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Corresponding Member of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Prof. Tsvetalina Ivanova Tankova, MD, PhD, DSc
Biography
Corresponding Member of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Prof. Tsvetalina Ivanova Tankova, MD, PhD, DSc - Biography
Head of the Department of Diabetology, University Specialized Hospital for Active Treatment of Endocrinology “Acad. Ivan Penchev” EAD, Sofia, Bulgaria
EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
- 1984 – Medical degree, Medical Academy, Higher Medical Institute, Sofia, Bulgaria, graduated with highest honours and awarded the Hippocratic Medal.
- 1990 – Doctor of Medicine (PhD).
- 1992 – Specialisation in Internal Medicine.
- 1993 – Specialisation in Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases.
- 2005 – Associate Professor of Endocrinology.
- 2011 – Master’s degree in Public Health and Health Management.
- 2012 – Professor of Endocrinology.
- 2012 – Doctor of Medical Sciences (DSc).
- Since 2005 – Head of the Department of Diabetology, University Specialized Hospital for Active Treatment of Endocrinology “Acad. Ivan Penchev” EAD, Sofia.
- 2016–2025 – Head of the Department of Endocrinology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Sofia.
- 2016–2020 – Vice-Dean for Research, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Sofia.
- 2020–2024 – Vice-Rector for International Integration and Project Funding, Medical University of Sofia.
- 2021 – Elected Corresponding Member of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS).
SPECIALISED TRAINING
Specialised training at the following institutions:
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Diabetes, University Hospital of Geneva, Switzerland.
- Cochin Hospital, Paris, France.
- King’s College London, United Kingdom.
- University of Oxford and University of Cambridge, United Kingdom.
- Steno Diabetes Center, Copenhagen, Denmark.
RESEARCH ACTIVITIES
- 267 publications – 151 in international journals and 116 in national publications.
- 145 publications in journals with an impact factor.
- Total publication impact factor: IF 620.182.
- Co-author of 7 monographs.
- 18,200 citations of her scientific work in international databases (Scopus and Web of Science).
- h-index: 39 (Scopus); 42 (Web of Science).
- Participation in 548 scientific events – 301 international and 247 national.
- Participation in 49 research projects: 27 national projects funded by the Ministry of Education and Science and Medical University of Sofia, serving as project leader and principal investigator in 10; and 22 international projects, serving as project leader in 2.
TEACHING ACTIVITIES
- Lectures for medical students, medical interns and postgraduate trainees specialising in endocrinology.
- Participation in continuing medical education (CME) courses in diabetes; director of 6 CME courses at Medical University of Sofia.
- Author of 3 textbooks.
- Chair of state examination committees for the speciality in endocrinology.
- Invited lecturer at postgraduate training courses organised by the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) in Russia, Croatia, Hungary, Serbia, Romania, Slovenia, Azerbaijan, North Macedonia, the Czech Republic and Egypt.
- Supervisor of 7 PhD candidates, 6 of whom have successfully defended their dissertations.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
- 2015 – “Prof. Dr Konstantin Chilov” Award for significant contributions to research and teaching, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Sofia.
- 2017 – “Favourite Lecturer in Medical and Clinical Sciences” Award, Medical University of Sofia.
- 2017 – Award for International Collaboration, Croatian Association for Diabetes and Metabolic Disorders, Croatian Medical Association.
- 2018 – “Prof. Dr Konstantin Chilov” Award in Medicine, presented with the support of the Minister of Health, the President of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and the National Alliance “Life for Bulgaria”.
- 2020 – “Pythagoras” Award, Ministry of Education and Science, for an established scientist in the category “Health and Medical Sciences”.
- 2020 – National Medical Awards 2020, “Doctor with a Cause”, awarded by a non-governmental organisation.
- 2021 – “Signum Laudis Pro Scientiae Meritis” Award for a scientific project under the “GRANT-2018” competition in the field of Medicine, Medical and Clinical Sciences, Medical University of Sofia.
- 2024 – “AESCULAPIUS” Award, First Class honorary distinction of Medical University of Sofia, for contributions to the development of Bulgarian medical education, science and practice.
- 2024 – “Prof. Stoyan Kirkovich” Award, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Sofia, for outstanding achievements and overall contribution to medical science and practice.
- 2025 – Grand Award of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences in the field of Life Sciences.
- Since 2018 – Featured in “The Doctors We Trust”, 24 Chasa newspaper.
OTHER PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
- Member of the Board of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD).
- Member of international and national scientific organisations, including:
- European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD).
- Diabetes Education Study Group (DESG) of the EASD.
- Diabetic Foot International (D-Foot International), European Council.
- International Diabetes Federation (IDF), General Committee.
- European Group for the Study of Insulin Resistance (EGIR), affiliated with the EASD.
- European Society of Endocrinology (ESE).
- Central and Eastern European Diabetes Expert Group (CEEDEG).
- Eastern and Southern Europe Diabetes and Obesity Expert Group.
- BioMed Alliance – EASD representative on the working group on regulations for randomised controlled trials (RCTs).
- President of the Bulgarian Diabetes Forum.
- Secretary of the Bulgarian Society of Endocrinology from 2003 to 2024.
- Member of the Board of the Bulgarian Society of Endocrinology since 2023.
- Member of the Board of the Union of Bulgarian Medical Societies.
- Secretary of the Medical Sciences Division of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.
- Member of 8 national and 2 international editorial boards; Editor-in-Chief of Nauka Endokrinologia (Science Endocrinology).
- Reviewer for leading international and national scientific journals.
- Expert reviewer for the European Commission, Brussels.
- Member of scientific and academic examination committees at Medical University of Sofia, Medical University of Varna, Medical University of Plovdiv and the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.
- Chair of the Local Organising Committee for EASD postgraduate training courses in Sofia (March 2015, April 2017 and March 2019).
- Member of the Programme Organising Committee of the European Congress of Endocrinology, Munich, 2016.
- Member of the Organising Committee of the European congress “Advances on Diabetes and Insulin Therapy” (2014–2017).
- Member of the Programme Organising Committee for the 60th and 61st Annual Meetings of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD).
- Chief Coordinator and member of the Expert Council on Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases at the Bulgarian Ministry of Health.
- External expert for the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) and the Sofia Health Insurance Fund.
- Member of the Expert Board on Endocrinology of the Bulgarian Medical Association.
- Member of the Central and Eastern European Diabetes Expert Group (CEEDEG).
- Member of the expert panel responsible for developing the international ADA/EASD recommendations for the management of type 2 diabetes, representing the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD), in 2022 and 2026.
- Member of the EASD Guidelines Oversight Committee since 2022.
Board Members
Associate Professor Nevena Yankova Chakarova, MD, PhD
Biography
Associate Professor Rumyana Boykova Dimova-Draganova, MD, PhD
Biography
Associate Professor Nevena Yankova Chakarova, MD, PhD - Biography
Department of Diabetology, University Specialized Hospital for Active Treatment of Endocrinology “Acad. Ivan Penchev” EAD, Sofia, Bulgaria
EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
- 2005 – Medical degree, Medical University of Sofia, Bulgaria.
- 2011 – Doctor of Medicine (PhD).
- 2016 – Specialisation in Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases.
- 2023 – Associate Professor of Endocrinology.
- Since 2025 – Head of the Department of Endocrinology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Sofia.
SPECIALISED TRAINING
- International Diabetes Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.
- Participation in 38 international training and postgraduate professional development courses.
RESEARCH ACTIVITIES
- 80 publications – 52 in international and 28 in national publications.
- 51 publications in journals with an impact factor.
- Total publication impact factor: IF 191.756.
- 779 citations of her scientific work in international databases (Scopus).
- h-index: 14 (Scopus); 15 (Web of Science).
- Participation in 128 scientific events – 78 international and 50 national.
- Participation in 29 research projects: 26 national projects funded by the Ministry of Education and Science and Medical University of Sofia, serving as project leader and principal investigator in 5; and 3 international projects, serving as project leader in 1.
TEACHING ACTIVITIES
- Theoretical and practical training for medical students, medical interns and postgraduate trainees specialising in endocrinology.
- Participation in continuing medical education (CME) courses in diabetes; director of 1 CME course at Medical University of Sofia.
- Supervisor of postgraduate medical trainees specialising in Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases.
- Member of state examination committees for the speciality in endocrinology.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
- 2018 – “Young Researcher in Diabetes” Award, Bulgarian Society of Endocrinology.
- 2023 – “Prof. Konstantin Chilov” Award for Excellence in Research and Teaching in Therapeutic Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Sofia.
- Since 2023 – Featured in “The Doctors We Trust”, 24 Chasa newspaper.
OTHER PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
- Member of the Board of the Bulgarian Society of Endocrinology since 2023.
- Member of the Board of the Bulgarian Diabetes Forum since 2026.
- Member of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD).
- Member of academic examination committees at Medical University of Sofia, Medical University of Varna, Medical University of Plovdiv and the Medical Institute of the Ministry of Interior, Sofia.
- Member of 1 national editorial board.
- Reviewer for international and national scientific journals.
Associate Professor Rumyana Boykova Dimova-Draganova, MD, PhD - Biography
Department of Diabetology, University Specialized Hospital for Active Treatment of Endocrinology “Acad. Ivan Penchev” EAD, Sofia, Bulgaria
EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
- 2008 – Medical degree, Medical University of Sofia, Bulgaria, graduated with highest honours and awarded the Hippocratic Medal.
- 2011 – Master’s degree in Public Health and Health Management.
- 2016 – Doctor of Medicine (PhD).
- 2017 – Specialisation in Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases.
- 2025 – Associate Professor of Endocrinology.
SPECIALISED TRAINING
- University Hospital of Bern, Switzerland.
- University of Oxford, United Kingdom.
- Steno Diabetes Center, Copenhagen, Denmark.
- International Diabetes Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.
RESEARCH ACTIVITIES
- 74 publications – 45 in international and 29 in national publications.
- 45 publications in journals with an impact factor.
- Total publication impact factor: IF 168.261.
- 685 citations of her scientific work in international databases (Scopus and Web of Science).
- h-index: 13 (Scopus); 13 (Web of Science).
- Participation in 97 scientific events – 60 international and 37 national.
- Participation in 24 research projects: 18 national projects funded by the Ministry of Education and Science and Medical University of Sofia, serving as project leader and principal investigator in 3; and 6 international projects, serving as project leader in 2.
TEACHING ACTIVITIES
- Practical training for medical students, medical interns and postgraduate trainees specialising in endocrinology and metabolic diseases.
- Supervisor of postgraduate medical trainees specialising in endocrinology and metabolic diseases.
- Participation in continuing medical education (CME) courses in diabetes; director of 1 CME course at Medical University of Sofia.
- Member of state examination committees for the speciality in endocrinology and metabolic diseases.
- Member of examination committees for semester and state examinations in internal medicine for medical students.
- Supervisor of 1 PhD candidate.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
- 2017 – “Prof. Asen Hadjiolov” Young Scientist Award, Medical University of Sofia.
- 2017 – Young Scientist Award, Bulgarian Society of Endocrinology.
- 2017 – “Donnell D. Etzwiler Scholar” Scholarship, International Diabetes Center, Minneapolis, USA.
- 2018 – “Future Leaders Mentorship Programme” Award, European Foundation for the Study of Diabetes (EFSD).
- 2020 – “Academician T. Tashev” Young Scientist Award, Bulgarian Association for the Study of Obesity and Related Diseases (BASORD).
- 2023 – Prof. Valentin Djonov Scholarship, Medical University of Sofia and the University of Bern.
- 2024 – “Prof. Konstantin Chilov” Award for Excellence in Medical Science and Teaching in Therapeutic Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Sofia.
- 2026 – “Panacea” Award for Excellence in Teaching, Research and Expert Activities, Medical University of Sofia.
- Since 2023 – Featured in “The Doctors We Trust”, 24 Chasa newspaper.
OTHER PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
- Member of the Early Career Academy (EASD-ECA) of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) since 2024.
- Member of the EASD Training and Education Committee group (EASD-TEC Group) since 2025.
- Member of international and national scientific organisations, including the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD), the European Society of Endocrinology (ESE) and the Bulgarian Society of Endocrinology.
- Board Member of the Bulgarian Diabetes Forum.
- Member of 1 national editorial board.
- Reviewer for international and national scientific journals.
- Abstract reviewer for the Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) in 2024 and 2026.
- Moderator of scientific sessions at the EASD Annual Meetings in 2024, 2025 and 2026.
- Member of an academic examination committee at Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”.
- Chair of the Organising Committee of the 3rd Early Career Academy Meeting, Sofia, 2027.
- Member of the Programme Organising Committee of the 1st Early Career Academy Meeting, Pisa, 2025.
- Member of the Programme Organising Committee of the 2nd Early Career Academy Meeting, Düsseldorf, 2026.
- Member of the Programme Organising Committee of the EASD Annual Meeting 2026.