Prof. Ivanka Kostova Stambolova, PhD

Born in 1962 in Sofia. Graduated from the Medical College of Varna in 1982, majoring in pediatric nursing. Worked as a nurse in the pediatric and neurological clinics of the University Hospital of Varna. In 1990, she graduated from the Faculty of Biology of Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski" – Master`s degree in biology. Worked as a lecturer in the education of nurses at the Medical College of Varna. In 1996 she joined the newly opened "Faculty of Nursing", later renamed to the "Faculty of Public Health" at the Medical University - Sofia. 

Since 2001 she has a specialty in "Medical Informatics and Health Management", and since 2024 also the specialty "Public Health". She obtained a second Master's degree in "Public Health and Health Management" in 2003 at the Medical University - Sofia. Since 2007, she has been a "PhD" in "Social Medicine and Organization of Health Care and Pharmacy". She has participated in a number of projects and has specialized in "Health Care Management" under a PHARE Program project in Public Hospitals Paris. Prof. Stambolova is one of the founders and creators of the "Health Care Management" course, first introduced in Bulgaria in 1996 at MU-Sofia. She participates in the development and introduction of programs in all major nursing disciplines in the field of "Health Care" and "Health Care Management" with the qualifications "Bachelor", "Master", "PhD".

Publications and scientific interests:

She participates in the editorial boards of the journals "Health Care" and "Nursing Staff". Author and co-author of more than 200 publications, including two monographs, two independent and seven textbooks in a collective, as well as study guides in the field of nursing and health care management. She has over 600 citations in Bulgarian and foreign publications. Under her supervision, 23 PhD students have successfully defended their dissertations.

Membership in organizations:

Member of the Management Board of the Bulgarian Organization of Healthcare Professionals /BOHCP/ and Deputy Chairman of the Quality Council. Winner of the prestigious "Lesis Kepra" award for contribution to the development of nursing in Bulgaria and the "SIGNUM LAUDIS" ribbon award of MU-Sofia.