VCU hosted 7 Humphrey Fellows, midcareer professionals from Brazil, Ukraine, Iraq, Malaysia, Burma, Nigeria and Uruguay.

Mrs. Rawnak Aqrawi, from Erbil, Iraq, obtained her Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Sciences in 1979 from the University of Baghdad. She has worked in both frontline pharmacy services and as a communication director in rural and urban settings as well as at the Iraq Ministry of Health. Mrs. Aqrawi is a member of the National Mental Health and Substance Abuse Council in the Ministry of Health, and contributed to the development of policies and procedures for the Council. She also has been instrumental in developing the draft of Iraq’s drug control law, and she is a member of the Iraqi Society for Addiction Medicine. Mrs. Aqrawi has participated in training in Jordan, Egypt, the United Kingdom and the United States, where she focused on community-based substance abuse prevention and treatment programs as well as the role of public education. For her Humphrey Fellowship, she would like to obtain training and direct experience in substance abuse programs in the US.

Dr. Murilo Battisti, from São Paulo, Brazil, obtained his bachelors in psychology from the University of São Paulo in 1999, and a Ph.D from the Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP) in 2009. He is currently a researcher for the Brazilian Center for Information on Psychotropic Drugs (CEBRID-UNIFESP). In addition, he is a member of the Brazilian National Council on Drug Policies (CONAD). During his Fellowship year, Dr. Battisti seeks to broaden his knowledge of prevention, treatment modalities and public policies with focus on ecstasy and club drug use. His Fellowship goals are to learn new tools in substance abuse research to support evidence-based practices and policies in Brazil, particularly for youth.

Dr. Thanda Khin, from Yangon, Myanmar, obtained her Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery from the Institute of Medicine 1 in 1994 and her Master’s Degree in Health Social Science from Mahidol University, Thailand in 2007. She has extensive experience in managing HIV/AIDS related projects for international non-governmental organizations and the United Nations. She is currently a national staff member of the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime in Myanmar, where as the Project Coordinator she is responsible for a partnership project focusing on injection drug use and HIV/AIDS. During her Fellowship, Dr. Khin seeks to develop greater knowledge about epidemiology and project evaluation related to drugs and HIV/AIDS, and to learn more about drug abuse program development and research.

Ms. Chinyere Celestina Okonkwo, from Anambra State in southeastern Nigeria, obtained a Diploma in Social Work and B.Sc. (with honors) in Psychology from the University of Nigeria Nsukka in 1994 and 1999, respectively. She also obtained a Masters Degree in Psychology from the University of Lagos. Prior to coming to VCU, she was working as a Clinical Psychologist on the drug unit at the Psychiatric Hospital, Yaba, Lagos. In this position she was responsible for managing and coordinating psychological assessments and treatment for substance abuse patients, as well as other patients. During her Fellowship year, she hopes to improve her clinical skills and her knowledge of psychological management of substance abuse, prevention, and rehabilitation. Ms. Okonkwo also seeks experience in conducting substance abuse research that will inform the development of better services for patients/clients and the entire community. In addition, when she returns to Nigeria, she hopes to improve the quality of substance abuse services by teaching others who are interested in substance abuse management, prevention and rehabilitation.

Ms. Gabriela Olivera, from Montevideo, Uruguay, obtained her psychology degree from the State University of Uruguay in 1993 and her post-graduate training in drug abuse in 1999 at Complutense University of Madrid, Spain. She is currently Chief of the Demand Reduction Unit of the National Drugs Assembly for the Presidency of Uruguay, and she has been working on drug abuse policy at the Health Ministry since 1995. She is also a member of the National Commission on Tobacco Control and serves as the Uruguay General Coordinator for the Global Tobacco Youth Survey (GYTS) and the Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS), sponsored by the Pan American Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Ms. Olivera co-authored “OAS - CICAD Hemispheric Guidelines on School-based Prevention,” Group Demand Reduction Experts, 2005. During her Fellowship, Ms. Olivera seeks to enhance her experience in drugs abuse policy, including a particular focus on gender issues, and she hopes to use her Fellowship experience to design and expand evidence-based substance abuse programs in Uruguay.

Dr. Mohd Muzafar Shah bin Mohd Razali, from Tanjong Malim, near Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, obtained his Ph.D. at the University of Malaya in 2010. He is also on the faculty of Sultan Idris Education University in Tanjong Malim. Before joining Sultan Idris Education University, Dr. Muzafar was a primary school teacher for ten years and a secondary school teacher and counselor for four years. He was also the Head of the Drug Abuse Education and Prevention Unit at the Kuala Lumpur State Education Department for one year. Currently, he teaches drug abuse education and prevention at the undergraduate level and drug abuse counseling at the postgraduate level. He is also involved in developing the drug abuse prevention curriculum for the Ministry of Education and conducting research for the National AntiDrug Agency of Malaysia. During his Fellowship, Dr. Muzafar will study the development and evaluation various models of school and community-based substance abuse prevention programs. He had began the development of an instrument to measure risk and protective factors for adolescent drug abuse. He will proceed to the development and evaluation of evidence based drug abuse prevention programs in Malaysia.

Mr. Valeriy Ryabukha, from Chernihiv, Ukraine, graduated from the Higher Military College in Yekaterinburg, Russia in 1987 and National Law University in Kyiv in 1998. He is the Legal and Police Advisor for the HIV/AIDS Governance Project of the United Nations Development Prmunirogramme in Ukraine. Prior to his current position, he served in the Migration Department of Ukraine, Police and Soviet Army. Mr. Ryabukha led the development of the Education against Drugs Program, a substance abuse and crime prevention program for adolescents. Based on his analysis of prevention programs in the United States, England, Ireland and Ukraine, the Education against Drugs Programme is now conducted in secondary schools throughout his native city of Chernihiv. During his Fellowship, Mr. Ryabukha wants to continue his study of substance abuse prevention programs in order to identify effective models that could be implemented in his native Ukraine.

Back to top

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.

Back to the top

VCU is hosted 7 Humphrey Fellows, midcareer professionals from Albania, Brazil, Egypt, Kosovo, Morocco, Myanmar and Thailiand.

Mr. Arian Boci, from Tirana, Albania, earned a Master of Public Health degree from Tirana University in 2005. Currently he is the executive director of the STOP AIDS Association in 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Back to top

VCU hosted eight Humphrey Fellows, midcareer professionals from Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Central America and the Middle East.

Nguyen Cuu Duc, from Hanoi, Vietnam, obtained his bachelor’s in international studies from Vietnam National University in 1999 and a master’s in oriental studies from VNU in 2004. He works on national drug policy and international cooperation for drug control in the Standing Office on Drug Control of Vietnam, a government agency responsible for both national policy and international cooperation for drug control. During his Fellowship period, Duc wants to learn more about drug control legislation and drug abuse treatment and prevention in the U.S., as well as broaden his experience in drug control.

Dr. Giselle Gonzalez, from Panama City, Panama, received her D.D.S. from the University of Panama in 1995. She obtained specialty training in orthodontics at the Latin American University of Science and Technology and also completed postgraduate training in health administration and education. She currently directs of the Department of Dentistry at a large public hospital in Panama. She has attended numerous professional conferences in Latin America, Europe and the U.S. Gonzalez’s interests for the Fellowship period are in public health dentistry, health administration and policy, and research in international health organizations.

Dr. Kevin Goulbourne, from Montego Bay, Jamaica, obtained his Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery from the University of the West Indies (Mona Campus, Jamaica) in 1988, completing his M.D. with specialty training in psychiatry there in 1999. He is the regional consultant psychiatrist for the Jamaican Western Regional Health Authority where he has administrative and clinical responsibilities in mental health and substance abuse services development, planning, coordination and delivery. During his Fellowship year, Goulbourne will focus on drug treatment practices and policies to help improve service capabilities in western Jamaica and participate in the further development of national drug abuse policies. He also seeks experience in drug abuse research, training, program planning and development in implementing evidence-based practices.

Dr. Adham Hamd, from Damascus, Syria, obtained his D.D.S. in 1990 from Damascus University Faculty of Dental Medicine, with residency training in orthodontics at the same institution from 1996 to 2000. Before coming to VCU, he enrolled in a health administration program at the Syrian Ministry of Health. He also has been working for the public health directorate of Qunaitera where he has practiced orthodontics and has management and training responsibilities. His goals for the Fellowship period are to broaden his experiences in public health dentistry and in health administration and policy development with a focus on resource allocation and dental health economics.

Rehana Kader, from Cape Town, South Africa, earned a bachelor’s with honors in psychology from the University of the Western Cape, where she also completed her master’s in psychology in 2000. She is a clinical psychologist and the former director of Positive Muslims, an HIV/AIDS nongovernmental organization. Currently, she is in private practice and lectures and supervises students at the University of the Western Cape. She will spend her Fellowship year gaining additional experiences and training in community health in the areas of mental health, HIV/AIDS and substance abuse. Other interests include obtaining leadership skills in public health policy and public-private partnerships and developing performance measures for assessing the quality of substance abuse services in South Africa.

Lala Margaryants, from Yerevan, Armenia, obtained her degree in pharmacy from the Yerevan State Medical University in 1991. She is an adviser on drug policy at the Scientific Centre of Drug and Medical Technology Expertise. She also is involved in pharmacy postgraduate education in the Armenian National Institute of Health. She has participated in professional meetings in Europe, Canada and the U.S. For her Fellowship, Margaryants will focus on pharmaceutical legislation and regulation development, particularly drug registration, drug export/import, rational drug use, pharmacoeconomics, drug retail and wholesale, drug information systems and the role of pharmacists in health care. She seeks additional experience working with policy and regulatory agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration.

Desirée Molina, from Maracaibo, Venezuela, obtained her degree in psychology from the University of Rafael Urdaneta in 1984 and her master’s in clinical psychology in 2002. She is the director of the Outpatient Drug Abuse Program for the José Felix Ribas Foundation, which serves western Venezuela. She is concurrently the coordinator for the inpatient and outpatient psychology area in the State General Hospital. During her Fellowship period, Molina seeks additional training and experience in substance abuse treatment, including the use of motivational enhancement therapy and working with patients with comorbid mental health problems. She also would like more experience working with women and youth.

Dr. Peter Ndege, from Nairobi, Kenya, obtained medical training at the University of Nairobi in the 1990s. He completed specialty training in internal medicine in 2003 and has a postgraduate diploma in sexually transmitted diseases. He is a consultant physician in Kenyatta National Teaching and Referral Hospital’s Department of Respiratory and Infectious Diseases/Comprehensive HIV/AIDS Care Clinic. He also serves as an honorary lecturer at the University of Nairobi Department of Internal Medicine and a research associate with the African Mental Health Foundation. During his Fellowship period, Ndege wants to broaden his research experiences and gain new skills in the areas of HIV/AIDS and drug abuse education and prevention.

Back to top