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Humphrey Fellows 2008-2009 VCU hosted 7 Humphrey Fellows, midcareer professionals from Romania, Bangladesh, Ghana, Prague, India, Saudi Arabia and Ukraine.
Dr. Adrian Octavian Abagiu, from Bucharest, Romania, graduated from the Bucharest University of Medicine in 1987, and he earned a Ph.D. in Medical Science in 2000. He has been a senior doctor in Infectious Diseases since 1994 and he was the head of the Infectious Diseases department of the Bucharest Prison Hospital until 2000. Currently he is working as senior doctor in Infectious Diseases at the National Institute for Infectious Diseases in Bucharest and as medical coordinator for the ARENA Center, the first low threshold center for methadone maintenance in Romania. During his fellowship, Adrian hopes to learn more about substance abuse prevention and treatment, especially for multiple drug abuse and about program development and evaluation for direct clinical services for patients with co-occurring disorders. Dr. Munir Ahmed, from Dhaka, Bangladesh, obtained his Medical, MPH and Diploma in Health Economics degree in 1989, 2003 and 2004 respectively, all from Dhaka University. From 1991-2002, he worked in the tribal tea plantation area of Bangladesh where malaria, tuberculosis, leprosy and alcohol addiction are endemic. He joined CARE’s harm reduction program in 2004; a program focused on injection drug users and heroin smokers. Since early 2006 he is the team leader of operations for CARE’s HIV program. During his Fellowship year he hopes to enrich his knowledge regarding drug treatment modalities, policies, prevention, drug-overdose management, drug control legislation and self-help groups. He seeks experience in drug abuse research, program monitoring and evaluation, and rehabilitation and social reintegration of drug users. Mr. Daniel Akwasi Amankwaah, from Accra, Ghana obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and French in 1994 from the University of Ghana where he also earned his LLB Degree in 2007. He is currently the head of the Legal Liaison Unit of the Ghana Narcotics Control Board. Prior to that, he was the head of the Demand Reduction Department of the Board. He was also responsible for UNODC demand reduction activities in Ghana. He worked extensively with NGOs in substance abuse prevention and education. During his Fellowship, Daniel will focus on substance abuse policy and criminal justice. Daniel also seeks experience in designing effective and efficient substance abuse prevention, treatment and rehabilitation programs. Dr. Petr Popov, from Prague, Czech Republic, graduated from the Faculty of Medicine of the Charles University Prague in 1987, where he also completed his specialty in psychiatry in 1991 and his postgraduate specialty in drug abuse in 1997. He is head of the division of substance abuse services of the General Faculty Hospital Prague and head of the Department of Addictive Disorders at the Czech Institute of Postgraduate study in medicine; positions he has held since 1999. Dr. Popov is chairman of the Czech Society of Addictive Medicine. He has attended psychiatry and addictions conferences and training workshops throughout Europe and in the U.S. During his Fellowship year, Dr. Popov hopes to broaden his knowledge of drug treatment modalities, policies, prevention and drug control legislation. He also seeks experience in professional training programs and evidence-based practices so that he can implement these in the Czech Republic. Dr. Tekendra Kumar Rai, from the State of Sikkim, India, obtained his Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery from Marathwada University, Aurangabad, India, in 1990. After completing his MD in Pharmacology in 1996, he joined the Drugs Cell in the Department of Health in the State of Sikkim, where he was responsible for the enforcement of Drugs and Cosmetics Act. Currently, he also oversees the Sikkim Anti Drugs Unit of the State in the capacity of Programme Officer. He framed the “Sikkim Anti Drugs Act” to control abuse and trafficking of prescription drugs in the State. During his Fellowship, Dr. Rai will focus on enhancing his knowledge about substance abuse policy, prevention and research and drug control legislation, especially regarding prescription drugs. He also seeks to learn about the relationship between HIV/AIDS and injection drug use, particularly among adolescents and women. Dr. Muna H. Sawwaf, from Jeddah in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, obtained her MBCHB from King Saud University in 1989, Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery with honors. She completed her fellowship in General Psychiatry in 1994. Dr. Sawwaf also has post graduate training in women's mental health, with specialization in the field of drug addiction, from the University of London. She also completed a postgraduate diploma in psychological medicine, from the University of Dublin. She is currently a consultant psychiatrist and head of the department of psychiatry at King Fahd General Hospital in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Dr. Sawwaf is a member of the scientific advisory board of Mentor Arabia and Mentor International, a nongovernmental organization that deals with drug abuse prevention programs. In 2007 she was awarded an International Fellowship from the American Psychiatric Association. Her Fellowship goals are to learn more about the management of drug addiction in women, and behavioral and pharmacological treatments. Dr. Sawwaf also seeks experience in drug abuse research, program planning and designing effective and efficient prevention programs. Mr. Oleksii Smirnov, from Kyiv, Ukraine, works for the International HIV/AIDS Alliance in Ukraine and coordinates the activity of HIV-prevention projects of the Southern Ukraine as a Senior Program Officer. He has MA degrees from Warsaw University and the Central European University in Budapest. Mr. Smirnov organized three waves of Participatory Site Assessments (PSA) that identified sub-groups of injecting drug users (IDUs), locations where they congregate, and their migration. As a result of the PSAs, local NGOs have implemented evidence-based practices in different regions of Ukraine. Since HIV/AIDS is spread mostly among IDUs in Ukraine, during his Fellowship Oleksii wants to broaden his knowledge about new strategies of work with this vulnerable group, particularly in the field of harm reduction, rehabilitation and substitution therapy. Substance abuse policy and drug control legislation are his other fields interest. Humphrey Fellows 2007- 2008 VCU is hosting 7 Humphrey Fellows, midcareer professionals from Albania, Brazil, Egypt, Kosovo, Morocco, Myanmar and Thailiand.
VCU hosted eight Humphrey Fellows, midcareer professionals from Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Central America and the Middle East. Nguyen Cuu Duc
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Mr. Arian Boci, from Tirana, Albania, earned a Master of Public Health degree from Tirana University in 2005. Currently he is the executive directorof the STOP AIDS Associationin Albania as well as the project director of a mobile needle exchange program in Tirana. Prior to his current position, Arian was the Senior Local Expert for the British Council, Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs. In this position he was responsible for the coordination of regional and local working groups dealing with social services development, Community Care Plan implementation, and the implementation of the national quality standards for social care services in Albania. Arian’s major area of focus is on substance abuse treatment, including detoxification, counselling, research, legal issues and rehabilitation processes. During his Fellowship, Arian is also wants to broaden his research experience and gain new skills in the areas of HIV/AIDS and drug abuse education and prevention. E-mail: 
Dr. Boonsiri Junsirimongkol, from Suratthani Province, Thailand, obtained her Bachelor of Medicine from Prince of Songkla University (Hatyai City, Thailand) in 1999. After completing her M.D., she obtained specialized training in psychiatry at Siriraj Hospital of Mahidol University from 1999 to 2002. As the psychiatrist of Suansaranrom psychiatric hospital, she is the regional consultant psychiatrist for southern Thailand where she has administrative and clinical responsibilities in mental health and substance abuse services development, planning, coordination and delivery. During her Fellowship, Boonsiri will focus on advanced knowledge about addiction medicine, drug treatment practices and policies to help her to improve service capabilities and participate in the development of national drug abuse policies. Moreover, she also seeks experience in drug abuse research, training, program, planning and development, and implementing evidence-based practices. E-mail: 
Dr. Fatima El Omari, from Rabat, Morocco, graduated from Casablanca Medical Faculty in 1997. She completed her medical psychiatric speciality in 2002 from Mohammed V University at Rabat, where she is currently an assistant professor of the Medical Faculty; a position she has held since 2003. She received a Masters in Clinical Neurosciences in 2006 and is working towards completing a Ph.D. Fatima also practices as a psychiatrist and is responsible for an addiction unit and a unit for women with psychiatric disorders at Arrazi University Psychiatric Hospital in Sale. Fatima’s goals for her Fellowship are to increase her knowledge about drug abuse and HIV/AIDS, prevention, epidemiology and mental health research. She seeks also to obtain skills in mental health and drug abuse policy and to use her new skills to improve behavioral healthcare services in Morocco. E-mail: 
Dr. Marisa Felicíssimo, from Belo Horizonte, Brazil, obtained her Bachelor of Medicine from Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) in 1999. She completed her residency in psychiatry at Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) and her postgraduate specialty in drug abuse in 2003. Currently, Marisa works for the Municipal Health Secretary of Rio de Janeiro as the coordinator of an outpatient drug abuse center and assists the drug abuse division coordinator in training and supervising other public health professionals. She also is involved in treatment evaluation research at PROJAD (Alcohol and Drug Treatment and Research Program at the Psychiatry Institute of UFRJ). Her goals for the Fellowship year are to broaden her knowledge of drug treatment modalities, policies, prevention and drug control legislation. She also seeks experience in drug abuse clinical research to support her long-term goal of implementing evidence-based practices and policies in Brazil. E-mail: 
Dr. Rania Abou Elenein, from Mansoura City, Egypt, obtained her Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery with honors from Mansoura University in 1994. She completed her Masters and M.D. in Clinical Toxicology at Monsoura University in 2000 and 2005, respectively. She also completed a postgraduate Diploma in Total Quality Management in healthcare at American University in Cairo. She is currently an assistant professor of Clinical Toxicology at Mansoura University in the School of Medicine. Rania is also a member of an NGO called “Sonaa Elhayah” (Life Makers) with a subdivision concerned with drug control among youth called “Homat Elmostakbal” (Protectors of The FutureRania’s goals for her Fellowship are to learn more about neurobiology and pharmacology of substances of abuse, neural mechanisms underlying substance abuse and dependence, pharmacological treatment of substance abuse and dependence, and integration of behavioural and pharmacological treatments. She also seeks experience in drug abuse research, program planning, and designing effective and efficient prevention programs. E-mail: 
Dr. Rushit Ismajli, from Vushtrri, Kosovo, graduated in Medicine in 1997 and in Family Medicine in 2002 from the University of Prishtina, Kosovo. Just prior to coming to VCU, he also completed a masters degree in Family Medicine. Rushit has extensive experience in clinical work, education, human rights and journalism. Rushit’s current positions are the Medical Director of a non-governmental organization addressing the prevention of HIV/AIDS among vulnerable groups, and health editor of Family Medicine Magazine. Rushit’s primary area of interest in on policy development related to HIV/AIDS prevention and drug control. He hopes to apply what he learns during his Fellowship to the development of effective HIV/AIDS and substance abuse prevention strategies, particularly with vulnerable populations including youth, injecting drug users, commercial sex workers and their clients, men who have sex with men, prisoners and healthcare staff. E-mail: 
Dr. Zar Ni Soe, from Yangon, Myanmar, obtained his Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (M.B., B.S) from the Institute of Medicine 1, Yangon/Rangoon in 1998 and his Master’s degree in Business Administration (M.B.A) in 2002 from the Institute of Economics, Yangon/Rangoon. He is a national staff member of the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime (UNODC), Myanmar Country Office and acts as the National Program Officer for the Drug Demand Reduction Projects with a primary focus on injection drug use. Zar’s major area of interest is the provision of drug treatment and rehabilitation services, including care and support services in correctional centers and prisons. During his Fellowship, Zar’s goals are to develop greater knowledge about residential- and outpatient-based treatment and rehabilitation services in the U.S. and HIV/AIDS program management. He hopes to use the skills and knowledge developed through the Humphrey Fellowship to integrate care and support services into current drug abuse programs in Myanmar. E-mail: 
