Eva Stefankova | pediatric | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Eva Stefankova | pediatric | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Eva Štefánková, PhD., is a Slovak clinical anthropologist with specialized expertise in pediatric anthropometry and craniofacial measurements. Currently serving at the Department of Pediatric Surgery, National Institute of Children’s Diseases in Bratislava, she has been instrumental in assessing growth patterns, body composition, and developmental anomalies in children. Eva completed her doctoral studies in pediatric surgery and anthropology at Comenius University, where her research focused on children with congenital CNS malformations. Her academic journey reflects a consistent commitment to interdisciplinary studies, combining biology, anthropology, and clinical applications. Eva is also a certified Ayurvedic nutrition consultant, and has completed multiple international workshops in traditional medicine and diagnostic techniques. Beyond her scientific pursuits, she is actively engaged in academic publishing and has presented research at both national and international conferences. Her work bridges modern clinical science and holistic approaches, offering valuable insights into child development and integrative care.

Profile

Education 🎓

Eva Štefánková earned her PhD in pediatric surgery from the Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Bratislava (2011–2015), with a dissertation on anthropometry in children with congenital CNS malformations. She holds an RNDr. degree (Doctor of Natural Sciences) in Anthropology and a Master’s degree (Mgr.) in Anthropology and Biology from the Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University. Her Master’s thesis focused on growth and development in Slovak patients with eating disorders. She also completed a Bachelor’s degree in Biology and Anthropology with a thesis on environmental impacts on congenital malformations. Eva attended the Albert Einstein Grammar School in Bratislava, where she excelled in biology and scientific activities. She furthered her education with international training in 3D anthropometry at Charles University and received certifications in Ayurvedic nutrition and diagnostics. Her education reflects a strong foundation in both scientific research and holistic medical disciplines.

Experience 👨‍🏫

Eva Štefánková has accumulated significant experience in clinical anthropology, primarily through her roles at the National Institute of Children’s Diseases in Bratislava. Since 2022, she has been working as a Clinical Anthropologist in the Department of Pediatric Surgery, focusing on craniofacial analysis, body measurements, and growth assessments in pediatric patients. She previously held the same position between 2015 and 2016. Her clinical experience is complemented by strong research involvement, scientific publication, interdisciplinary collaboration with medical departments, and educational engagement in Slovak and English. Between her appointments, she took two maternity leaves. During her postgraduate studies, she developed expertise in hospital information systems (TOMOCON, MEDEA) and anthropological software (WHO Anthro). Eva also engaged in outpatient care, patient communication, and teaching. Her clinical roles are enriched by certifications in nutrition and Ayurvedic diagnostics, enhancing her ability to approach pediatric care from a multidimensional perspective.

Awards & Recognitions 🏅

Eva Štefánková has been recognized for her outstanding contributions to clinical and anthropological research. She won the 3rd place Best Research Presentation Award at the 7th Kramáre Clinical Research Day in 2023, highlighting her commitment to translational research in pediatric surgery. As an early-career researcher, she received grants for young investigators in 2012 and 2013, and contributed as a co-investigator on Ministry of Health-funded projects. Eva has actively participated in national and international conferences, symposia, and scientific forums, including the Faculty Student Scientific Conference and Doctoral Scientific Conference, where her work was frequently recognized. Her international academic exposure includes a study stay at Charles University, Prague, focusing on 3D anthropometry. She has also been awarded multiple certificates for specialized training in nutrition, Ayurvedic medicine, and academic English, enhancing her interdisciplinary profile. Her accolades reflect excellence in research, collaboration, and professional development.

Research Interests 🔬

Eva Štefánková’s research centers on clinical anthropometry in pediatric populations, with a specific emphasis on children with congenital central nervous system (CNS) malformations. Her doctoral and postdoctoral work has involved craniofacial and whole-body measurements, analysis of body composition, and the monitoring of growth trends in children with developmental disorders and post-surgical conditions. Her interdisciplinary approach combines anthropological methodology with clinical data analytics using advanced statistical and imaging tools, including 3D anthropometry, WHO Anthro software, and diagnostic modeling. She is also deeply interested in the interface of traditional and modern medicine, applying insights from Ayurvedic phytotherapy and nutrition to holistic pediatric care. Her work contributes to improving diagnostic precision, surgical outcomes, and long-term health monitoring in children. She continues to present her research internationally and remains committed to collaborative projects that link biological anthropology, pediatrics, and integrative medicine for enhanced patient care.

Publications

  • Anthropometry of craniosynostosis

    E Štefánková, F Horn, E Neščáková… – Neurologia i …, 2015 – journals.viamedica.pl
    Background Anthropometry is becoming a popular method for diagnostics of various diseases
    in pediatric clinical practice. The aim of this study was to assess the growth changes in …

  • Assessment of Facial Asymmetry in Slovak Patients with Positional Deformity

    …, F Horn, P Slaná, A Plž, M Zarinshad, E Štefánková – Children, 2024 – mdpi.com
    Objectives: Positional deformity (PD), also known as deformational plagiocephaly or non-synostosis,
    is a primary cause of abnormal head shape and asymmetry in infants. The most …

  • The impact of body mass index on craniofacial parameters

    A Nádaždyová, E Štefánková, M Samohýl – Kontakt, 2016 – Elsevier
    The purpose of the study is to analyze BMI and the mean values of craniofacial parameters
    in the patients measured by directed anthropometry (PDAA) and by 3D scan (P3DAS).

Valeria Azevedo de Almeida | Health Sciences | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Valeria Azevedo de Almeida | Health Sciences | Best Researcher Award

Valéria Azevedo de Almeida is a Brazilian physiotherapist and researcher with expertise in neuroengineering, maternal and child health, and neonatal care. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Physiotherapy at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), where she also completed her undergraduate studies. Valéria holds a Master’s in Neuroengineering from the Edmond and Lily Safra International Institute of Neurosciences and has extensive experience in hospital and academic settings. Her research contributions focus on neonatal neural activity and pediatric urological sequelae linked to congenital infections like Zika virus. She has served in both clinical and academic roles across various Brazilian institutions, including UFRN, ISD, HU-UFGD, and HRG. Fluent in Portuguese and proficient in English, she also acts as a journal referee and participates in numerous collaborative health projects. Valéria has earned distinctions for her dedication to education and contributions to neonatal physiotherapy research and care.

Profile

Education 🎓

Valéria Azevedo de Almeida is completing her Ph.D. in Physiotherapy (2021–2025) at UFRN, under Dr. Silvana Alves Pereira. She earned a Master’s in Neuroengineering (2018–2020) at the Edmond and Lily Safra Institute, supervised by Dr. Reginaldo Freitas Jr., with a CAPES scholarship. Previously, she completed a specialization in Maternal and Child Health through a multiprofessional residency at UFRN (2016–2018), also under Dr. Pereira. Her undergraduate degree in Physiotherapy (2011–2015) was completed at UFRN with CNPq scholarship support. Complementary education includes over 20 short courses in areas like public health, intensive care, clinical pilates, neonatal care, and professional development, offered by institutions such as FIOCRUZ, CEDEP, UFMG, and the Albert Einstein Institute. These reflect her commitment to continuous learning and interdisciplinary training in health care and leadership. She also completed a 240-hour English language course and has participated in multiple training programs since 2009, enhancing her clinical and academic capacities.

Experience 👨‍🏫

Valéria has accumulated rich experience in public health, academic research, and clinical physiotherapy. Since 2022, she works at the University Hospital of Grande Dourados (HU-UFGD/Ebserh) as a government-employed physiotherapist. She has concurrently held research and academic roles at UFRN since 2021. Her past positions include clinical roles at Hospital Rio Grande, Hospital Municipal de Campanha, and UPA Esperança, and academic/research posts at Instituto Santos Dumont (ISD), where she contributed to projects on Zika-related pediatric sequelae. From 2016 to 2018, she was a research fellow at the Regional Hospital Dr. Mariano Coelho. Her early experience includes a scholarship-based position at Hospital Universitário Ana Bezerra. She’s also an active participant in ongoing projects at Instituto Fernandes Figueira and ISD. Valéria’s work combines hands-on physiotherapeutic care with clinical research, specializing in neonatal, neurological, and urological rehabilitation, making her a key contributor in multidisciplinary health teams.

Awards & Recognitions 🏅

Valéria received an Honorable Mention in 2018 from the Escola Multicampi de Ciências Médicas do RN for her contribution to the first class of the multiprofessional residency in maternal and child health. In 2015, she won first place in the area of Neonatal and Pediatric Physiotherapy at the III Northeastern Congress of Cardiorespiratory and Intensive Care Physiotherapy (CONEFIR), highlighting her excellence as a student-researcher. These awards recognize her early and continued dedication to improving clinical physiotherapy practice in neonatal and pediatric populations, as well as her commitment to rural health education and service delivery. Her leadership in education and practical training programs, especially in underserved areas, has been widely acknowledged. These honors underscore her impact on both the academic and practical dimensions of physiotherapy and affirm her growing reputation as a committed clinician, researcher, and mentor in Brazil’s evolving healthcare landscape.

Research Interests 🔬

Valéria’s research focuses on neonatal neurophysiology, pediatric rehabilitation, and health impacts of congenital infections such as the Zika virus. At UFRN, her Ph.D. work investigates the relationship between neural activity and visual processing in premature newborns. Through the Instituto Santos Dumont and Instituto Fernandes Figueira, she has contributed to long-term studies on urinary and intestinal dysfunctions in children with congenital Zika syndrome. She integrates neuroengineering principles into pediatric physiotherapy to enhance diagnostic and rehabilitative outcomes. Her interdisciplinary approach includes neurodevelopmental monitoring, urological sequelae analysis, and intervention design for affected children. In addition to field research, she is involved in designing care protocols, training health professionals, and evaluating public health strategies. Her work bridges neuroscience, physiotherapy, and maternal-child care, aiming to improve outcomes for vulnerable pediatric populations. She also serves as a peer reviewer, contributing to the advancement of evidence-based practices in neurorehabilitation and child health.

Publications