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National
Coordinators
Each country that participates in the Stroke Action Plan for Europe has nominated one or more National Coordinator(s) who act as spokespeople for SAP-E.
These individuals lead and coordinate the specific activities that are carried out to reach the four overarching targets of the SAP-E.
Together with other stakeholders such as representatives from local Stroke Support Organisations (SSOs), the National Coordinators work as a team to implement the Stroke Action Plan across Europe.
Directory
View the current National Coordinators by selecting a country below:
Albania
- Dr. Mentor Petrela
- University Hospital Center "Mother Teresa", Tirana
- mentor.petrela@gmail.com
Armenia
- Prof. Nune Yeghiazaryan
- Head of Neurology Department, Erebouni Medical Center
- ynune@yahoo.com
Austria
- Dr. Sigrid Schwarz
- Dr. Stefan Kiechl
- Prof. Wilfried Lang
- Neurologist, Austrian Stroke Society
- lang@neuro-vienna.at
Azerbaijan
- Dr. Nara Hesen
- Dr. Rahim Aliyev
- National Association of Neurologists of Azerbaijan
- rahim_aliyev@mail.ru
Belarus
- Dr. Tanya Pavlovskaya
- Belarussian Scientific Society of Neurologists
- tanya-pavlovskaya@list.ru
Bulgaria
- Dr. Dimitar Taskov
- Dorina Dobreva
- President of the Association for Stroke and Aphasia Bulgaria
- dobreva@stroke.bg
- Prof. Dimitar Maslarov
- Chairman Neurology Clinic, Medical University Sofia
- maslarovdb@abv.bg
Belgium
- Dr. Laetitia Yperzeele
- Dr. François Delvoye
- Dr. Matthieu Rutgers
- Neurologist, active members of the Belgian Stroke Council
- M.Rutgers@cliniquesdeleurope.be
- Prof. Sylvie DeRaedt
- Neurologist, active members of the Belgian Stroke Council
- Sylvie.DeRaedt@uzbrussel.be
Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Dr. Marija Bender
- marijabender@yahoo.com
Catalonia
- Ms. Mercedes Ayesta
- Fundació Ictus Coordinator
- mayesta@fundacioictus.com
- Dr Sònia Abilleira
- Stroke Programme Director
- sabilleira@gencat.cat
Croatia
- Maša Ožegović
- Moždani val - Stroke Support Organisation
- mozdani.val@gmail.com
- Dr. Hrvoje Budincevic
- Croatian Stroke Society
- hbudincevic@gmail.com
Cyprus
- Dr. Andreas Charidimou
- Cyprus Stroke Association
- andreas.charidimou.09@ucl.ac.uk
- Dr. Georgios Kaponides
- President Cyprus Neurological Society
- gkaponides@gmail.com
- Dr. Marina Charalambous
- President of the Cyprus Stroke Association
- marina.charala@gmail.com
Czech Republic
- Dr. Aleš Tomek
- Cerebrovascular Board of Czech Neurological Society
- ales.tomek@gmail.com
Denmark
- Peter Vögele
- Occupational Therapist
- peter.voegele@regionh.dk
- Dr. Helle Klingenberg Iversen
- Danish Stroke Society
- helle.klingenberg.iversen@regionh.dk
- Dr. Dorte Damgaard
- dorte.damgaard@auh.rm.dk
- Birgitte Hysse Forchhammer
- HJERNESAGEN – The Danish Stroke Association
- hysse@hjernesagen.dk
England
- Sarah Belson
Estonia
- Prof. Janika Kõrv
- Dept. of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Tartu Professor in Clinical Neurology, Dept. of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Tartu Neurologist at the Dept. of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Tartu University Hospital
- janika.korv@kliinikum.ee
- Dr. Riina Vibo
- Reaseacher at the Dept. of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Tartu Neurologist at the Dept. of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Tartu University Hospital
- Riina.Vibo@kliinikum.ee
Finland
- Dr. Susanna Roine
- Dr. Pauli Ylikotila
- Dr. Daniel Strbian
- Neurologist, Chief Doctor, Helsinki University Central Hospital
- Daniel.Strbian@hus.fi
- Dr. Tiina Sairanen
- Chair of Finnish Stroke Society
- tiina.sairanen@hus.fi
France
- Prof. Sonia Alamowitch
- Prof. Charlotte Cordonnier
- Prof. Igor Sibon
- Neurologist, Director of the Stroke Unit, Bordeaux University Hospital
- igor.sibon@chu-bordeaux.fr
Georgia
- Prof. Alexander Tsiskaridze
- President Georgian Stroke Association
- alexander.tsiskaridze@tsu.ge
Germany
- Prof. Tobias Neumann-Haefelin
- Dr. Markus Wagner
- Stiftung Deutsche Schlaganfallhilfe - Stroke Support Organisation
- markus.wagner@schlaganfall-hilfe.de
- Prof. Jürgen Faiss
- Geschäftsführer der Deutschen Schlaganfall-Gesellschaft
- faiss@dsg-berlin.org
Greece
- Dr. Hariklia Proios
- Associate Professor of Neurocognitive Disorders and Rehabilitation, Department of Educational & Social Policy, University of Macedonia, Thessaloniki
- hproios@gmail.com
- Prof. Georgios Tsivgoulis
- Professor & Chairman, Second Department of Neurology, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens
- tsivgoulisgiorg@yahoo.gr
- Prof. Haralampos Milionis
- Professor & Chairman, Second Department of Internal Medicine, University of Ioannina, Ioannina
- hmilioni@uoi.gr
Hungary
- Dr. Folyovich András PhD (András Folyovich MD PhD)
- President of National Stroke Prevention and Rehabilitation League, Hungary
- andras.folyovich@janoskorhaz.hu
Iceland
- Marianne Elisabeth Klinke
- RN, PhD, Landspitali University Hospital Reykjavik and the University of Iceland
- marianne@hi.is
- Thorir Steingrímsson
- Chairman of Heilaheil, Stroke Support Organisation
- heilaheill@heilaheill.is
- Dr. Bjorn Thorarinsson
- Neurologist, University Hospital Reijkjavik
- Bjornlth@landspitali.is
Israel
- Dr. Rani Barnea
- Prof. Natan Bornstein
- President Israeli Neurological Association
- natanb@szmc.org.il
- Pnina Rosenzweig
- CEO at Neeman, Stroke Survivors Organization
- neemanpninar@gmail.com
Italy
- Dr. Rosa Napoletano
- napoletanorosa@gmail.com
- Prof. Danilo Toni
- Italian Stroke Association - Associazione Italiana Ictus (ISA-AII)
- danilo.toni@uniroma1.it
- Dr. Massimo Del Sette
- Italian Stroke Association - Associazione Italiana Ictus (ISA-AII)
- massimo.del.sette@galliera.it
- Fabrizio Pennacchi
- A.L.I.Ce. Associazioni per la Lotta all'Ictus Cerebrale - Stroke Support Organisation
- Fabrizio.Pennacchi@gmail.com
Kazakhstan
- Dr. Zauresh Akhmetzhanova
- Chief specialist of "Republican coordination centre for stroke problems
- zauresa@yandex.ru
Kosovo
- Dr. Dren Boshnjaku
- Kosovo Society of Neurology
- drenboshnjaku@yahoo.com
- Dr. Fisnik Jashari
- Kosovo Society of Neurology
- fisnikjashari@yahoo.com
Kyrgyzstan
- Dr. Djamal Turgumbaev
- Chief of Neurology 3 Department of National Hospital under Ministry of Health
- t.jamal@mail.ru
- Dr. Elmira Mamytova
- Head of Neurology and Medical genetic Department, Kyrgyz State Medical Academy
- elmiramamytova@yahoo.com
- Dr. Kunduz Karbozova
- Assistant on Neurology and Medical genetic Department, Kyrgyz State Medical Academy
- Karbozova89@mail.ru
Latvia
- Prof. Evija Miglane
- President of Latvian Stroke Society
- evija.miglane@stradini.lv
- Dr. Guntis Karelis
- Latvian Stroke Society
- guntis.karelis@gmail.com
Lithuania
- Prof. Dalius Jatuzis
- President of Lithuanian Stroke Association Professor in Neurology at Vilnius University Faculty of Medicine
- dalius.jatuzis@santa.lt
- Dr. Aleksandras Vilionskis
- Member of the Board of Lithuanian Stroke Association Associate Professor in Neurology at Vilnius University Faculty of Medicine
- aleksandras.vilionskis@rvul.lt
Luxembourg
- Dr. Monique Reiff
- Service de Neurologie Centre Hospitalier de Luxembourg
- Reiff.Monique@chl.lu
Malta
- Norma Paiva
- norma.pavia@gov.mt
- Dr. Maria Mallia
- Neurologist, Mater Dei Hospital
- mariamallia@live.co.uk
Montenegro
- Dr. Sandra Vujovic
- President of the Montenegrin Stroke Association
- sandrinapg@gmail.com
- Dr. Milovan Roganovic
- Montenegrin Neurological Association
- milroganovic@gmail.com
North Macedonia
- Gordana Dimeska
- Katina Aleksovska
- Neurology resident, University Clinic of Neurology, Skopje, North Macedonia, Board member of the Macedonian Stroke Association
- katinaaleksovska@gmail.com
- Dr. Elena Lichkova
- Neurologist, Clinical hospital, Neurology department, Shtip, North Macedonia, Board member of the Macedonian Stroke Association
- eedrovska@yahoo.com
- Dr. Maja Bozinovska Smicheska
- Neurologist, Special hospital "St. Erasmo", Ohrid, North Macedonia, President of the Macedonian organization for a fight against stroke (SSO) and Board member of the Macedonian Stroke Association (President)
- majabozoh35@gmail.com
- Prof. Anita Arsovska
- Neurologist, University Clinic of Neurology, University "Ss. Cyril and Methodius"-Faculty of Medicine, Skopje, North Macedonia, President of the Macedonian Stroke Association
- anita70mk@yahoo.com
Northern Ireland
- Sarah Belson
Norway
- Dr. Annette Fromm
- Norwegian Stroke Organisation
- atfm@helse-bergen.no
Poland
- Dr. Adam Kobayashi
- Dr. Adam Kobayashi
- adamkobayashi@gmail.com
- Prof. Anna Czlonkowska
- President of the Section for Cerebrovascular Diseases and Board of Directors of the Polish Neurological Society
- czlonkow@ipin.edu.pl
Portugal
- Dr. Gustavo Santo
- Sociedade Portuguesa do AVC - National Stroke Association
- Dr. Elsa Azevedo
- Programa Nacional para as Doenças Cérebro-Cardiovasculares - Cerebro and Cardiovascular Diseases National Program
- elsaazevedo@dgs.min-saude.pt
- Diana Wong Ramos
- Portugal AVC – Stroke Support Organsation
- dianawong76@gmail.com
- Dr. Ana Catarina Fonseca
- Sociedade Portuguesa do AVC - National Stroke Association
- catarinagfonseca@gmail.com
- Dr. Ana Nunes
- Portugal AVC - Stroke Support Organisation
- anapaivanunes@gmail.com
Ireland
- Frances Horgan
- Molly Manning
- Dr. Rachael Doyle
- Irish Heart Foundation Council of Stroke
- rachael.doyle@hse.ie
- Prof. Ronan Collins
- Clinical Lead National Stroke Programme
- ronan.collins@tuh.ie
Moldova
- Prof. Stanislav Groppa
- Stroke Association from Republic of Moldova
- stgroppa@gmail.com
Romania
- Dr. Cristina Tiu
- Head of Stroke Unit in the University Hospital Bucharest Romanian Society of Neurology
- cristinatiu@yahoo.com
Russia
- Prof. Alla Guekht
- Moscow Research and Clinical Center for Neuropsychiatry
- guekht@gmail.com
Scotland
- Sarah Belson
Serbia
- Dr. Željko Živanović
- Faculty of Medicine University in Novi Sad Head of the Clinic of Neurology, Clinical Centre of Vojvodina
- drzzivanovic79@gmail.com
Slovakia
- Prof. Peter Turčáni
- turcani1@gmail.com
- Dr. Vladimir Nosal
- President of Slovak Stroke Society
- Vnosal@gmail.com
- Prof. Zuzana Gdovinova
- Head of Department, Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, P.J. Safarik University Košice
- z.gdovin@gmail.com
Slovenia
- Dr. Zvan Bojana
- President of the National Stroke Society at the Slovenian Medical Association
- bojana.zvan@kclj.si
Spain
- Dr. Maria del Mar Freijo
- Spanish Society of Neurology: Stroke group - Coordinator
- marfreijo1064@icloud.com
- Elena Lopez-Cancio
- Spanish Society of Neurology: Stroke group - Secretary
- elenacancio@gmail.com
Sweden
- Prof. Mia von Euler
- Chair, Swedish Stroke Register
- mia.von-euler@oru.se
Switzerland
- Dr. Timo Kahles
- Swiss Stroke Society
- Timo.Kahles@ksa.ch
- Prof. Krassen Nedeltchev
- President Swiss Stroke Society
- krassen.nedeltchev@ksa.ch
Netherlands
- Dr. Bert Vrijhoef
- Dutch Stroke Knowledge Network
- b.vrijhoef@kennisnetwerkcva.nl
- Dr. Vincent Kwa
- Dutch Association of Neurology, Working Group Neurovascular diseases
- I.H.Kwa@olvg.nl
Turkey
- Prof. Attila Özcan Özdemir
- Professor at Osman Gazi University, Eskisehir
- atillaozcanozdemir@gmail.com
- Prof. Mehmet Topcuoglu
- Professor at Hacettepe University, Ankara President, Turkish Cerebrovascular Diseases Society
- matopcuoglu@yahoo.com
Ukraine
- Dr. Dmytro Lebedynets
- Feofaniya Clinical Hospital
- Prof. Maryna Guliaieva
- Prof. Yuriy Flomin
- Universal Clinic ‘Oberig’, Head of the Stroke and Neurorehabilitation Unit
- flomin.yuriy@gmail.com
Wales
- Sarah Belson
Spain
Sorry, no Coordinators are available in this Country at the moment...
National Coordinator Role
The following tasks fall under the responsibility of each SAP-E National Coordinator
- Stakeholder analysis
- Form a working group/committee – the national SAP-E network – through the stakeholder analysis
- Gathering data/lived experience and its analysis to support the demand for improvement
- Communicate to public, media, and policy makers
- Act as point of communication for the SAP-E Steering Committee
- Give advice on the best approach to communicate with national policy and decision makers
- Communicate with the Ministry of Health to gain support for the SAP-E implementation including an official signing of the Declaration
- Development of a national stroke plan
- Upload national summary data
- Chair the national auditing committee to ensure annual national auditing and benchmarking
Regional Spokespeople
While we act globally within SAP-E, best practice and exchange happens on a regional level between countries with similar backgrounds and pre-requisites to facilitate benchmarking on a more relatable level. Each of the 4 regional groups — East, South, West, North — has designated a Regional Spokesperson who is integrated into the Steering Committee.
Spokespeople are expected to lead and support their respective groups and provide regional insight at the SAP-E Steering Committee level.
East (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Czech Republic, Georgia, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Ukraine)
• Ales Tomek (Czech Republic)
South (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Greece, Israel, Italy, Kosovo, Malta, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Slovenia, Turkey)
• Hrvoje Budincevic (Croatia)
West (Austria, Belgium, Catalonia, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland)
• Gustavo Santo (Portugal)
North (Denmark, England, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Norway, Republic of Ireland, Scotland, Sweden, Wales)
• Aleksandras Vilionskis (Lithuania)