), City of Novi Sad; iii) Support to hard-to-reach populations in Novi Sad (2007-2014), City of Novi Sad.
3.
2000 – 2002
Primary Health Care Centre Backi Petrovac, Serbia
PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN
Main activities and responsibilities
- General and family medicine
- Urgent medical care
- Disease prevention (immunisation)
- Community health
Academic
1.
2016- present
Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
LECTURER AT THE INSTITUTE FOR GLOBAL HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT (2016-2018),
- Main activities and responsibilities
- Member of the Graduate School Board
- Member of the Learning and Teaching Panel
- Member of the Researcher Enhancement and Development team
- Coordinator of PhD programme at the Institute for Global Health and Development
- Coordinator of Global Public Health, Sexual and Reproductive Health, Research Development and Proposal Writing modules
- Lecturer in Global Health and Social Policy, Researching Global Health and Development, Learning Methodologies and Independent Study
- Research in global health and development
- Supervision of MSc (9 students) and PhD students (3 candidates)
- Examination boards (2 PhD candidates)
- Student admission tutor
(2018-present)
HONORARY ASSOCIATE LECTURER
- Supervision of PhD students (2 candidates)
Main achievements
- 1 PhD thesis awarded, 7 MSc dissertations defended, 2 independent studies completed
- 17 research papers published
- Research projects: i) Designing and Evaluating Provider Results-Based Financing for Tuberculosis Care in Georgia: Understanding Costs, Mechanisms of Effect and Impact, Medical Research Council / London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom / Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwer, Beligum / Curacio International Foundation, Tbilisi, Georgia / London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Banjul, The Gambia; ii) Increasing Capacity in Research in Eastern Europe (ICREATE), NIH / University of Iowa, USA, Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania; iii) Implement and Evaluate Interventions Contributing to Strengthen Adherence to TB Treatment in Pilot Site – Latvia, European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control / University of Latvia / London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom / Riga University Hospital, Riga, Latvia
2.
2002 –2014
University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Medicine, Novi Sad, Serbia
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, HEAD OF EPIDEMIOLOGY DEPARTMENT, COORDINATOR OF RESEARCH MODULES AND PhD MODULES
- Main activities and responsibilities
- Curriculum design and coordination of Epidemiology, Introduction of Research Methods (undergraduate), Communicable Disease Epidemiology and Epidemiology specialisation (postgraduate) courses
- Undergraduate and postgraduate teaching: epidemiology (medicine, nursing), public health (dentistry), introduction to research methodology (medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, nursing, medical rehabilitation, special education and rehabilitation), nursing in emergencies (nursing), communicable disease epidemiology, non-communicable diseases epidemiology, research methodology, principles of public health (PhD programme), surveillance (residency training in epidemiology, pulmology and occupational medicine), epidemiological methods, epidemiology of sexually transmitted infections (training in epidemiology)
- Supervision of MSc (4 students) and PhD students (8 candidates) and undergraduate (12) students
- Examination boards for undergraduate students graduation papers (6 students), PhD (3 candidates), epidemiology specialisation (5 candidates)
- Student examinations – oral (several hundreds of students) and written (several thousands of students), preparation of exams, multiple-choice questions and essay topics, marking
- Continuous medical education: arbovirus infection (2013), health communication skills (2011), modern aspects of hepatitis B (2011), modern aspects of hepatitis C (2011), modern epidemiological methods (2011), voluntary counselling and testing (2010), concepts of a modern communicable disease surveillance (2010), professional exposures to bloodborne infections (2009), epidemiology of HIV infection (2009), surveillance system for professional exposures (2008)
- International collaboration (University of California Berkeley, University of Iowa, University of Trnava, Babes-Bolyai University, University of Zagreb, Nofer Institute…)
- Research projects:
- Management and administration of Epidemiology Department and research modules.
Main achievements
Modernisation of Epidemiology and Introduction to Research Methods curricula and curricula for postgraduate courses
Introduction of written exams
3 PhD theses, 1 MSc dissertation, 1 epidemiology specialisation, 12 undergraduate papers successfully defended
43 research papers published
Research projects: i) Mental health service delivery to older people in four countries from the Central -East Europe region: Albania, Moldova, Romania and Serbia – Does the resource allocation meet the actual and future needs?, NIH / University of California, Berkeley / State Medical and Pharmaceutical University Nicolae Testemitanu, Chisinau, Moldova / WHO Country Office Moldova / University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova Dolj, Romania / Spiru Haret University Bucurest, Romania / Institute for Gerontology, Belgrade, Serbia / Univeristy of Belgrade, Serbia / University of Bucurest, Romania, Kristal University, Tirana, Albania; ii) Improve the Mental Health Referral System in Oncology Care (IMeRS), NIH/University of California, Berkeley / Babes-Bolyai University Cluj-Napoca, Romania; iii) Informal Work-Related Injuries in Backi Petrovac Municipality, Serbia; WHO Geneva / Monash University Melbourne, Australia / University of Melbourne, Australia; iv), v) Causes of Under-Diagnosis of Depression in South-Eastern European Countries; NIH / University of California, Berkeley / Tirana University Hospital Centre, Tirana, Albania / University Multi-profile Hospital for Active Treatment in Neurology and Psychiatry St. Naum, Sofia, Bulgaria/ Trigru Mures University/ State Medical and Pharmaceutical University Nicolae Testemitanu, Chisinau, Moldova / WHO Country Office Moldova; v) General Hospital Emergency Departments and Mental Health Clients – Need for Evaluations – User and Care Givers Perspective, NIH / University of California, Berkeley / Tirana University Hospital Centre, Tirana, Albania / University Multi-profile Hospital for Active Treatment in Neurology and Psychiatry St. Naum, Sofia, Bulgaria/ Trigru Mures University/ State Medical and Pharmaceutical University Nicolae Testemitanu, Chisinau, Moldova / WHO Country Office Moldova / University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova Dolj, Romania / Spiru Haret University Bucurest, Romania / University Dimitrie Cantemir, Tg Mures, Romania; vi) Mental Illness stigma in South Eastern Europe – the Present and the Future in the Terms of Research Priorities, NIH / University of California, Berkeley / Tirana University Hospital Centre, Tirana, Albania / Medical University Pleven, Bulgaria/ Trigru Mures University/ State Medical and Pharmaceutical University Nicolae Testemitanu, Chisinau, Moldova / WHO Country Office Moldova / University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova Dolj, Romania; vii) Evaluation of Blood Borne Infections in Central and Eastern European Hospitals, NIH / University of Iowa; viii) Professional Exposures to Blood Borne Infections among Health Care Workers in AP Vojvodina, NIH / University of Iowa; ix) Training of Health Care Workers in HIV and Hepatitis Prevention, NIH / University of Iowa; x) Development of Road Traffic Injuries Surveillance System (2006), NIH / University of Iowa, USA.
3.
2020-2021
EHESP School of Public Health, Rennes, France, EUROPUBLICHEALTH+ Masters programme
VISITING PROFESSOR
Main activities and responsibilities
- Actively participating in the Master course activities
- Performing teaching/research/student tutoring activities
- Establishing the programme with the academic coordinator of the integration module
- Bringing concrete added value to the course and students (through teaching specific classes, leading and participating in seminars or workshops, monitoring and tutoring student research/project activities, participating in thesis reviews, preparing new teaching modules, etc.)
- Contributing, after the visiting scholar activities, to the promotion and dissemination of the Erasmus+ Programme in general, and the concerned EMJMD in particular, in the HEI and country of origin.
Main achievements
- Successful delivery of the module in two consecutive years with the focus on boarder health.
4.
2019-2021
Polonia University, Czestochowa, Poland
VISITING PROFESSOR
- Main activities and responsibilities
- Establishing connections with the researchers from other countries
- Stimulating students to publish their research results
- Exchanging ideas for potential research
5.
2021-present
University of Lethbridge, Faculty of Health Sciences, Lethbridge, Canada
RESOURCE PERSON FOR THE COURSE HEALTH SYSTEMS WITH A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE
Main activities and responsibilities
- Contribution to the module Health Systems with a Global Perspective
- Communication with students, sharing practical experience, and recommendation of the relevant resources.
Main achievements
- Sensibilisation of the students for learning about and researching health system challenges in Central and Eastern Europe.
6.
2017-present
University of Trnava, Trnava, Slovak Republic
MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL FOR INTERNAL QUALITY ASSESSMENT IN HIGHER EDUCATION (2021-PRESENT), MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF PhD STUDIES TUTORS (2017-PRESENT)
Main activities and responsibilities
- Reviewing quality assessment reports related to public health programmes and providing feedback
- Attending meetings of the Concil for Internal Quality Assessment in Higher Education and approving the assessments.
- Interaction with the University representatives and the Council members.
Main achievements
- Successful accreditation of public health related university programmes.
CONSULTANCIES
1.
June 2022 – present
Ministry of Health of Luxembourg
OBSERVER AT NATIONAL HEALTH OBSERVATORY
Main activities and responsibilities
- Contributes to the development and advises on the annual and multiannual work program;
- Validates the annual activity report;
- Deliberates on the budget proposals of the Observatory;
- Deliberates on contracts and public procurement for an amount greater than75,000€ or for a duration of more than two years;
- Deliberates on requests for human and technical resources from the Observatory;
- Provides methodological advice and support;
- Contributes to the identification of sources and facilitates access to these;
- Contributes to the build up of effective partnerships;
- Conducts critical reviews of reports and publications.
2.
Jan 2020 - present
The Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, Geneva, Switzerland
TECHNICAL REVIEW PANEL MEMBER – STRATEGIC INVESTMENT AND SUSTAINABLE FINANCING
Main activities and responsibilities
- Reviewing funding requests: assesses the strategic focus, technical soundness and potential for impact of funding requests in accordance with the Global Fund Strategy and any subsequent guidance from the Board. Evaluation of and recommendations on: investing in new technologies and innovative approaches, ensuring effectiveness of programme design and implementation strategies, sustainability and achieving the greatest impact.
- Providing advisory input to the Board: The TRP serves as an advisory body to the Board; its Chair is a non-voting member of the Board’s Strategy Committee and reports on the TRP’s work and membership matters while also supporting the Strategy Committee’s deliberations. The TRP also provides critical input to the Global Fund’s strategy and policy development process.
- Reporting on lessons learned: While independent in their review process, the TRP engages closely with the Secretariat and other technical partners to ensure the Global Fund’s mission and goals are achieved. The TRP communicates lessons learned for applicants periodically to ensure Global Fund investments are increasingly effective.
- Collaboration with technical partners as well as constructive dialogue and effective engagement with the Secretariat, are critical to the successful technical and advisory functions of the TRP.
Main achievements
- Successful individual and group review of multiple funding requests with detailed feedbacks provided to the applicants
- Active participation in the TRP sessions and approval of multiple funding requests
- Collaboration with the Global Fund Secretariat, Country Teams, TRP leaderships and focal points
- Engagement in Strategic Investment and Sustainable Financing group
- Active participation in the Conflict of Interest Working Group and revision of the CoI procedures.
3.
September 2019- present
GFA Consulting Group
TEAM LEADER AND KEY EXPERT FOR PUBLIC HEALTH FOR THE EU-FUNDED PROJECT “SUPPORT TO UKRAINE FOR DEVELOPING A MODERN PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM”
Main activities and responsibilities
- Preparation and coordination of project planning for the entire project.
- Liaison with the Delegation of European Union in Ukraine, MoH of Ukraine, Public Health Centre and international organisations
- Management and guidance of other KE, NKE and national staff.
- Coordination of technical activities of the team members.
- Steering and coordination of short-term missions of NKE.
- Recruitment and management of local staff as well as handling of administrative questions
- Progress monitoring and reporting according to contractual stipulations
- Planning and procurement of materials and equipment, maintenance, keeping of inventories and documentation of handing-over to institution in charge of the project.
- Planning and procurement of services in line with the client’s procurement guidelines.
- Budget planning and control of funds using the Project Monitoring Template (PROMO).
Main achievements
- Contribution to development of public health draft law, public health strategy draft and the healthcare recovery plan draft and approximation of the national legislation and regulation with EU (air pollution, electromagnetic fields, allergens in food, taxation of food products safety of toys, clothes and footwear, vitamins and minerals, food for vegetarians and vegans, climate change and food labelling
- Review of relevant EU legislation, mapping and gap analysis of Ukrainian legislation, case studies of public health reform in selected European countries
- Development of health platform for Ukrainian refugees: https://www.treatment4ukraine.com/en/home/
- Evaluation of Public Health Centre and regional centres capacities in health communication, quality assurance, administrative and financial management, public health competencies and institutional capacities and training needs assessments with the review of the relevant university training curricula
- NCD national action plan review and SWOT analysis and development of a roadmap for NCD surveillance
- Delivery of trainings in COVID-19 control and management, diphtheria, influenza, surveillance, crisis communication, health communication, financial and administrative management, NCDs and training for online trainers
- KAP survey on attitudes towards public health reform, survey on the role of Public Health Centre during COVID-19 pandemic, communication during pandemic, public health workers experience during pandemic and vaccination competencies in the public health system
- Technical assistance in review and revision of surveillance regulation, hepatitis B and C guidelines, polio guidelines, communicable disease regulation, case definitions
- Review of initial national response to COVID-19 pandemic, review of surveillance system and public laboratory system, best international laboratory practices and identifying differences between regulatory framework and laboratory practices
- Review of COVID-19 communication, translation of European experiences in COVID-19 communication, review of COVID-19 vaccine strategy and reinfection strategies
- Development of communication strategy of Public Health Centre, development of its portfolio and improvement of its website
- Development of health information materials for various audience (e.g. for children, nutrition, COVID-19) and support to social media promotion of health messages.
4.
2021-present
Institute of Public Health of Montenegro, Podgorica, Montenegro
INTERNATIONAL CONSULTANT
Main activities and responsibilities
- Development of the training agenda, methodology and materials and delivery of the trainings: i) Non-communicable diseases: prevention and control in the light of COVID-10 pandemic; ii) Advocacy for national NCD programmes; iii) Research from idea to delivery and research vs. public health project.
- Submission of the training evaluation reports and recommendations for improvement of implementation of the training area topics.
5.
2018-present
Eurostars, Brussels, Belgium
INTERNATIONAL CONSULTANT
Main activities and responsibilities
- Review of Eurostars project, Innovation Fund Denmark projects and similar
- Detailed comments to the applications submissions
6.
2019
Alliance For Public Health, Kyiv, Ukraine
INTERNATIONAL CONSULTANT
Main activities and responsibilities
- Conduct an in-country assessment of available funding mechanisms that are or may be used for funding HIV prevention, harm reduction and treatment adherence services for KVPs, underlying their strengths and weaknesses
- Propose option/[s] for improving the sustainability of HIV prevention, harm reduction and treatment adherence services, by addressing aspects related to institutionalization of funding mechanisms, regulatory modifications, capacity constraints, and advocacy
- Draft a comprehensive Sustainability Plan for HIV prevention, harm reduction and treatment adherence services for KVPs in Serbia, with detailed workplan and budget
7.
2019
SAGE Research Method
CASES PERMANENT REVIEWER
Main activities and responsibilities
- Detailed review of case studies and completion of review forms
- Manuscript annotations provided as comments in each relevant manuscript
- Manuscript recommendations for publishing
- Review of revised manuscripts and recommendations for publishing
8.
February 2018- March 2018
Office of the Inspector General Audit of the Global Fund Transition Management Processes
INTERNATIONAL EXPERT
Main activities and responsibilities
- Review transition-specific documentation such as Readiness Assessments, Work Plans, Funding Requests, Technical Review Panel and Grants Approval Committee’s recommendations, indicators and performance metrics for monitoring transition and other key documentation
- Review the Global Fund governance mechanisms related to transition
- Review relevant policies, procedures and guidelines applicable to transition
9.
May 2017- November 2017
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent societies, Geneva, Switzerland
CONSULTANT FOR RED CROSS MOVEMENT IMPLEMENTATION/PROGRAMME MANAGER GUIDE FOR EPIDEMIC RESPONSE
Main activities and responsibilities
- Development of Implementation/Programme Manager Guide for Epidemic Response as a practical reference point to use in the future health emergencies by the programme and operations managers, focused on the best practices in epidemic situations and providing guidance on how to use evidence-based actions and approaches to design prevention, early detection, response and recovery strategies to epidemic
- Review and revision of Epidemic for Volunteers Training manual
- Review and revision of Epidemic for Volunteers toolkit
10.
(2014-2018)
NDP Regional Hub for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, Bratislava, Slovakia (2012-2014), Istanbul, Turkey
INTERNATIONAL CONSULTANT (2017-2018)
Main activities and responsibilities
- Developing a guidance note for the systematic review of legislative, regulatory, policy and practice mechanisms and systems for NGO social contracting
- Support to countries in the region that are requesting for updating the NGO social contracting facts on epidemiological, legislative and regulatory current situation.
- Developing and finalizing two chapters on inclusive rights based HIV allocative efficiencies and modelling investment case studies in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan which will form part of a broader joint publication with the World Bank and UNAIDS to illustrate gateways to efficient and effective AIDS responses in Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
- Updating Factsheets for Montenegro and Serbia
Main achievements
- A guidance note developed and ready for implementation in different settings
- Two chapters for the World Bank publications finalised
- Updated factsheets for Montenegro and Serbia on social contracting for HIV developed
2013-2016
INTERNATIONAL LEAD CONSULTANT: SUSTAINABLE FINANCING OF NATIONAL HIV RESPONSES IN SELECTED BALKAN COUNTRIES WITH PARTICULAR EMPHASIS OF THE ROLE OF NGOs (2013) / INTERNATIONAL CONSULTANT: HEALTH FINANCING SPECIALIST WITH FOCUS ON SUSTAINABLE FINANCING OF NATIONAL HIV RESPONSES IN EASTERN EUROPE AND CENTRAL ASIA (2014-2015) / INTERNATIONAL CONSULTANT: SUSTAINABLE FINANCING OF NATIONAL HIV, TB AND NON-COMMUNICABLE DISEASES RESPONSES IN EASTERN EUROPE AND CENTRAL ASIA (2016)
Main activities and responsibilities
- Collaboration as senior member with the study team in the design, analysis and report writing of country level and cross-country (regional) reports and recommendations related to transition strategies and practical approaches towards sustainable financing of national HIV responses;
- Representation of the UNDP in multi-agency collaborations (the GFATM, the World Bank, UNAIDS);
- Strengthening the quality of databases, data processing and analysis, and serve as internal peer reviewer of knowledge products of other team members;
- Updating the study databases related to sustainable financing of national HIV responses on regular basis;
- Review and regular briefs of new developments on national health financing mechanism, laws and regulations in the study countries;
- Development of the knowledge products – summary reports and issue briefs, blogs and journal articles, power point presentations etc. – with the study team on sustainable financing of national HIV responses;
- Preparation and facilitation engagement processes with national and regional stakeholders (governments, civil society organizations, global health financing institutions and development partners) related to technical recommendations of study reports and their implementation.
Main achievements
- Reports on transition from the Global Fund to national financing mechanisms for Croatia and Serbia
- Social contracting factsheets for Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan
- NGO social contracting case reports – 2 from Serbia and 1 from North Macedonia
- Optimised HIV investment approach reports for Tajikistan and Uzbekistan
- In collaboration with the Global Fund, World Bank and UNAIDS: optimising investment reports for Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, North Macedonia, Moldova, Ukraine.
2012
NATIONAL CONSULTANT: ASSESSMENT OF SUSTAINABLE FINANCING OPTIONS FOR THE NATIONAL HIV RESPONSE IN SERBIA AS EXAMPLE OF AN HIV LOW PREVALENCE COUNTRIES IN SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE
Main activities and responsibilities
- To document the current annual financial volume of external funding of the national HIV response in Serbia, by national HIV programme components and their activities, and by service provider categories, over the timeframe covered by existing contracts
- To identify the existing national financing mechanisms relevant for the national HIV response in the health sector and other sectors
- To map each externally funded HIV programme component and activity by categories as stipulated under objective a) against the existing national financing mechanisms and budgets slots identified under objective b) which will be the ‘best match’ for budgetary integration of the currently externally funded component; and to highlight currently externally funded HIV programme components without mapping match
- To analyse and summarize processes and timeframes needed to implement the transitions mapped and proposing processes and timeframes for establishing mechanisms for the integration of currently externally funded components/activities which could not be mapped
- To present the above steps in the following scenarios: i) Full integration of current annual external funding level with scope and services ”as is” under the current externally funded contracts, ii) Only integration of those currently externally funded components which are regarded as effective and efficient; this can also include adding currently non-existing services/activities/components regarded as effective and efficient. iii) As ii) but scaled up to achieve universal coverage (80 percent of estimated need) over a period of 5 years.
Main achievements
- Analytical report that identifies and quantifies the annual financial volume, existing national financing mechanisms and analysis and summarises the processes and timeframes needed for effective transition
- Defined methodology for similar exercises in other Western Balkan counties and established a network of researchers
11.
2013
CEU Consulting Ltd.
NON-KEY EXPERT IN COMMUNICABLE DISEASE SURVEILLANCE (EU Public Health Reform II project in Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Main activities and responsibilities
- Providing workshops with GPs focused on improvement of notifications of notifiable diseases;
- Development and validation of an instrument (questionnaire plus baseline data and collected data on notifiable diseases) to continue the activity by epidemiologists in the country;
- Development of the background and learning materials;
- Addressing policies towards the improvement of notification culture by general/family practitioners.
12.
2016
United Nations Development Program in Bosnia and Herzegovina
INTERNATIONAL CONSULTANT
Main activities and responsibilities
- Development of the training agenda, methodology and materials and delivery of a training in HIV response social contracting between the government and NGOs
- Evaluation of the training results and recommendations for further activities
13.
2015
HIV and TB Country Coordinating Mechanism in Montenegro
INTERNATIONAL CONSULTANT
Main activities and responsibilities
- Development of the training agenda, methodology and materials and delivery of a training in HIV response social contracting between the government and NGOs
- Evaluation of the training results and recommendations for further activities
14.
2014
HIV and TB Country Coordinating Mechanism in North Macedonia
INTERNATIONAL CONSULTANT
Main activities and responsibilities
- Development of the training agenda, methodology and materials and delivery of a training in HIV response social contracting between the government and NGOs
- Evaluation of the training results and recommendations for further activities
15.
2013-2014.
Centre for Social Work Backi Petrovac, Serbia
COMMUNITY COUNSELLOR IN THE PROJECT FAMILY COUNSELLING ON SOCIAL AND HEALTH RISKS
Main activities and responsibilities
- Regular community-based counselling related to risky behaviours
- Overall contribution to the project results
16.
2012
USAID, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung and Foundation for an Open Society/The Initiatives
EXPERT FOR HEALTH POLICY FOR THE PROJECT YOUNG PEOPLE WRITE AGENDA FOR THE NEW GOVERNMENT IN SERBIA
Main activities and responsibilities
- Participation in trainings and coordinative meetings
- Development of training agenda, methodology and materials and delivery a series of training
- Regular meetings and consultation sessions with the project participants
- Regular reporting
17.
2010-2011
The Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, Geneva, Switzerland (project in Serbia) / Ministry of Health / International Aid Network
TRAINER FOR TRAINING OF HEALTH CARE WORKERS IN POSITIVE PREVENTION
Main activities and responsibilities
- Development of the training agenda, methodology and materials and delivery a series of trainings for various audience
- Evaluation of the training results and recommendations for further activities
18.
2011
The Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, Geneva, Switzerland (project in Serbia) / Ministry of Health of Serbia / Youth of JAZAS Novi Sad
TRAINER FOR TRAINING OF SOCIAL CARE WORKERS IN HIV PREVENTION
Main activities and responsibilities
- Development of the training agenda, methodology and materials and delivery a series of trainings for various audience
- Evaluation of the training results and recommendations for further activities
19.
2011
The Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, Geneva, Switzerland (project in Serbia) / Ministry of Health of Serbia / Youth of JAZAS Novi Sad
TRAINER FOR TRAINING OF PEER EDUCATORS IN HIV PREVENTION
Main activities and responsibilities
- Development of the training agenda, methodology and materials and delivery a series of trainings for various audience
- Evaluation of the training results and recommendations for further activities
20.
2010
The Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, Geneva, Switzerland (project in Serbia) / Ministry of Health / Youth of JAZAS Novi Sad
TRAINER FOR TRAINING OF POLICE OFFICERS IN HIV PREVENTION
Main activities and responsibilities
- Development of training agenda, methodology and materials and delivery a series of trainings for various audience
- Evaluation of the training results and recommendations for further activities
21.
2010 – 2014
Primary Health Centre Backi Petrovac, Backi Petrovac, Serbia
INFECTION PREVENTION AND CONTROL ADVISOR
Main activities
- Developing guidelines for infection control
- Establishing monitoring and evaluation of infection control and surveillance and reporting
- Training of health care workers in infection control
- Monitoring and evaluation of infection control practices
- Providing professional advice and recommendations per demand
22.
2009-2011.
The Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, Geneva, Switzerland (project in Serbia) / Roma Women in the Decade
TRAINER FOR HIV PREVENTION IN ROMA POPULATION
Main activities and responsibilities
- Development of the training agenda, methodology and materials and delivery a series of trainings for various audience
- Evaluation of the training results and recommendations for further activities
23.
2008
The Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, Geneva, Switzerland (project in Serbia) / Institute of Public Health of Serbia
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR FOR THE BIO-BEHAVIOURAL SURVEY IN POPULATION OF MEN WHO HAVE SEX WITH MEN
Main activities and responsibilities
- Forming the core and the field research teams and its coordination
- Development of the research protocol, research ethics and implementation plan
- Organisation and delivery of trainings for the field team
- Data quality control, data processing and synthesis
24.
2008
The Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, Geneva, Switzerland (project in Serbia) / Ministry of Health of Serbia / Centre of Social Initiative and Creative Development
TRAINER FOR TRAINING IN STRENGTHENING OF HIV RESPONSE THROUGH DECENTRALISATION OF THE KEY SERVICES
Main activities and responsibilities
- Development of the training agenda, methodology and materials and delivery of the training
- Evaluation of the training results and recommendations for further activities
25.
2007.
The Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, Geneva, Switzerland (project in Serbia) / Ministry of Health of Serbia / Ecumenic Humanitarian Organisation
TRAINER FOR TRAINING OF JOURNALISTS IN HIV PREVENTION
26.
2007
UNICEF / JAZAS
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR FOR POPULATION SIZE ESTIMATION ILOCAL COORDINATOR FOR NOVI SAD IN THE PROJECT MOST AT RISK ADOLESCENT FOR HIV – RAPID ASSESSMENT AND RESPONSE
Main activities and responsibilities
- Development of methodology for population size estimation, its deployment and reporting results
- Coordination of the local team, training, data collection, recording of interviews, research ethics
- Member of the National Advisory Body
27.
2006
The Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, Geneva, Switzerland (project in Serbia) / Economic Institute, Belgrade, Serbia / SPY - Safe Pulse of Youth
TRAINER FOR ESTIMATION OF THE POPULATION SIZE OF MEN WHO HAVE SEX WITH MEN IN SERBIA
Main activities and responsibilities
- Development of a training agenda, methodology and materials and delivery of the training for field workers
- Evaluation of the training results and recommendations for further activities
28.
2006
The Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, Geneva, Switzerland (project in Serbia) / Economic Institute, Belgrade, Serbia / SPY - Safe Pulse of Youth
CONSULTANT
Main activities and responsibilities
- Review and revision of the research protocol within the bio-behavioural research among men who have sex with men
29.
2006
The Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, Geneva, Switzerland (project in Serbia) / Economic Institute / Institute of Public Health of Serbia
FIELD RESEARCHER IN THE PROJECT KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDES OF HEALTH CARE WORKERS IN SERBIA ABOUT HIV
Main activities and responsibilities
- Participation in trainings, team meetings
- Data collection, collation, verification and reporting
30.
2006
The Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, Geneva, Switzerland (project in Serbia) / Economic Institute
TRAINER IN THE PROJECT CREATING SUPPORTIVE TEAMS FOR PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV IN NOVI SAD, SERBIA
Main activities and responsibilities
- Review and revision of the research protocol within the bio-behavioural research among men who have sex with men
31.
2006
International Aid Network/Montenegrin Association for Fighting AIDS
TRAINER IN THE PROJECT STANDARDISATION OF VOLUNTARY COUNSELLING AND TESTING PROGRAMMES IN SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO
Main activities and responsibilities
- Development of the training agenda, methodology and materials and delivery of the training
- Evaluation of the training results and recommendations for further activities
32.
2005-2008
The Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, Geneva, Switzerland (project in Serbia) / Economic Institute
TRAINER FOR HIV PREVENTION IN PRISONS IN SERBIA
Main activities and responsibilities
- Development of the training agenda, methodology and materials and delivery a series of trainings for various audience
- Evaluation of the training results and recommendations for further activities
33.
2004-2006
UNICEF
LOCAL COORDINATOR FOR NOVI SAD FOR THE PROJECT PREVENTION OF MOTHER-TO-CHILD HIV TRANSMISSION
Main activities and responsibilities
- Participation in trainings and coordinative meetings
- Training for healthcare professionals in opt-in and opt-out approach
- Coordination and supervision of activities
- Regular reporting
34.
2004
Project Hope / SIDA / Novi Sad Humanitarian Centre
TRAINER FOR HIV PREVENTION IN ROMA COMMUNITIES
Main activities and responsibilities
- Development of the training agenda, methodology and materials and delivery of a training for field workers
- Evaluation of the training results and recommendations for further activities
35.
2003-2006
The Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, Geneva, Switzerland (project in Serbia) / Economic Institute
TRAINER FOR THE TRAINING OF HEALTH CARE WORKERS ABOUT HIV PREVENTION AND CARE IN SERBIA
Main activities and responsibilities
- Development of the training agenda, methodology and materials and delivery a series of trainings for health professionals
- Evaluation of the training results and recommendations for further activities
36.
2003-2006
UNAIDS
REGIONAL COORDINATOR FOR AP VOJVODINA FOR THE ESTABLISHING MONITORING AND EVALUATION OF THE NATIONAL HIV RESPONSE IN SERBIA
Main activities and responsibilities
- Participation in trainings and coordinative meetings
- Coordination and supervision of activities
- Regular reporting
37.
2003
European Agency for Reconstruction/Euro Health Group
FIELD RESEARCH ASSISTANT FOR THE PROJECT ASSESSMENT OF PREVENTATIVE HEALTH SERVICES IN SERBIA
Main activities and responsibilities
- Participation in trainings and coordinative meetings
- Data collection through field visits, medical records review
- Establishing connections and informing local healthcare institutions
- Regular reporting
38.
2002-2003
WHO
REGIONAL COORDINATOR FOR AP VOJVODINA FOR THE PROJECT EARLY WARNING AND RESPONSE SYSTEM FOR DETECTION OF OUTBREAKS
39.
2002
Primary School Sajkas, Serbia
TRAINER FOR TRAINING IN PSYCHOACTIVE SUBSTANCE USE PREVENTION
Main activities and responsibilities
- Development of the training agenda, methodology and materials and delivery of the training
- Evaluation of the training results and recommendations for further activities
OTHER ENGAGEMENT
1.
2012 –2016
ROSENCRANTZ LTD.
CEO AND EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Main activities and responsibilities
- Daily management of the company
- Preparing contracts with the authors and subcontractors
- Financial management
- HR management
- PR and presentations in several book fairs, festivals, media and other events
- Editing of several editions.
2.
2008-2016
Centre Foe Education, Tolerance and Multiculturalism
FOUNDER AND THE BOARD MEMBER
Main activities and responsibilities
- Contribution to overall strategy, planning and leadership
- Promotion of the organisation and its representing, international collaboration
- Development of project proposals, managing their submission, budget planning and execution, financial and administrative management
- Conferences and trainings: i) Scientific Evidence for General Practice (2013), Postgraduate course, with the Primary Health Care Centre Backi Petrovac and University of Trnava, Slovak Republic; ii) Prevention of Cardiovascular Diseases in a Community (2011), postgraduate course, with the Primary Health Care Centre Backi Petrovac and University of Trnava, Slovak Republic; iii) Public Health Role of Emergency Medicine Services (2010), international conference, with University of Iowa, USA, University of Trnava, Slovak Republic, and Provincial Secretariat for Health and Social Policy of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina; iii) Public Health Perspectives in Central and South-Eastern Europe in XXI century (2010), international conference, with the University of Iowa, USA, University of Trnava, Slovak Republic and Provincial Secretariat for Health and Social Policy of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina.
- Projects: i) Comics in German Press in AP Vojvodina between Two World Wars (2014), Autonomous Province of Vojvodina, Secretariat for culture and public information, ii) Promotion of Use of Statistical Methods in Western Balkan Countries (2013-2014), University of Trnava, Slovak Republic; iii) Vojvodinian Comics (2012-2015), iv) Multiculturalism in Journals for Children in Autonomous Province of Vojvodina, Serbia (2012), Provincial Secretariat for Education, Regulations, Administration and National Minorities – National Communities, v) Promotion of Research among Young People in Autonomous Province of Vojvodina in the Area of Multiculturalism and Tolerance (2011), Provincial Secretariat for Education, Regulations, Administration and National Minorities – National Communities, vi) Virtual Summer Institute (2010), NIH / University of Iowa,USA NIH, vii) Public Health Role of Emergency Medicine Service (2010), NIH / University of Iowa, USA, vii) Public Health Perspectives in Central and South-Eastern Europe in XXI Century (2010), NIH / University of Iowa, USA, viii) Maglic.org project.
3.
2008-2012
Dentistry Clinic of Vojvodina, Novi Sad, Serbia
MEMBER OF THE BOARD
Main activities and responsibilities
- Contribution to the overall strategy, vision, mission and leadership
- Oversight to the regular activities with a guidance provided
- Decision making on strategic decisions, including financing and strategic investment
4.
2003-2005
Fund for the Development of Non-Profit Sector of Autonomous Province of Vojvodina, Serbia
MEMBER OF THE SUPERVISORY BOARD
Main activities and responsibilities
- Contribution to the overall strategy, vision, mission and leadership
- Oversight to the regular activities with a guidance provided
5.
2000-2004
Assembly of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina, Serbia
MEMBER OF THE ASSEMBLY
Main activities and responsibilities
- Participation in the regular sessions
- Member of the Board for Health, Social Policy and Employment
- Development and submission of legislation drafts, resolutions and declarations
- Regular contacts with the constituency
- Participation in media
- Member of the Health Council of DOS (Democratic Opposition of Serbia) 2000-2004
International networks and expert groups
European Hepatitis Network. European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. Member, 2013-2014.
Surveillance Standards Working Group. European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. Member, 2012-2014.
Network of Low HIV Prevalence Countries. Member 2014-2016.
Southeast European Network for violence and Injury Prevention. Member of Coordinating Body, 2008-2010.
Global Fund bodies
National Council for Monitoring of HIV and TB Global Fund Projects in Serbia (Country Coordinating Mechanism). Member 2005-2007, Vice-Chair 2007-2009.
CCM Serbia. Working Group for Selection of Projects to be Financed by the Global Fund. Chair, 2007.
CCM Serbia. Expert Group for HIV Test Kits Procurement. Member, 2007.
WHO Working Group for Development of the Serbian Project Proposal for the Global Fund. Member, 2006.
CCM Serbia. Working Group for Establishing Criteria for the Selection of NGO representatives in CCM. Member, 2005.
National and sub-national expert bodies and networks
National
UK Higher Education Academy. Fellow. 2018-present
UK Academic and Professional Constituency for TB at UNGA 2018. Member, 2018-present
Serbian National HIV subcommittee. Member, 2013-2016.
Working Group for Development of Serbian National HIV Strategy. Member and coordinator for decentralisation of HIV response, 2012.
Serbian Republican Committee for Communicable Diseases. Member, 2008 – 2010.
National Working Group for Communicable Disease Prevention and Control Legislation. Ministry of Health of Serbia. Member, 2008-2011, 2013.
National Working Group for Communicable Disease Surveillance Legislation. Ministry of Health of Serbia. Chairman, 2009-2011, 2013.
National Working Group for Communicable Disease Reporting Legislation. Ministry of Health of Serbia. Chairman, 2009-2011, 2013.
National Working Group for Mandatory Laboratory Testing Legislation. Ministry of Health of Serbia. Member, 2009.
National Working Group for Health System Preparedness for Flu Pandemic. Ministry of health of Serbia. Member, 2009-2010.
Sub-national
HIV Committee of Autonomous Province of Vojvodina. Chairman, 2008-2016.
Provincial Committee for Prevention of Drug Addiction, Autonomous Province of Vojvodina, Serbia. Member 2011-2012.
Working Group for Development of Case Definitions for Communicable Disease Surveillance. Member, 2006.
Working Group for Mother-to-Child HIV transmission in Autonomous Province Vojvodina. HIV Committee of AP Vojvodina. Member, 2008-2016.
Working Group for HIV Testing in Autonomous Province of Vojvodina. HIV Committee of AP Vojvodina. Member, 2009-2016.
Vojvodinian HIV Network. Network of NGOs and public institutions. Founder and coordinator, 2006-2014.
Committee for Non-Communicable Diseases of Autonomous Province of Vojvodina. Member, 2003-2004.
Local
Working Group for Improvement of Health of Roma Women in Novi Sad. City of Novi Sad, Serbia. Member, 2011-2012.
Local Health Council. Municipality of Temerin, Serbia. Member, 2014.
Council for Rehabilitation, Support and Re-socialization of People who Use Drugs. City of Novi Sad, Serbia. Member, 2009-2012.
