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BULGARIAN SOCIETY OF HUMAN GENETICS (BSHG)
To Dr. Rumen Stefanov, PhD
Chairman of the Bulgarian Association for Promotion of Education and Science
Dear Dr. Stefanov,
The governing body of the Bulgarian Society of Human Genetics greets and supports your initiative for establishment of the Information Centre for Rare Diseases and Orphan Drugs in Bulgaria (ICRDOD). This centre should be especially useful for the genetists in our country, having in mind that a big part of hereditary and congenital diseases are rare and not enough studied. This will allow patients and doctors to have more opportunities for adequate information in one hand, and will let their duly forwarding for diagnostics, genetic counseling, therapy and rehabilitation. A real idea of the frequency and incidence of the diseases in the country will be also acquired.
We are ready to collaborate with the centre in this direction, as well as in organizing of jointly scientific events, scientific research and improvement of the health education by the use of all means.
Apart from my personal contribution as an expert, you could rely on the partnership of the following specialist from our society:
• Prof. Draga Toncheva, MD, PhD – Head of the department of medical genetics, University hospital “Maichin dom”, Sofia
• Prof. Ivo Kremensky, MD, PhD – Head of the department of molecular pathology, University hospital “Maichin dom”, Sofia
• Prof. Maria Simeonova, MD, PhD – Head of the sector of human genetics, Medical University of Pleven
• Prof. Margarita Stefanov, MD, PhD – Head of the laboratory of human genetics, Medical University of Plovdiv
• Prof. Ljudmila Angelova, MD, PhD – Head of the laboratory of human genetics, Medical University of Varna
On behalf of the medical genetists in Bulgaria, we wish you a tail-wind and beneficial activities together.
Chairman of the Bulgarian Society of Human Genetics
/signed/
Prof. St. Lalchev, MD, PhD
17.02.2005
Sofia
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LINKS:
Download the letter-support from the Bulgarian Society of Human Genetics – click
———————————————————————————– Personal data are all kinds of information concerning an individual, which reveals his/her physical, psychological, mental, family, economic, cultural or public identity. The Information Centre for Rare Diseases and Orphan Drugs (ICRDOD) is obliged and engaged with the implementation of all necessary technical and organizational means, in order to protect your personal data from unauthorized access and use. You have the right to send a written petition to ICRDOD, by which you can: Sharing of your personal data to third-party is permitted only if: For any question or comments, regarding your personal data protection, please contact us: ————————————————————————— ———————————————————————————– Information Centre for Rare Diseases and Orphan Drugs (ICRDOD) is a free educational and information service in Bulgarian and English languages, providing personalized replies to requests from patients, families and medical professionals. Any medical or health information, provided and hosted on this site is given by medically trained and qualified professionals. The information provided on this site is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between a patient/site visitor and his/her doctor. Confidentiality of data relating to individual patients and visitors to ICRDOD, including their identity, is respected by this website. We undertake to honour or exceed the legal requirements of medical/health information privacy that apply in Bulgaria. ICRDOD is a project and activity of the Bulgarian Association for Promotion of Education and Science (BAPES) – a non-government non-profit organization, registered under the Bulgarian law on legal persons with non-profit purposes in 2003. For the realization of this website, BAPES utilizes its own funding, received from private donors. The director and all consultants of ICRDOD are contributing on volunteer basis. ICRDOD AIMS ICRDOD TEAM Dr. Ralitza Jordanova, MD Mr. George Iskrov Ms. Lilia Popova Assoc. Prof. Dr. Margarita Stefanova, MD, PhD (short CV) Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mariana Murdjeva, MD, PhD Dr. Ivan Ivanov, MD, PhD (short CV) Dr. Christo Shipkov, MD, PhD (short CV) Dr. Dimitrina Konstantinova, MD Dr. Pavel Balabanov, MD, PhD (short CV) Dr. Nikolay Botushanov, MD (short CV) Dr. Iliana Pacheva, MD Dr. Petya Blagoeva, MD Mr. Svetoslav Nikolov Dr. Vesela Stefanova, DD Mr. George Georgiev Dr. George Stefanov, MD, PhD, MBA PRIVACY STATEMENT ADVERTISING POLICY CONTACT INFORMATION Information Centre for Rare Diseases and Orphan Drugs DOWNLOADS Rare diseases as a medical and public health problem (reprint from the journal ) – click (Bulgarian, PDF format, size 2.9Mb) Letter-support from the Bulgarian Ministry of Health – click (English, PDF format, size 583Kb) Letter-support from (Bulgarian, PDF format, size 302Kb) Letter-support from (Bulgarian, PDF format, size 244Kb) Letter-support from the BULGARIAN SOCIETY OF CARDIOLOGY – click Letter-support from the Bulgarian Society of Human Genetics – click
Projects on Bulgarian level Projects on EU level Social, Educational and Scientific Initiatives 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 Annual Reports Newsletters ————————————————————————— CURRICULUM VITAE Name: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Margarita Stefanova, PhD Current work Address: Education: Professional qualifications and PG courses: Work experience: Current research projects: ————————————————————————- What is a rare disease? Rare Diseases (RD) can generally be defined as pathological conditions with low incidence and prevalence. The term “rare” is very relative. Although each rare disease occurs in very small proportion of the population of a country, if they are aggregated as a whole, because of the large number of nosological units (over 6000), rare diseases are becoming an important public health problem of any health system. How many people suffering from rare diseases in Bulgaria? Based on current scientific knowledge, between 5 000 and 8 000 different rare diseases affect 6% of the total EU population at some point of life. In other words, about 15 million people in the European Union (27 Member States) are affected or will be affected by rare diseases. For Bulgaria, whose population is about 7 500 000 (by 2004), the number of patients with rare diseases is expected to be about 400 000 – 450 000 people. What are the causes of rare diseases? It is proved that about 80% of rare diseases are of genetic origin, one or several genes or chromosomal abnormalities are being affected. They may be inherited or be a result from a de novo gene mutation or chromosomal abnormality. This occurs in 3% to 4% of newborns. Other rare diseases occur as a result of infections (bacteria or viruses) or allergies, or due to degenerative, proliferative or teratogenic (chemical, radiation, etc.) reasons. Some rare diseases are caused by the combined action of genetic and environmental factors. But for most rare diseases the etiologic mechanism is still unknown due to lack of research in this area through which to reveal the pathophysiology of the disease. What are the problems posed by rare diseases? Rare diseases cause problems to the medical professionals, to the patients themselves and their families, to the society as a whole and to the health system of each country. The problems for all these groups are the same: What about rare diseases in Bulgaria? On 27 November 2008, the Council of Ministers adopted with an official decision the National Program for rare diseases – genetic diseases, congenital malformations and nonhereditary diseases (2009-2013), which aims to create clear and adequate health policies for rare diseases in Bulgaria. What is an orphan drug? This is a drug product which: Where people with rare diseases can receive support? In many European countries with developed civil societies, such as France, Italy, Belgium, Spain, Netherlands and others, patients with rare diseases and their families are united in associations, which play a vital role in disseminating information, ensuring public support, lobbying for the creation of an adequate legal framework to protect their human rights, promotion of research. What to do if there is no patient association for my rare diseases? If you, your friend or your relative is suffering from a rare disease for which there is no patient organization, ICRDOD and NAPRD can assist you to create one. What should I do if I am diagnosed with a rare disease? First, it is necessary to get more information about the disease. You can do this by sending a request to ICRDOD. Its team will send you a personalized response with a description of the disease, prepared by some of the ICRDOD consultants who work to ICRDOD completely voluntary. Where can I get appropriate medical consultation and treatment? Diagnosis and treatment of rare diseases in Bulgaria is carried out in the university hospitals (Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna, Pleven, Stara Zagora) and the specialized clinics. Useful information* FAQ on Clinical Trials (English, PDF format, size 620 KB) FAQ on Personalised Healthcare (English, PDF format, size 1.13 MB) Some Information About Your Genetic Appointment (English, PDF format, size 534 KB) Genetic Glossary (English, PDF format, size 319 KB) Frequently Asked Questions (English, PDF format, size 488 KB) What is a Genetic Test? (English, PDF format, size 904 KB) Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS) Test (English, PDF format, size 566 KB) Amniocentesis Test (English, PDF format, size 677 KB) Chromosome Changes (English, PDF format, size 1.24 MB) Chromosome Translocations (English, PDF format, size 1.38 MB) Recessive Inheritance (English, PDF format, size 910 KB) Dominant Inheritance (English, PDF format, size 1.08 MB) X Linked Inheritance (English, PDF format, size 1.67 MB) *Please note that some of the PDF files below are large (1MB) and may take a while to download. If you have problems opening the file, please right click the link and choose the option ‘save as’ to save the file on your computer. You can then open it from there with Adobe Reader. ————————————————————————— CURRICULUM VITAE Name: Dr. Christo Shipkov, PhD Current work Address: Education and professional qualifications: Work experience: Publications: ————————————————————————- CURRICULUM VITAE Name: Dr. Nikolay Botushanov, MD Affiliation with us: Current work Address: Education and professional qualifications: Work experience: Current research projects: ————————————————————————- BOARD CERTIFICATION: SOCIETIES: RESEARCH INTERESTS AND ACTIVITIES: —————————————————— CURRICULUM VITAE Name: Dr. Ivan Ivanov, PhD Affiliation with us: Current work Address: Education: Professional qualifications and PG courses: Work experience: Current research projects: Publications: ————————————————————————-
IMPORTANT! IMPORTANT! IMPORTANT!
The information in this site is provided completely free of charge for educational purposes and should not be used for self diagnosis and treatment. In the case of a health problem, please contact your doctor!
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* Ask for a confirmation for the existing personal data, concerning you;
* Update or change your data;
* Clarify the conformity with the law of the storage and processing of your personal data;
* Forbid ICRDOD to share entirely or partially your data for commercial information, advertisement or market surveys;
*Ask to be informed, before your data is revealed for the first time.
* The respective individual has given his consent in advance;
* Data sources are public registers or documents, containing public information;
* This data will protect the health and life of the individual, as well as in cases when his/her condition is not permitting to provide with informed consent or there are juridical obstacles for this.
* This data are officially asked by the prosecution or police authorities in order to protect the concurrency and users after the law.
* This data are necessary for scientific, research or statistical purposes, but guaranteeing anonymity for the individual.
Information Centre for Rare Diseases and Orphan Drugs
4 Bratia Svestarovi str.
4017 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
e-mail: info@raredis.org
Last modification: 00:49 04.6.2006
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IMPORTANT! IMPORTANT! IMPORTANT!
The information in this site is provided completely free of charge for educational purposes and should not be used for self diagnosis and treatment. In the case of a health problem, please contact your doctor!
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➢ Facilitate the access of patients with rare diseases to information about the disease affected them;
➢ Providing medical professionals with quality information about rare diseases;
➢ Running a multilingual Internet site about rare diseases and orphan drugs (www.raredis.org) with news, educational topics for patients, doctors and associations, discussion forums, etc.;
➢ Encourage people with rare disease to establish patient associations, which is the way to protect their human rights and to participate in regulatory actions;
➢ Establish contacts between patients/patient groups, who need an information for specialised clinics, clinical trails, treatment, and medical professionals in Europe;
➢ Bridging between patients with rare diseases, researchers and industry;
➢ Lobbying and advocating for adopting of adequate rare disease and orphan drug legislation;
➢ Networking and integrating with the other similar national and international organizations;
➢ Active search for partners for collaboration and support at a national and international level;
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Rumen Stefanov, MD, PhD (short CV)
Director of ICRDOD
Orphanet national co-ordinator
Technical assistant and communication with patients/consultants
Orphanet Information Scientist
International programmes and projects
Technical assistant and communication with patients/consultants
Consultant in human genetics
Consultant in immunology
Consultant in pediatric neurology
Consultant in surgery
Consultant in human genetics
Consultant in neurology
Consultant in internal diseases and endocrinology
Consultant in pediatrics
Consultant in psychiatry
Web programmer and administrator
NK Software
Member of the Board of Directors of BAPES
Hosting administrator and programmer
Member of the Board of Directors of BAPES
Personal data are all kinds of information concerning an individual, which reveals his/her physical, psychological, mental, family, economic, cultural or public identity. The Information Centre for Rare Diseases and Orphan Drugs (ICRDOD) is obliged and engaged with the implementation of all necessary technical and organizational means, in order to protect your personal data from unauthorized access and use.
You have the right to send a written petition to ICRDOD, by which you can:
* Ask for a confirmation for the existing personal data, concerning you;
* Update or change your data;
* Clarify the conformity with the law of the storage and processing of your personal data;
* Forbid ICRDOD to share entirely or partially your data for commercial information, advertisement or market surveys;
*Ask to be informed, before your data is revealed for the first time.
Sharing of your personal data to third-party is permitted only if:
* The respective individual has given his consent in advance;
* Data sources are public registers or documents, containing public information;
* This data will protect the health and life of the individual, as well as in cases when his/her condition is not permitting to provide with informed consent or there are juridical obstacles for this.
* This data are officially asked by the prosecution or police authorities in order to protect the concurrency and users after the law.
* This data are necessary for scientific, research or statistical purposes, but guaranteeing anonymity for the individual.
There is currently no advertising or sponsored content on the ICRDOD website. To provide quality health information, education and news in a timely manner to our users, we may permit health-related advertising on our site. However, we do not allow outside advertisers to affect the quality or accuracy of information on our site, and we maintain a stringent policy of editorial independence. ICRDOD does not endorse any products. We maintain complete editorial independence with respect to our content in every circumstance. We do not permit advertisers or other third-party sponsors to make changes to the website content. We do not accept advertising that is false, misleading, ineffective, dangerous, or for firearms, alcohol, tobacco, and pornographic products or websites. We do not provide or sell any information to a third party that would allow it to identify a person’s individual medical circumstances or conditions. ICRDOD does not accept “advertorials”. Advertorials are articles provided by sponsors with the sole purpose of promoting a product or service. However, news or articles on www.raredis.org may link out to off-site advertorials company websites, that www.raredis.org has no control over. Our site www.raredis.org occasionally shares anonymous aggregate statistical information regarding site usage and traffic with public. This information cannot be linked to individual users and is entirely anonymous.
Bulgarian Association for Promotion of Education and Science (BAPES)
4 Bratia Sveshtarovi str., 4017 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
e-mail: bapes@mail.bg
15a Vasil Aprilov blvd (University hospital campus), 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
e-mail: info@raredis.org
HELP LINE: +359-32-575797
ICRDOD Activity Report for 2005 – click (English, PDF format, size 4.96Mb)
(English, PDF format, size 337 Kb)
· 2009, August 1 – Pilot Epidemiological Study of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (more information)
· 2009, May 15 – Opening of Medical Centre “RareDis” (more information)
· 2008, August 1 – National registry of patients with thalassemia major in Bulgaria (more information)
· 2010, April 20 – BURQOL – RD Project (more information)
· 2010, April 1 – RD PORTAL 2 Project (more information)
· 2009, June 13-14 – Fourth Eastern European Conference for Rare Diseases (more information)
· 2007, December 11 – EUROPLAN Project (more information)
· 2007, April 1 – RD PORTAL 1 (ORPHANET) (more information)
2010
· October 1 – Rare Diseases Epidemiology (more information)
· September 17 – March of People with Rare Diseases (more information)
· July 2-4 – Fifth Eastern European Conference for Rare Diseases (more information)
· May 28-30 – EUROPLAN National Conference for Rare Diseases and Orphan Drugs (more information)
· April 24 – Workshop on Establishing Registry of Crohn Disease Patients in Bulgaria (more information)
· April 9 – Presentation of the Pilot Epidemiological Study of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Results (more information)
· March 27-28 – Seminar “Rare Diseases Patients and Medical Students – ideas for partnerships and common projects” (more information)
· March 26 – Meeting on the National Thalassaemia Registry Project (more information)
· February 28 – Rare Diseases Day in Bulgaria (more information)
· September 15 – Protest March of People with Rare Diseases (more information)
· July 10 – Workshop “How to Learn to Live with the Disease” (more information)
· June 1 – Charity Bazaar in Favour of People with Rare Diseases (more information)
· February 28 – Rare Diseases Day in Bulgaria (more information)
· January 31 – Workshop with the Doctors-Consultants at the ICRDOD (more information)
· January 30 – Meeting on the National Thalassaemia Registry Project (more information)
· December 23 – Christmas Charity Initiative in Favour of People with Rare Diseases (more information)
· November 21-22 – First National Conference for Rare Diseases “ONCOLOGY AND HEMATOLOGY” (more information)
· June 20-21 – Hereditary Angioedema Workshop (more information)
· April 19 – Workshop with the Association of Medicine Students in Bulgaria (more information)
· March 1-2 – Third Eastern European Conference on Rare Diseases (more information)
· December 22 – Charity Christmas Concert (more information)
· November 30 – Workshop on Cystic Fibrosis (more information)
· October 6 – Workshop with the Doctors-Consultants at the ICRDOD (more information)
· September 8-9 – Second Eastern European Conference on Rare Diseases (more information)
· February 6 – Meeting in Medical Genetics (more information)
· December 19 – Annual Meeting of ICRDOD (more information)
· May 27 – First Eastern European Conference on Rare Diseases (more information)
· March 11-12 – Workshop on Hereditary Angioedema (more information)
· 2010 (open as a pdf file)
· 2009 (open as a pdf file)
· 2008 (open as a pdf file)
· 2007 (open as a pdf file)
· 2006 (open as a pdf file)
· 2005 (open as a pdf file)
· Issue 1, Year I (open as a pdf file)
· Issue 2, Year II (open as a pdf file)
Last modification: 10:17 15.02.2011
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Affiliation with us:
Consultant, volunteer unpaid support
Dept Pediatrics & Med Genetics, Medical University, 15A V.Aprilov blvd, 4002 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
• “PhD” degree, awarded by the University of Hamburg, Germany (14 April 2000), with a note “magna cum laude” for the thesis ‘FISH study of tumor suppressor genes (P53, RB, P16) and TSG closely related loci (D13S25 and D1Z2) in marginal zone B-cell lymphoma’.
• MSc course in Clinical Genetics, Institute of Child Health, University of London, UK, Oct 1992 – Sept 1993.
• Medical University, Plovdiv, Bulgaria, 1974-80.
• Secondary School, Plovdiv, Bulgaria, 1971-74.
• Two individual training courses in cell culture growing and molecular cytogenetics, Institute of Human Genetics, University of Leuven, March & October 1998;
• Individual training course in molecular diagnosis of the Fragile X syndrome, Institute of Molecular Diagnosis, University of Hamburg, Germany, a part of mobility scheme of the above mentioned TEMPUS Project, Feb-July, Sept-Oct 1996;
• Individual course in FISH technique, Institute of Human Genetics, University of Hamburg, Aug 1996;
• “Principles of molecular biology” course, a part of TEMPUS Project, Dept Molecular Pathology, University Hospital, Sofia, Bulgaria, June 1995;
• State Diploma in Medical Genetics, Med Acad, Sofia, Bulgaria, 1990;
• State Diploma in Paediatrics, Med Acad, Sofia, Bulgaria, 1987;
• Visiting Scientist, Institute of Human Genetics, University Hospital Eppendorf, University of Hamburg, Germany; January-May 2001, March-May 2002, May-June 2004
• Senior Assistant Professor, Dept Pediatrics & Med Genet, Med University, Plovdiv, Bulgaria, 2000-04.
• Doctoral Fellow (Doktorand), Dept Oncology & Haematology, University Hospital Eppendorf, University of Hamburg, Germany; 1997-99.
• Senior Assistant Professor, Dept Med Genet, Med University, Plovdiv, Bulgaria, 1988-97.
• Assistant Professor, Dept Med Genet, Med University, Plovdiv, Bulgaria, 1986-88.
• Genetic Consultant, Dept Med Genet, Med University, Plovdiv, Bulgaria, 1986-88.
• Paediatrician, Regional Hospital, Plovdiv, Bulgaria, 1984-86.
• Paediatrician, Regional Hospital, Karlovo, Bulgaria, 1980-83.
• Principal investigator
Title of the project: “Pilot screening for subtelomeric chromosomal aberrations in unknown mental retardation ”, funded by Medical University, Plovdiv, 2001-04.
• Collaborative Researcher
Title of the joint international project: “Identification and characterization of disease causative genes for Zimmermann-Laband syndrome” funded by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, 2004.
According to the definition of the Work Group on rare diseases to the European Union, a disease is considered “rare” if it affects no more than one in 2 000 persons.
This statistic shows that even if the diseases are rare, patients with rare diseases are many. It is not unusual person to be affected by a rare disease as a rare disease affects not only the patient but also his whole family in one way or another. In this sense, it is difficult to find a family in which nobody is affected by a rare (or strange, unexplained, bizarre) disease.
· insufficient information;
· delay in diagnosis;
· lack of treatment.
National Program for Rare Diseases has been prepared in accordance with European and National health strategies. The combination of the principles of solidarity and equal opportunities for health with innovations and technological progress plays key role in the development of the European Community.
Currently, treatment of patients with rare diseases is provided mainly by the Ministry of Health Regulation № 34 on the order of payment from the state budget on the treatment of diseases of the Bulgarian citizens, outside the scope of the compulsory health insurance. National Health Insurance Fund also participates in the treatment of rare diseases through some treatment programs (eg multiple sclerosis, hiperammoniemia).
Conducting therapy with expensive medicines is a livelihood for some, to others it gives a chance to have a better quality of life, better education and social integration. However, there are several unresolved problems such as ensuring access to new therapies for rare diseases, treatment of adult patients with rare diseases, ensuring optimal dosage and quantity of expensive drugs, determination of disability and social rehabilitation.
· is intended to diagnose, prevent or treat life-threatening or progressive chronic diseases that affect not more than 5 per 10 000 people throughout the country;
· is intended to diagnose, prevent or treat life-threatening diseases and seriously impairing chronic health conditions (diseases causing high incapacity and disability) and are attached evidence that the sale of the product does not provide a satisfactory return to justify necessary investment in research and development, without incentives for the originator of the product;
· when there is no satisfactory method of diagnosis, prevention or treatment of the condition, or if there is such a method, the proposed product has significantly more advantages than it and benefit to those affected by this condition.
Since 2004, the Information Center for Rare Diseases and Orphan Drugs (ICRDOD) – the first and only Eastern educational and information service dedicated to patients, medical professionals and associations, interested in rare diseases and orphan drugs operates in Bulgaria. ICRDOD is a project of the Bulgarian Association for Promotion of Education and Science – non-profit organization, registered in 2003
The center is located at the St. George University Hospital’s complex in Plovdiv and is fully provided with modern equipment and conditions for conducting workshops. The main functions of ICRDOD are providing completely free information about rare disorders, clinics, laboratories in Europe and the world, making contacts among leading specialists, treating physicians and patients, creating and maintaining a multilingual website with information and educational purposes (www. raredis.org), organizing workshops and conferences, establishing contacts with scientific and patient organizations from Bulgaria and Europe. Any medical or health information, offered by ICRDOD (www.raredis.org), is prepared by highly qualified medical professionals. The information is provided to supplement and not to replace the existing relationships between patients and their personal physician.
In 2007, National Alliance of People with Rare Diseases (NAPRD) was established in Bulgaria. The alliance is as a link between people with rare diseases and public health system, aiming to protect the fundamental human right to equal and modern medical care.
Currently, there are about 20 different rare diseases patient associations in Bulgaria, more information can be found here – http://www.raredis.org/modules/sections/index.php?op=listarticles&secid=6.
In 2009, was officially opened. It is unique not only in Bulgaria but also in Eastern Europe. A main accent in the centre’s activities is the team work in assuring physical, psychological and social rehabilitation, as well as training parents in providing qualified and adequate daily health care of their children with rare diseases. Medical Centre “RareDis” is substantial national and regional importance and is expected to become an innovative model for integrative multidisciplinary approach to rare diseases.
Last modification: 11:06 2.12.2009
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Affiliation with us:
Consultant, volunteer unpaid support
Department of Maxillofacial, Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, Bellevue Hospital, Saint Etienne, France
• PhD degree in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Pediatric Surgery, Medical University of Plovdiv, Bulgaria, 1999-2003.
• State Diploma in General and Digestive Surgery, Bulgaria, 2002;
• MSc degree in medicine, Medical University, Plovdiv, Bulgaria, 1991-1997.
• School for Foreign Languages, Plovdiv, Bulgaria, 1986-1991.
• Resident at the Department of Maxillofacial, Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, Bellevue Hospital, Saint Etienne, France, 2003-current;
• Registrar at Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Plastic and Craniofacial Ward, University Hospital “St. George”, Plovdiv, Bulgaria, 2003-current;
• Specialization at the Department of Digestive and Thoracic Surgery, St Joseph St Luc Hospital, Lyon, France, 2003;
• Specialization at the General Surgery Department, Hotel Dieu, Lyon, France, 2003;
• Specialization at the Department of Colo-rectal Surgery, New Cross Hospital, Wolverhampton, UK, 1999;
• Registrar at General Surgery, Department of Abdominal and Thoracic Surgery, Higher Medical Institute of Plovdiv, Plovdiv, Bulgaria, 1997-1999;
Dr. Shipkov has published in Europen, American, and African specialized journals of General and Plastic Surgery – Plast Reconstr Surg, Am J Med Gen, Ann Plast Surg, Scand J Plast Reconstr Surg Hand Surg, Eur J Cardiothoracic Surg, etc.
Consultant, volunteer unpaid support
Endocrinology Clinic, Medical University of Plovdiv, Bulgaria
• State Diploma in Endocrinology, Med Acad, Sofia, Bulgaria, 2000;
• State Diploma in Internal Diseases, Med Acad, Sofia, Bulgaria, 1997;
• Medical University, Plovdiv, Bulgaria, 1986-92.
• English Language Secondary School, Plovdiv, Bulgaria, 1981-86.
• Senior Assistant Professor, Endocrinology clinic, Medical University of Plovdiv, Bulgaria, 2003-.
• Assistant Professor, Endocrinology clinic, Medical University of Plovdiv, Bulgaria, 1993-2003.
• Principal investigator.“Bone changes in type 1 Diabetes mellitus”, funded by Medical University, Plovdiv (Bulgaria), 2004.
Prof. Paraskeva Stamenova, MD, DMSc
Professor of Medicine
Chairman of Department of Neurology,
University hospital “Queen Joanna”, Sofia, Bulgaria
• Anesthesiology, 1970
• Neurology, 1980
• ProScience Research Clinic, Linden, Germany
• Bulgarian Society of Neurology – Chairmen at present
• International Brain Research Organization – since 1990
• European Society of Neurology – since 1991
• Acute disorders of brain blood circulation, intensive care, sleep disorders
• More than 200 articles, 12 monographs.
Consultant, volunteer unpaid support
Dept. Pediatrics & Med Genetics, Medical University, 15A V.Aprilov blvd, 4002 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
• “Ph.D.” degree in 1999 for the thesis “The Role of Imaging Transfontanel Ultrasonography in the Follow-up of High Risk Infants (a comparative clinical-ultrasonographic study)”.
• State Diploma in Paediatrics, Sofia Higher Medical School, Bulgaria, 1992.
• “M.Sc.” degree in medicine, Medical University, Plovdiv, Bulgaria, 1991-1997, graduated with Hippocrates Gold Medal for excellent education in medicine of the Bulgarian Medical Academy.
• Secondary education in the English Language School, Plovdiv, Bulgaria, 1971-74
• Salzburg-Philadelphia Seminars on Paediatric Gastroenterology, Salzburg, Austria, 2004.
• European Paediatric Neurology Society Course on Epilepsy and Other Paroxysmal Disorders, Taormina, Italy, 2003.
• Basic training course in Prechtl’s method on qualitative assessment of general movements, Graz, Austria, 2001.
• Teaching course in sleep eeg in children and youngsters, Dept. Paediatrics, Graz University Hospital, Graz, Austria, 2001.
• Internship in Paediatric Neurology, Dept. Paediatrics, Graz University Hospital, Graz, Austria, 2001.
• Training course in Epileptic Encephalopathies, Baden-Baden, Germany, 2001.
• Training in Paediatric Neurology, Sofia Medical University, 2000.
• Training course in Clinical Neurophysiology, Sofia Medical University, 2000.
• Teaching and training course in molecular biology and molecular pathology, Medical Faculties of Namur ( Belgium), Bonn (Germany), Plovdiv and Sofia (Bulgaria), JEP-08121-94, 1996-1997.
Bulgaria, June 1995;
• Salzburg-Philadelphia Seminars on Paediatric Neurology, Salzburg, Austria,1996
• Training course in Paediatric Neurology, Meical University-Sofia, 1996.
• Postgraduate training in Paediatric Neurology, at Prof. Dr. Raphael Weitz, Children’s Medical Center of Israel, Tel-Aviv, 1993 -1994.
• Training courses in ultrasonography in paediatrics, Sofia Higher Medical School, 1993.
• Senior Assistant Professor, Dept. Paediatrics and Medical Genetics, Medical University, Plovdiv, Bulgaria, 1998 -present
• Consulting neuropaediatrician at the Home for Medical and Social Care for Infants, Plovdiv, 2001 – present.
• Assistant Professor, Dept. Paediatrics, Med University, Plovdiv, Bulgaria, 1988-1998.
• Paediatrician, Regional Hospital, Pazardjik, Bulgaria, 1988-89.
• Principal investigator
Title of the project: “Investigation upon symptomatic cytomegalovirus infection in infants in the first year of life”, funded by Medical University, Plovdiv, 2003-2005.
• Collaborative Researcher
Title of the project: “Pilot screening for subtelomeric chromosomal aberrations in unknown mental retardation”, funded by Medical University, Plovdiv, 2001-2004.
Dr. Ivanov has published in Bulgarian and international journals: Pediatia (Sofia), Folia Medica (Plovdiv), European J. Pediatrics, European J. Ultrasound, Sexually transmitted diseases, Acta myologica and others. He has written chapters on paediatric neurology in textbooks and other teaching materials.