Ms. Dale Weiss, program analyst from the NIDA International Program, and Fellowships Administrator Ms. Lisa Jordre met with the new Hubert H. Humphrey Fellows early in September to introduce them to some of the NIDA resources and opportunities available to them during their fellowships.
The pair met with NIDA Hubert H. Humphrey Fellows in Substance Abuse Education, Treatment, and Prevention at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) and NIDA Hubert H. Humphrey Fellows in Drug Abuse and Public Health at Johns Hopkins University (JHU). Ms. Weiss described several NIDA resources, including the NIDA International Virtual Collaboratory (NIVC), a password-protected tool to support geographically distant partners in collaborative research, discussion, and education, and met individually with the fellows to discuss their professional affiliation interests.
The NIDA Hubert H. Humphrey Fellows at VCU include:
- Dr. Rogerio Alves da Paz, Brazil, wants to learn more about how the United States has dealt with crack epidemics, rehabilitation programs, and drug-related public policies. His fellowship goal is to establish collaborative relationships with treatment programs in the United States.
- Dr. Dorra Amira, Tunisia, will enhance her knowledge of drug abuse and analytical methods so that she can improve procedures in toxicology laboratories in her country. She also plans to develop greater knowledge about substance abuse prevention and treatment to better address the drug problems of Tunisia.
- Dr. Omar El Shahawy, Egypt, seeks to enhance his experience in drug abuse policy and prevention, with a particular focus on gender issues in adolescent and marginalized groups. He hopes to use his experience at VCU to enhance his public health competencies in fields related to substance abuse research and prevention, primarily in the area of tobacco use.
- Dr. Ojo Abayomi Moses, Nigeria, plans to enhance his knowledge and practical skills in the treatment and prevention of substance abuse as well as research on the common drugs of abuse in Nigeria.
- Ms. Dafina Muqaj, Kosovo, works as a psychologist at a drug prevention and treatment center and wants to expand her knowledge about drug treatment programs and addiction research.
- Dr. Maia Rusakova, Russian Federation, wants to learn new tools for the prevention of risk behavior among different target groups that could be implemented in the Russian Federation and to develop distant learning programs with the assistance of U.S. experts.
- Dr. Mário Sérgio Sobrinho, Brazil, plans to learn more about police procedures, judicial drug abuse cases, and the drug courts system and hopes to help the Brazilian judicial system by teaching others who are interested in improving judicial methods regarding drug abuse cases.
- Ms. Oranooch Sungkhawanna, Thailand, wants to design and implement more effective drug control policies and to expand the use of evidence-based substance abuse treatment and prevention programs in Thailand.
The Hubert H. Humphrey Fellows at JHU include:
- Dr. Ayse Ender Altintoprak, Turkey, a psychiatrist, is interested in substance abuse education and treatment.
- Dr. Hla Aung, Burma, a physician in family medicine, is interested in drug prevention and treatment.
- Dr. Roman Gabrhelik, Czech Republic, is interested in translational research, drug treatment, and epidemiology.
- Dr. Hussein Habeeb Mhawesh, Iraq, focuses on public health policy and management and will gain knowledge that he will use to develop policies, programs, and services toward improving health care in Iraq.
- Dr. Rubeena Kidwai, Pakistan, is interested in community-based programs in applied positive psychology, and developing and implementing projects to promote psychosocial wellness and psychological resilience in members of impoverished, low-income communities of Pakistan.
- Ms. Abimbola Onigbanjo, Nigeria, is working to improve health care and systems for Nigerians, and has a special interest in family planning/reproductive health, maternal and child health, and HIV/AIDS.
- Ms. Bangone Santavasy, Laos, is interested in drugs and reproductive health, business administration, and HIV.
- Dr. Ashish Sinha, Nepal, is interested in drugs and HIV and will take his knowledge back to the Save the Children program in Nepal.
- Dr. Ihor Vasianovych, Ukraine, wants to improve the management and evaluation of health care institutions and the accreditations of health care institutions.