Assoc. Prof. Vanina Mihaylova-Alakidi, PhD

Biography:

Assoc. Prof. Vanina Mihaylova-Alakidi, PhD, holds a Master's degree in "Healthcare Management" and "Medical Rehabilitation and Ergotherapy." In 1997, she obtained a professional qualification as a "Physiotherapist" in Ansbach, Regierung von Mittelfranken, Bavaria, Germany, and worked at Kreiskrankenhaus Uffenheim. Her professional development continued at the Military Medical Academy (MMA) in Sofia, at the Clinic of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine. Her academic career began in 2004 as an Assistant, Senior Assistant, and Chief Assistant at the Department of Healthcare Management, Faculty of Public Health, Medical University of Plovdiv. 

In 2009, she obtained her PhD in the scientific specialty "Social Medicine and Organization of Healthcare and Pharmacy" after defending a dissertation on the topic: "Healthy Aging – Medical-Ethical and Rehabilitation Aspects." She also acquired a specialty in "Social Medicine and Healthcare Management" at the Medical University of Sofia. Since 2013, she has been an Associate Professor at the Department of Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, Medical University of Sofia.

Research activity:

Assoc. Prof. Vanina Mihaylova-Alakidi, PhD, has participated in numerous university, national, and international scientific projects, as well as in academic exchange programs under the Erasmus+ Program of the European Union. She has served as a scientific consultant and reviewer for more than 50 thesis papers. She has also specialized in kinesitherapy in both Germany and Bulgaria. 

Her scientific contributions include over 100 publications in Bulgarian and international peer-reviewed journals, covering topics such as: Social Medicine Physiotherapie Public Health Ethical and Recreational Dimensions of Aging and Old Age Health Promotion and Active Aging Quality of Life The Psychosocial Approach to Chronic Pain, Intensive Therapy in Elderly Patients, and Terminal Illnesses Conceptual Frameworks and Epidemiological Projections in Modern Preventive Medicine Organizational, Managerial, and Ethical Aspects of Primary Healthcare Functioning History of Medicine Traditional Medicine Professional Satisfaction and Career Development in Healthcare Management She is the sole author of the monograph "Modern Dimensions of Successful Aging," published by EX-PRESS in both Bulgarian and English. Additionally, she has co-authored three monographs and four teaching manuals.

Memberships in organizations:

Since 2014, she has been a member of the International Forum of Teachers of the UNESCO Chair in Bioethics. She is also part of the editorial board of the international journal on the history and philosophy of medicine, Asklepios. In 2014, she participated in the Expert Group of the Ministry of Health for the development of the Medical Standard for Geriatric Medicine.