INVITATION TO INTRODUCTORY LECTURE
Epidemics in an interconnected world: the role of ONE HEALTH and pandemic preparedness
by Dr Zoi Dorothea Pana, Professor of Paediatric Epidemiology, UNIC Medical School
Introduction by Mr George Sycallides, Director of Communications, UNIC Health
BRIEF SUMMARY
COVID-19 exemplifies how a seemingly small incident can have a profound impact on the entire world. There have been speculations that a pandemic was inevitable, given the interconnected nature of our globalised world, where it is challenging to prevent events in one country from spreading to others, posing cross-border health threats. COVID-19 emerged as an example of the “butterfly effect”; it began in a food market in China and eventually affected every city worldwide. This small incident had a non-linear yet significant impact on the world and society, with the consequences intensified by our interconnectedness. Instead of rebuilding and reinforcing pre-existing silos, a meaningful step forward would be to apply the lessons learned and establish novel, essential partnerships for epidemic and pandemic preparedness.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Zoi Dorothea Pana, MD, PhD, FECMM is a Professor of Paediatrics & Epidemiology at the University of Nicosia Medical School. Prof Pana holds a PhD in Paediatric Infectious Diseases with honours, an MSc in Medical Research & Methodology, and an MSc in Nano-sciences and Nanomedicine.
She also received a scholar fellowship specialising in Hospital Epidemiology, Infection Control/Prevention, and Antimicrobial Stewardship from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, USA. Her research interests include epidemiology, infection control and prevention, antimicrobial stewardship, fungal infections, and vaccine research.
Prof Pana is a Scientific Member of several European Committees and International Guidelines Expert Groups (ECMM, ECIL8, EHA, ESPID, IPFN, ESCMID, C4C). She is co-coordinating advanced training courses under the auspices of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases and the Paediatric Society of Infectious Diseases. Additionally, she is participating in multiple EC-funded (HORIZON2020) projects, as National Coordinator or WP Coordinator, with a focus on capacity mapping and building in clinical research, inclusion and diversity in trials, and epidemic and pandemic preparedness. Prof Pana was appointed as Scientific Adviser to the Minister of Health, representing Cyprus at the EU scientific advice platform on COVID-19 organised by the European Commission.