Program

Committee member

Sweden

Jan Astermark is a professor of clinical coagulation medicine at Lund University, Malmö, senior consultant and director of the Center for Thrombosis and Hemostasis in Malmö and assistant head of the Department of Translational Medicine in Malmö/Lund, Sweden. He is a specialist in haematology, coagulation disorders and internal medicine. He is a reviewer for haematology journals, and has published a number of original articles, review articles and book chapters in the field of haemophilia and coagulation disorders.

Chair

U.S.A.

Cindy Bailey PT, DPT, OCS, SCS, ATC is the Manager at the Los Angeles Lifespan Orthopaedic Hemophilia Treatment Center (HTC) and Physical Therapy.

She is a past Assistant Professor of clinical practice in the dept.s of biokinesiology and physical therapy at the University of Southern California & Mt. St. Marys physical therapy doctorate programs. Her post graduate work included an advanced residency at Kaiser West Los Angeles in manual orthopaedic physical therapy and a post doctoral fellowship at USCs Keck school of medicine in medical educ. teaching and learning. With her Certified Athletic Training and physical therapy sports specialty backgrounds she is an invited speaker and provider at multiple conferences and events such as the Pan Am Games, several U.S. Olympic teams, Israeli Macabbi Games, the World Ice Skating Championships and collegiate ice hockey. She is also one of the worlds leading instructors in kinesiology, leuko and sports taping strategies.

Dr. Bailey, as a co-lead author, wrote the USA Guideline for use of Musculoskeletal Ultrasound (MSKUS) in the HTC and as co-author has published articles on MSKUS in the journals Haemophilia and The Journal of Ultrasonic Medicine. In 2021 she was named as the NHF Physical Therapist of the year and has been chosen as the provider representative for the NHF conference for 2022 and 2023. Dr. Bailey’s current committee positions are with the Western States PT coordinating committee, NHF PT working group, Indiana Partners Program PT education, and she was elected to the World Federation of Hemophilia Musculoskeletal executive committee. She is also a co-facilitator of international bi-monthly musculoskeletal ultrasound rounds for the purpose of provider education and collaboration.

Committee member

Czechia

Jan Blatný, MD, PhD, is Consultant Haematologist at the Department of Paediatric Haematology and Biochemistry and the Director of the Haemophilia Comprehensive Care Centre of University Hospital Brno. He is also an Associate Professor of Paediatrics at Masaryk University in Brno, Czech Republic and serves also as a Clinical Lead for Internal Medicine Out-patient services in the new generation hospital Bory, Bratislava, Slovakia. His research interests encompass paediatric haematology, thrombosis and haemostasis, and life-threatening bleeding.

Dr Blatný is a member of numerous national and international haematology organizations. He serves on the steering committee and is a coordinator of the Czech National Haemophilia Programme, President and a member of Executive Committee of EAHAD, member of MAG (Medical advisory group) of EHC, member of the Working Party on population PK of the ISTH SSC Subcommittee on Factor VIII and IX and Rare Bleeding Disorders and a reviewer for several haematology journals. Dr Blatný’s publication credits are 9 book chapters and over 100 articles published in peer-reviewed journals. Between years 2020 and 2021 he served as a Minister of Health of The Czech Republic.

Committee member

Country

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Junior Vice-chair / Committee member

Italy

Associate Professor and Deputy Chief at Orthopaedic Clinic, University of Florence.
President of the Degree Course of Nursing, University of Florence
President of the Hameophilia Committee of the Italian Society of Orthopaedic and Traumatology (SIOT).
Medical School, University of Rome – “Tor Vergata”, degree as MD on 2000, July 27th with a research on the influence of post-traumatic occult injuries of the knee after ACL ruptures.
Specialty of Hand Surgery, University of Florence, degree on June 2003, with a research on suspension arthroplasty in thumb arthritis.
Specialty of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, University of Florence, degree on October 2008, with a research on total knee arthroplasty with mobile bearing and rotating platform.
Grant by the Italian Society of Orthopaedics and Traumatology (SIOT) in 2007.
Visiting Observer at Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, NY, USA in 2009 (Host: Dr. Robert L. Buly).
Degree in Master in Bone metabolism pathology in 2011, University of Flornce, Florence.
Responsible of the Multidisciplinary Diagnostic Clinical Pathway on the management of haemorrhagic diseases, Careggi University Hospital
Author and Editor of the books:
-"The management of haemophilic arthropathy" - Bentham Science Publisher. 2017 - ISSN: 2468-6662; ISBN-13: 978-1681083544
-"Haemophilia and its musculoskeletal complications" - Minerva Medica Editor. 2024 - ISBN: 9788855322973

Secretary

Chile

I am a Physiotherapist with a PhD in Physiotherapy and Movement Sciences, with over 20 years of experience in musculoskeletal rehabilitation, primarily focused on treating individuals with haemophilia. I am an Associate Professor at the University of Chile in the Department of Physiotherapy. My research focuses on biomechanics and rehabilitation to bridge the gap between scientific findings and clinical practice. My ultimate goal is to bring research closer to clinicians, translating research results into strategies that improve patients' quality of care and recovery.

Vice-chair

Macedonia

Born in Skopje, Republic of Macedonia were graduated at Medical faculty, University "St Cyril and Methodius” in Skopje in January 2003. Successfully finished specialization studies in orthopaedic surgery in 2008 and ever since has the title orthopaedic surgeon. He is permanent employee of University Clinic for Orthopaedic Surgery at Clinical Centre in Skopje, Macedonia as a director of the OR Department.

During his education process he has been an active participant in many domestic and international congresses, symposia, educative courses and projects.

Main everyday interests are adult reconstructive surgeries of the hip and knee. He is one of the founders of the national multidisciplinary haemophilia treatment centre and has done many major surgical interventions in haemophilia patients.

Dr. Gavrilovski is also a member of many domestic and International associations (MAOT, EFORT, AAOS, WFH) and current Board member of the Musculoskeletal Committee of World Federation of Haemophilia as Vice-chair.

Chair

Tunisia

Dr Emna Gouider is currently a professor of Hematology in the medical university of Tunis El Manar in Tunisia.
She is the head of the hemophilia center in Aziza Othmana Hospital in Tunis, which has more than 700 people with bleeding disorders. She has an experience of more than 15 years with low dose prophylaxis for treatment of PWH. She is a medical member of the WFH board, and she is involved in several WFH committees.

She also has been involved in the Tunisian Association of Hemophilia as a member responsible for medical and scientific affairs since 2001, and organized and conducted several nurse workshops, lab workshop, patients workshop and musculoskeletal workshop. Improvement of care and quality of life of persons with inherited bleeding disorders is one of her main goals.

Chair

Belgium

Division of Haematology
Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc
Catholic University of Louvain, Brussels, Belgium

Cedric Hermans currently serves as Head of the Division of Haematology, the Hemostasis and Thrombosis Unit, and the Hemophilia Center at the Saint-Luc University Hospital in Brussels, Belgium. He was appointed Full Professor at the Faculty of Medicine of the Catholic University of Louvain in 2012 and has held the position of Vice-Dean since 2015.

Professor Hermans has authored or co-authored more than 440 original articles in international peer-reviewed journals. He is an active member of several scientific societies, international advisory boards, and collaborative research initiatives.

A former President of the European Association for Haemophilia and Allied Disorders (EAHAD), he currently sits on the Board of Directors of the World Federation of Hemophilia. He is also an Associate Member of the Belgian Royal Academy of Medicine and serves as Editor-in-Chief of the Haemophilia journal.

His primary research interests focus on haemostasis and thrombosis, with particular emphasis on clinical studies evaluating treatment strategies and the broad spectrum of haemophilia-related complications in both high- and low-resource settings. He is also engaged in research on novel anticoagulants and the management of thrombotic disorders.

Committee member

Canada

A graduate of the University of Saskatchewan (MD, 1996), Dr. James is a full Professor in the Department of Medicine at Queen’s University. She holds cross-appointments to the Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine and Pediatrics. She is the Medical Director of the Inherited Bleeding Disorders Clinic of Southeastern Ontario.

Dr. James is a Clinician Scientist with an active research program focused on the pathophysiology of inherited bleeding disorders and the clinical impact of these conditions. She holds multiple national and international roles including Associate Editor for Blood (Hemostasis and Thrombosis).

Committee member

U.S.A.

Jennifer Maahs is a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner and the Chief Nursing Officer at Innovative Hematology, Inc, Indianapolis, IN since 1994. Ms. Maahs holds an MS in Nursing as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner from Indiana University and a Bachelors of Science in Nursing from The Ohio State University. She specializing in research, education, and patient care in the areas of hemophilia, hemostasis, and thrombosis related complications. Ms. Maahs is frequently involved in creating and implementing educational programs designed to meet the needs of medical care providers in the bleeding disorder community.

Committee member

Italy

Dr Maria Elisa Mancuso is a haematologist and works as a Senior Hematology Consultant at the Center for Thrombosis and Hemorrhagic Diseases at the IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy. She is also Adjunct Clinical Professor at Humanitas University. Dr Mancuso has postgraduate degree in clinical and experimental haematology and a PhD in clinical methodology.

Dr Mancuso is involved in clinical research and has published several original articles in peer-reviewed journals such as New England Journal of Medicine, The Lancet, Blood, the Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis, Haematologica, Thrombosis and Haemostasis, and the British Journal of Haematology and Haemophilia. She is a reviewer for several peer-reviewed journals and a member of the editorial board of the Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis and Research and Practice in Thrombosis and Haemostasis. She is a member of several scientific societies (International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis, World Federation of Hemophilia, American Society of Hematology, European Association for Haemophilia and Allied Disorders, European Hematology Association, Società Italiana per lo Studio dell'Emostasi e della Trombosi, Italian Association of Hemophilia Centers) and is medical member of the Extremely Rare and Inhibitor Working Group of the European Haemophilia Consortium.

Dr Mancuso is medical member of the Board of Directors of the World Federation of Hemophilia, the Chair of the Medical Advisory Group of the European Hemophilia Consortium and the Vice-President of the Italian Association of Hemophilia Centers. She acted as Co-Chair of the Scientific and Standardization Subcommittee of ISTH on factor VIII, factor IX and rare bleeding disorders. She has been involved as principal and co-investigator in several clinical trials, and takes care of children and adults with haemophilia and other congenital bleeding disorders, with a specific scientific interest in novel therapies, prophylaxis, inhibitors and co-morbidities.

Committee member

United Kingdom

William McKeown is a patient with severe haemophilia A from Northern Ireland. William is the Vice-Chairman of Haemophilia NI, Patient Ambassador for the UK Haemophilia Society and a former member of the EHC Youth Committee.

William is a doctor who specializes as a Consultant Geriatrician and Stroke Physician at Antrim Area Hospital in Northern Ireland, and holds a Masters Degree in Medical Education. He has a particular passion for promoting successful ageing for people with bleeding disorders, as he has previously presented on this topic at the EHC and WFH.

Committee member

Nigeria

Professor Theresa Nwagha is a leading expert in adult Haematology, specializing in Haemostasis, with over 15 years of clinical experience. She obtained her medical degree from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and completed her residency at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital. As a professor, she has significantly advanced the field of Haematology, particularly in bleeding and thrombotic disorders, sickle cell disease, and blood transfusion medicine.

Her clinical expertise encompasses the management of coagulation disorders, such as hemophilia and venous thromboembolic disorders, as well as other benign hematological conditions. Professor Nwagha’s research centers on bleeding and thrombotic disorders, sickle cell disease, transfusion medicine, and clinical trials.

As a GANSID Mentor, she also guides medical and postgraduate students, develops curricula, and leads public awareness campaigns on hemophilia and VTE. Additionally, she is an active member of several professional organizations.

Committee member

Mauritius

Mohsena, is the Operations Manager of the Haemophilia Association of Mauritius and possesses over two decades of diverse experience in Non-Profit Management. Her leadership has been instrumental in implementing innovative strategies to enhance comprehensive care for individuals living with bleeding disorders at the association, with a particular focus on psychosocial aspects.

With a Master's degree in Mental Health, Mohsena brings a specialized understanding of psychosocial aspects to her role, enriching the support services offered by the organisation. As the Vice Chair of the World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH) Psycho-Social Committee, she demonstrates a profound commitment to global advocacy and support initiatives, specifically in the realm of psychosocial care.

Under Mohsena's leadership, the Haemophilia Association of Mauritius achieved significant recognition, including winning the National Productivity and Quality Convention (NPQC) Award and securing the gold honour at the International Convention on Quality Control Circle (ICQCC) in 2018 in Singapore. These accomplishments underscore not only the organization's dedication to excellence but also highlight Mohsena's strategic acumen and visionary leadership in optimizing care within resource constraints, with a strong emphasis on psychosocial strategies.

Committee member

Brazil

Dr. Ozelo is Associate Professor of Internal Medicine Department and Director of Haematology and Transfusion Medicine from the University of Campinas (UNICAMP) in Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil. She received her medical degree (1994), specialist training in haematology and transfusion medicine (1994-1997), and Ph.D. (2004) at UNICAMP before undertaking a postdoctoral fellowship in David Lillicrap’s laboratory, at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, focused on gene therapy for hemophilia (2006–2009). She is also Director of the WFH International Haemophilia Training Centre (IHTC) from Hemocentro UNICAMP. In 2012, she was nominated as a member of the Novo Nordisk Haemophilia Foundation Council and was member of the Executive Committee of the World Federation of Haemophilia from 2012 to 2014. Dr. Ozelo is involved with several research projects, including gene therapy for haemophilia, risk factors for inhibitor development, immune tolerance induction, and the management of musculoskeletal complications of haemophilia, and inherited platelet disorders.

Committee member

Argentina

• Dentist Title given by Dentist School of Buenos Aires 1984
• Specialist surgeon title given by Surgery and Oral Society from Argentina recognized by Health Ministry 1997
• Attach Teacher charge on Traumatologist and Oral Surgery I from 2004 to today
• Chief of Dentist Service Hemophilia Foundation “Dr. Alfredo Pavlovsky Institute” from 2012 to today
• Member Dental Committee WFH 2014 – 2024 period
• Vice chair Dental Committee WFH 2024 - 2026 period

Committee member

India

St. John’s Research Institute & St. John’s Medical College Hospital, Bengaluru, India

Alok Srivastava is Professor-Research and Head, Haematology Research Unit, St. John’s Research Institute and Senior Consultant, Department of Clinical Haematology in the St. John’s Medical College Hospital at Bengaluru, India. Prof. Srivastava has been involved with the management of patients with bleeding disorders for over 30 years. His recent focus has been on novel therapies including gene therapy for hemophilia.

Prof. Srivastava is President of the Indian Association for Haemophilia & Allied Disorders. He is also the Chairman of the Association for Haemophilia & Allied Disorders – Asia-Pacific. He was the chair of the FVIII/IX subcommittee of the SSC of the ISTH from 2006-2010 and currently serves on the SSC Gene Therapy steering committee. He is a member of the board of the WFH and was the WFH Vice-President (Medical) from 2012-2014. He has led the writing group for all three editions of the WFH guidelines for the management of hemophilia.

Committee member

China

Dr. Renchi Yang is Professor and Head of Thrombosis and Hemostasis Center at Institute of Haematology and Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS) and Peking Union Medical College (PUMC). Dr. Yang contributes extensively to clinical research and is involved in many clinical trials. He has published over 100 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters on bleeding disorders.

He is Steer Committee member of East Asia Hemophilia Forum and the Association for Hemophilia and Allied Disorders-Asia-Pacific (AHAD-AP). He is Vice Chairman of the Thrombosis and Hemostasis Society, China Medicine Education Association. He is also Standing Committee member of the Rare Diseases Society, Chinese Research Hospital Association. He is Chairman of Hemophilia Committee, China Alliance for Rare Diseases. He is Director of the National Hemophilia Registry Center, Chairman of the Hemophilia Treatment Center Collaborative Network of China, Chairman of National Hemophilia Cooperative Group. He is currently the translated edition (Chinese) editor of Haemophilia, the official journal of the World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH).

Committee member

New Zealand

Hemirau has Haemophilia B and lives in Tamaki Makaurau/Auckland with his wife, Erica and their dog Zoey. Hemirau has been involved with HNZ from a young age and has supported national workshops, conferences and camps. Hemirau has been an active member of the Northern region and worked with others to lead subcommittees involving substantial work in the areas of Maori engagement and youth development. He was previously involved in the HNZ’s twinning with the Nepal Haemophilia Society, leading delivery of workshops aimed at developing the capability of youth members of Nepal’s bleeding disorders patient organisation. Hemirau works in the public sector.

Member-at-large

India

Present Designation:
Professor & Unit Head in Orthopaedics at the King Edward Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, INDIA. Postgraduate teacher & PhD Guide of University of Health Sciences. Consultant at Jaslok, Gleneagles & Nanavati Hospitals.

Special Interest:
Specializes in Primary & Revision Total Hip & Knee Joint Replacements.
Special interest – Periprosthetic Joint Infection, Orthopaedic complication in Haemophilia. Involved in PWH care since 1996.

Fellowships:
Arthroplasty - Dr. C.S. Ranawat Lenox Hill Hospital, NY, USA
Prof. B.M. Wroblewski at Charnley Institute, Wrightington, UK.
AO Fellowship, Nottingham, UK
Trauma fellowships in Germany, Switzerland, Australia, Austria.

Awards & Honours:
Second James A. Rand Award in 2004 for Best Paper in Clinical Knee Research by American Academy of Hip & Knee Surgeons (AAHKS)
Best Paper at SICOT World Orthopaedic Congress at San Diego (USA) in 2002 presenting the objective assessment of Rifampicin Injection in Haemophilic Synovitis.
A.A. Mehta Gold Medal for Best Paper by Indian Orthopaedic Association in 2003 at Chennai.
Best Paper by Indian Society of Hip & Knee Surgeons in 2010 & 2013
Best Paper awarded by Ranawat Ortho Res Foundation in 2014 at Delhi.
Delivered Silver Jubilee Oration at the Diamond Jubilee Conference of Indian Ortho Association in Jaipur 2015.
Delivered Silver Jubilee Oration of Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons Indore (AOSI) 2024.
Delivered 3rd Dr. S.P. Singh Oration at Indian Association of Trauma Surgeons Conference at Patna 2024

Distinctive positions:
SICOT Knee Arthroplasty Committee Member
Advisor & Subject Expert, Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
Past “President” of Indian Arthroplasty Association, (IAA)
Past “President” of Bombay Orthopaedic Society (BOS) and
Past “Education Chair” & “Fellowship Chair” of Indian Society of Hip & Knee Surgeons. ((ISHKS)

Publications:
Reviewer in BJJ, SICOT, Indian Journal of Orthopaedics.
125 original scientific research papers in peer-reviewed journals, out of which 15 related to Haemophilia & 30 book chapters.