The pandemic & challenges of public health

MBE, is a British–Iraqi public health researcher and a professor of Public Health at the University of Southampton. Her work primarily focuses on maternal and child health. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Alwan used social media to promote public health messages and advocate for the recognition of long COVID. In 2020, she was recognized as one of the BBC’s top 100 Women. Alwan studied medicine at the University of Baghdad and later pursued a graduate degree in public health at the University of Nottingham. She has conducted extensive research on maternal and child health, particularly in the context of obesity and birth outcomes. Her personal experience with COVID-19 inspired her to become a prominent health advocate. Through platforms like Twitter, she conveyed vital health information and campaigned for the acknowledgment of long COVID in national data. Her efforts led to increased awareness of long COVID within the medical community, and she was part of a group of healthcare professionals who urged the government to enhance research and surveillance of this condition. In addition to her research, Alwan is a vocal advocate for gender and ethnic equality in academia and the public sphere.

Entrepreneur, Network Engineer, Behavioral Scientist, and Epidemiologist originally from Australia and currently based in Sweden. His career began in Public Health research, with a focus on epidemiology. He later transitioned to IT and Internet entrepreneurship, founding one of Australia’s early Internet Access Providers. David then moved on to providing satellite access to under-supported rural regions of Australia. After relocating to Sweden for personal reasons, David developed and sold two further internet companies specializing in web design and hosting. He subsequently merged his interests in technology and health, working with various Digital Health startups. His primary focus is on addressing a critical issue in healthcare today – bridging the gap between knowledge and implementation.

Head of the Department of Medical Education and Simulation at the Collegium Medicum of the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn. She is a founding member and Vice President of the Polish Society of Medical Communication and also serves as a healthcare expert at the Center for Analysis of the Jagiellonian Club. She was a Fulbright scholar. For the past 15 years, she has chaired the Polish Association for Assistance to Individuals with Prader-Willi Syndrome, which co-founded the “Strength in Genes Dinner,” bringing together patient organizations focused on improving healthcare organization and coordination for rare diseases. She was a member of the Rare Diseases Team at the Ministry of Health (2016-2017), coordinating a working group on access to information, education, and research. Previously, she served as the Director of the Institute for Interdisciplinary Studies of Rare Diseases at Lazarski University.

Collaborator at Healthier Systems, an international health research consultancy working with organizations such as the World Health Organization and the World Bank. She is a health researcher with a focus on improving healthcare for children and adolescents. Her expertise lies in integrating clinical care with population health, prioritizing participant voices. Her areas of specialization include health sciences, public health, and political studies, with experience in both quantitative and qualitative research. She is dedicated to understanding the social and political determinants of health and health disparities. She is currently conducting research on the impact of Covid-19 on families and sustainable use of personal protective equipment. She completed her doctoral studies at the University of Auckland, with a focus on interventions for childhood and adolescent obesity. She collaborates on various research projects aimed at improving children’s health and addressing inequalities.

Economist, historian, professional manager with experience in fintech, banking, manufacturing, constructions, business consulting and policy consulting. Contributing editor at Nowy Obywatel magazine.