The speakers of the Transforming Cancer Care Together event on April 11, 2025, will offer valuable insights into cancer care and the implementation of the EU Beating Cancer Plan.
Moderator of the event: Dr. Nick Guldemond PhD DSc (med)
Nick Guldemond is a Professor of healthcare and public health at Gdansk Medical University Poland and Leiden University Medical Center in the Netherlands and holds degrees in medicine and electronic engineering with a PhD from Maastricht University. He is an expert in the field of digital health, eHealth, and healthcare innovation. He is known for his work in advancing the use of technology, particularly digital and data-driven solutions, in healthcare to improve patient care, population health, and healthcare systems. He was the CEO and founder of the Medical Field Lab (early 2000) i.e. the first international example of a university hospital based ‘living lab’ dedicated to science, innovation and societal impact. Nick Guldemond has held various academic positions and has been involved in many research projects related to multiple disease areas, digital health and healthcare innovation. He has also been a speaker, panellist at numerous international conferences and forums. He is an advisor for many governments, WHO, the European Commission and industries across the globe.
Robert Yates
Robert Yates is a political health economist specializing in universal health coverage (UHC) and progressive health financing. He is a Visiting Professor in Practice at the LSE and an Honorary Associate Professor at LSHTM.
From 2019 to 2024, he was Executive Director of the Centre for Universal Health at Chatham House and a consultant for The Elders’ UHC program. He advises political leaders and governments on planning, financing, and implementing UHC reforms. Previously, he worked as a senior health economist for the UK’s DFID and the WHO, advising governments in Asia, Africa, and Europe on health financing and systems reforms.
He holds a BA in Natural Sciences and Economics from Cambridge and an MBA from Leeds.
Enkelejd Musabelliu
Enkelejd Musabelliu, Deputy Minister of MEKI, is a political economist with extensive experience in economic development, strategic planning, and social policies. He has held key government roles and served on multiple public institution boards. He has significant experience in the public sector, both in central institutions and local government and has served as a member of the Supervisory Board of several public institutions.
Prof.Dr. Helidon Nina
Prof.Dr. Helidon Nina, Medical Director, Head of Oncological Surgical & Intensive Unit” is a distinguished breast surgeon and medical director at at Oncological Hospital, University Hospital Center “Mother Teresa”. With extensive expertise in oncoplastic and reconstructive breast surgery, he has trained across Europe, Japan, and Brazil, specializing in innovative surgical techniques.
He is a professor at the University of Medicine, Tirana, and a lecturer at Tor Vergata University in Rome. He has played a key role in shaping Albania’s breast cancer treatment protocols and is actively involved in international oncology networks, including MANOSMED and BRESO.
Dr. Marijana Milović Kovačević,
Dr. Marijana Milović Kovačević is the head of the Oncology Department at the Institute of Oncology and Radiology of Serbia, with expertise in breast cancer and innovative treatments. She is a graduate of the University of Belgrade’s Faculty of Medicine and advocates for a multidisciplinary approach in cancer care. Dr. Milović Kovačević has received training at Tenon Paris Hospital and participated in numerous national and international oncology conferences and educational programs. She is an author and co-author of several research papers and a member of professional organizations such as SLD/DLV, UMOS, and ESMO. Her dedication to advancing oncology has earned her respect in the field.
Lazar Popovic
Prof. Dr. Lazar Popović is a distinguished oncologist and educator, internationally recognized for his significant contributions to the field of oncology and his dedication to advancing patient care. He graduated from the University of Novi Sad in 2004, completed his specialization in Medical Oncology in 2011, and earned his PhD in 2014. Since 2005, he has been a member of the Oncology Institute of Vojvodina, where he has served as the Head of the Department for Onco-Hematology since 2019. Dr. Popović has been an academic contributor at the University of Novi Sad since 2006, attaining the position of Associate Professor in 2019. With a research focus on breast cancer, genitourinary malignancies, and lymphoma, he has authored over 80 papers in high-impact journals. Dr. Popović has played a pivotal role in over 30 clinical trials and is poised to serve as the global principal investigator for Roche’s MO42921 VANESSA trial in Triple Negative Breast Cancer. Additionally, he has organized key oncology events, including the International Novi Sad Oncology Congress.
Dr sc Admir Čavalić
Admir Čavalić holds a PhD in Economics and is a professor and researcher. He has long worked within the non-governmental sector, focusing on economic analysis of current social phenomena. He currently serves as the President of the Economic and Financial Policy Committee of the Parliament of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. He is the author of several books and numerous scientific and professional papers in the field of economics. He regularly writes for both domestic and international media.
Marsida Mulaj
Marsida Mulaj, MSc.MD. is a General Physician and Public Health Specialist, currently serving as Director of Primary and Hospital Health Care at the Compulsory Health Insurance Fund of Albania. She oversees a wide network of primary health centers and public hospitals, working to ensure equitable access to quality health services.
She has strong expertise in health economics and health financing, which she applies in implementing reforms aimed at improving the sustainability, efficiency, and coverage of the Albanian health system.
Enida Glušac
Enida Glušac is a dedicated patient advocate and president of PAG “Renesansa”, a breast cancer support group in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Diagnosed in 2016 at 38, she turned her experience into action, becoming a volunteer just 15 days later. Since leading Renesansa, she has expanded its reach, spearheaded impactful initiatives, and contributed to documentaries highlighting the healthcare system. Under her leadership, the organization received Sarajevo’s prestigious “Šestoaprilska nagrada” in 2024. She is also a key advocate in the “Vote for Life” project, uniting patient groups to drive systemic change.
Agron Bytyqi
Agron Bytyqi, executive director of Patients’ Rights Association in Kosovo has extensive experience in healthcare. Agron has made significant contributions to civil society through the Professional Health Association (PHA) and the Patients’ Rights Association in Kosovo (PRAK). With his tireless commitment, Agron has helped improve the quality of healthcare and advance patient rights in the country.
Agron is dedicated to putting the patient at the center of the healthcare system and facilitating the pathway for Kosovar patients through the healthcare system. He is also committed to a
Associate Professor Vlatka Martinović, MD, PhD,
Director of the Health Insurance and Reinsurance Institute of FBiH and Associate Professor at the University of Mostar. Leads departments in ethics, personalized medicine, and pediatric surgery. Author and co-author of several surgical books and papers, contributing to surgical education and practice in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Kleida Mati, MD Medical Oncologist
Dr. Kleida Mati is a Medical Oncologist at American Hospital in Tirana, Albania. A graduate of the Medical University of Warsaw, she is ESMO-certified and currently pursuing a PhD focused on the use of radiomics to predict treatment response in breast cancer patients.
Her professional background spans clinical care in both public and private healthcare institutions, academic teaching, and international research collaborations. She completed a clinical research fellowship at the Institute of Oncology of Southern Switzerland, has served as Scientific Social Media Officer for the European School of Oncology, and is an investigator in multinational cancer studies.
Beyond her clinical and research roles, Dr. Mati is an active advocate for equity in cancer care and the advancement of the medical profession in Albania. She has contributed to medical education through her academic work and public engagement, and is the founder of MedLink, the first online oncology platform in Albanian, dedicated to making trusted, evidence based information accessible to healthcare professionals and the wider public.
Liora Bowers
Liora Bowers is a Policy Analyst with the OECD’s Health Division. She helps manage the OECD’s cancer work including the OECD’s collaboration with the European Commission as part of the European Cancer Inequalities Registry. She has deep experience gained at leading policy research institutes in California and Israel, where she worked on issues such as health system financing, delivery system reform, and social inequalities. Liora holds a BS in International Economics from Georgetown University and an MBA and Masters in Public Health from University of California, Berkeley.