Georgia Kourlaba | Public Health Analytics | Research Excellence Award

Assist. Prof. Dr. Georgia Kourlaba | Public Health Analytics | Research Excellence Award

 National & Kapodistrian University of Athens | Greece

Assist. Prof. Dr. Georgia Kourlaba is an accomplished public health nursing scholar, currently serving as Assistant Professor of Public Health Nursing – Prevention at the Department of Nursing, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA). From 2022 to 2025, she was Assistant Professor of Research Methodology and Evidence-Based Nursing at the University of Peloponnese. She has also been an Academic Fellow at the 1st Intensive Care Unit of the Faculty of Medicine, NKUA, focusing on nosocomial infections and epidemiology, and is a founding member of the Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Outcomes Research (CLEO), where she served as Administrative Director and Deputy Scientific Director. Dr. Kourlaba is a member of the Public Health Experts Committee of the Ministry of Health, has held leadership roles at the National Public Health Organization (EODY), and served as an alternate member of the Management Board of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). She teaches epidemiology, research methodology, biostatistics, health technology assessment, and disease prevention at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Her research focuses on nosocomial infections, antimicrobial resistance, vaccination coverage, chronic disease epidemiology, childhood obesity, and socioeconomic burden of disease. She has participated in numerous funded projects and published 166 documents cited 3,485 times, with an h-index of 33. Dr. Kourlaba holds an MSc in Biostatistics (NKUA) and a Ph.D. in Nutritional Epidemiology and Biostatistics (Harokopio University).

Profile : Scopus 

Featured Publications

(2026). HPV vaccination coverage among children and adolescents in Greece using national prescription data. Vaccine.

(2025). Real-world switching patterns and associated characteristics in patients with psoriasis treated with biologics. Archives of Dermatological Research.

(2025). QuantiFERON SARS-CoV-2 assay for the evaluation of cellular immunity after immunization with mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccines: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Immunologic Research.

(2025). Early discontinuation of empiric antibiotic therapy in children treated for cancer who develop febrile neutropenia: A prospective cohort study. EJC Paediatric Oncology.

(2025). Attitudes, behaviors, opinions, and suggestions of blood donors toward blood donation in Crete, Greece. Archives of Hellenic Medicine.

Zitong Gao | Big data Integration | Research Excellence Award

Ms. Zitong Gao | Big data Integration | Research Excellence Award

Dalian University | China

Ms. Zitong Gao is a dedicated nursing graduate student specializing in quantitative research methodologies within the field of chronic disease management. Building on a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and currently pursuing a Master of Science in Nursing at Dalian University, she has developed a strong academic foundation in nursing theories, advanced health assessment, geriatric nursing, and evidence-based practice. Her research experience includes participating in quantitative studies, collecting and analyzing data, and contributing to the development of academic manuscripts. In addition to her research background, she completed a comprehensive clinical internship at a university-affiliated hospital, where she gained hands-on experience in internal medicine, surgery, and holistic patient care through assessment, care planning, implementation, and evaluation. Skilled in statistical software such as SPSS, Mplus, Excel, and Stata, she integrates data-driven approaches into her research work. Her professional interests focus on improving patient outcomes, chronic disease self-management, gerontological nursing, and advancing nursing practice through rigorous quantitative inquiry. She has earned her nurse qualification certificate, demonstrating a solid commitment to professional standards in clinical care. With a strong blend of academic training, research competence, and clinical experience, she aims to contribute meaningfully to nursing science and patient-centered healthcare advancements.

Profile : Orcid

Featured Publication

Latent transition of social participation and its relationship with frailty among older adults with chronic non-communicable diseases in China: A national longitudinal study, 2025

Osama Sawalha | Healthcare Data Analysis | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Osama Sawalha | Healthcare Data Analysis | Best Researcher Award

Universidad de Granada | Spain

Dr. Osama Sawalha is a dedicated researcher and registered nurse with a PhD in Public Health and Clinical Medicine from the University of Granada, Spain. His academic background also includes a Master’s degree in Health Care for the Promotion of Personal Autonomy and End-of-Life Care Processes and a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing. With extensive clinical experience across Spain and Palestine, Dr. Sawalha has worked in diverse healthcare environments, including hospitals, Alzheimer’s care facilities, and emergency medical services. His research focuses on psychological well-being, particularly depression, anxiety, and stress among patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and their caregivers. He has authored and co-authored several peer-reviewed publications in high-impact journals, addressing mental health outcomes, cardiac recovery, and family functioning in chronic illness contexts. Dr. Sawalha has presented his work at international conferences and participated in numerous professional development programs on research methodologies, scientific writing, and biomedicine. His work aims to improve the integration of psychological care within clinical and community health systems. Through his dedication to patient-centered research and compassionate nursing practice, Dr. Sawalha continues to contribute meaningfully to advancing public health and evidence-based care.

Profile : Orcid

Featured Publications

Sawalha, O., Ariza-Vega, P., Alhalaiqa, F., Pérez-Rodríguez, S., & Romero-Ayuso, D. (2024). Psychological discomfort in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) in West Bank: A cohort study. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 13(7), 2027.

Sawalha, O., Ariza-Vega, P., Alhalaiqa, F., Dabbour, R., & Romero-Ayuso, D. (2025). Comparison of pre- and post-surgery cardiac depression and perceived stress levels in heart patients undergoing different types of surgery. Geriatric Nursing.

Pérez-Rodríguez, S., Sawalha, O., & Romero-Ayuso, D. (2025). ECogFun-Virtual Reality program for improving planning and organization skills in daily life in children and adolescents with ADHD: A study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Research in Developmental Disabilities.