Be part of the PULPIT community

Ricardo Ferreira

Auxiliary Researcher

Escola Superior de Enfermagem da Universidade de Lisboa (ESEUL/CIDNUR)

PhD in Nursing, with research interests in patient education, patient-reported outcome measures, remission definition, osteoporotic fractures prevention, mHealth in rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases, and Public and Patient Involvement in research and education. Dr Ferreira has authored over 70 PubMed articles and book chapters, contributed to several European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) recommendations, and serves as an EULAR Trained Methodologist. He has been an active member of the EULAR since 2013, having served as Chair of the EULAR Committee of Health Professionals in Rheumatology (2019-2023) and is currently a member of the Advocacy Committee, and is a working group member on defining the research priorities or the economic impact of RMD in Europe.

Matilde Rei Leal

Project Manager

Escola Superior de Enfermagem da Universidade de Lisboa (ESEUL/CIDNUR)

Matilde Rei Leal is a Psychologist with a Master's degree in Forensic Psychology. She is the Project Manager of the PULPIT project and Assistant Researcher at ESEUL/CIDNUR.

Matthijs Bosveld

MD | PhD Student

Maastricht University

MD in general practice and a PhD-student, focusing on active patient participation in education and care. He cofounded the Patient as a Person Foundation, which supports educational institutions in organising supra-institutional interprofessional education through centralising recruitment, faculty development and reciprocity. He has received awards for his work patient involvement in interprofessional education, including UM Student Award 2016, Young Talent Award in Medicine 2016 and Marja van Dieijen Award 2021.

Cathy Kline

Assistant Director, Patient & Community Partnership for Education

University of British Columbia (UBC)

As Assistant Director, Patient and Community Engagement, Cathy Kline works closely with the directors of Patient and Community Partnership for Education at UBC Health to provide leadership for operationalizing strategic plan objectives related to patient and community engagement. She builds capacity for sustainable patient and community partnerships by developing and leading strategies to advance the inclusion of people with lived experience throughout UBC Health’s core areas of collaborative health education, interdisciplinary health research, and health systems. Since 2003, Cathy has advanced research and development initiatives that promote patient and public involvement in health professional education. Her work involves collaborations with faculty, students, patients, community organizations, and international scholars in research and program development to integrate patient expertise and experience into mainstream educational practice. Cathy holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Simon Fraser University and a Master of Arts in Health Education from Dalhousie University.

Elsa Mateus

Patient advocate, Doctor in Anthropology, President of the EUPATI Portugal

EUPATI Portugal, Liga Portuguesa Contra as Doenças Reumáticas

Elsa Mateus is a PhD in Anthropology from the University of Lisbon, is a Patient Expert on the Medicines Research & Development Process at the European Patients’ Academy on Therapeutic Innovation (EUPATI), and a Patient Research Partner at the European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR). She has been in leadership positions is several patient organisations (EULAR, Portuguese League Against Rheumatic Diseases, EUPATI Portugal, ANDAI) and participates in various organizations dedicated to Health and Research (CHRC - Comprehensive Health Research Center; ISPUP - Public Health Institute of the University of Porto; CiiEM - Egas Moniz Center for Interdisciplinary Research). She was awarded the Medal of Scientific Merit by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education in 2020 and, in 2024, Elsa Mateus was officially nominated as a member of the National Ethics Committee for Clinical Research (CEIC). In 2026, she was acknowledged with the EULAR Meritorius Service Award. Published 37 articles in journals. Has 5 section(s) of books and 3 book(s).

Darren Lauschner

Experienced Patient partner, advocate, and community activist

University of British Columbia (UBC)

Living with HIV since 1985, he is an experienced patient partner, advocate, and community activist whose work has been shaped by more than four decades of engagement with the healthcare system. Drawing on extensive lived experience, he has developed a deep understanding of the complexities of healthcare delivery, patient engagement, and health equity. His commitment to improving health outcomes led him from community volunteerism to active involvement in community-based participatory research, where he has championed the meaningful integration of people with lived experience throughout the research process. Recognizing the need to strengthen the connection between research, education, and patient partnership, he expanded his work into academic environments as a patient educator. In collaboration with faculty and learners across the health professions, he bridges the gap between theoretical knowledge and the realities of living with a chronic health condition. By integrating personal experience with current evidence and research, he fosters critical reflection, empathy, and inquiry while illustrating the value of person-centred care and authentic patient engagement. His contributions support the development of future healthcare professionals who are equipped to work collaboratively with patients as partners in education, research, policy development, and healthcare system transformation, advancing more equitable, responsive, and evidence-informed care.

Mateja Lorber

Dean, Associate Professor

Maribor University

Mateja Lorber is an associate professor at the University of Maribor, Faculty Health Science. Her main research interest and lecturing are gerontology nursing, managing chronic disease, and leadership and management in nursing. She has presented her work at international scientific conferences and published original scientific papers. She has received the highest award from the Association of Nursing Care and Midwifery of Slovenia .

Pedro Morgado

Professor of Psiquiatry

University of Minho

Pedro Morgado (MD, PhD) is Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the School of Medicine and Principal Investigator at ICVS Research Institute, University of Minho, in Braga, Portugal. He serves as the Regional Coordinator for Mental Health in the North Region of Portugal. At the ICVS, he leads the Stress and Compulsivity Research Group (Stress.Comp) and heads the Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders Unit at Hospital de Braga. His research focuses on obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders, stress and anxiety, addictive behaviors, and schizophrenia. He is also interested in clinical communication and the doctor-patient relationship. He is a member of the Board of Portuguese Society of psychiatry and of Portuguese Communication in Health Society. He served as Vice-President of the School of Medicine from 2017 to 2022 and was a member of the Board of the Psychiatry College of the Portuguese Medical Council from 2021to 2023. In 2021, he received the FLAD Science Award Mental Health.

Mafalda Machado de Sousa

Psychologist; Researcher

University of Minho

Mafalda Machado de Sousa is a clinical psychologist and researcher working at the intersection of experimental mental health research, neuroimaging, and technology-supported interventions, with a particular interest in obsessive-compulsive and related disorders. Her clinical work is informed by ongoing engagement with research, reinforcing her commitment to evidence-based, up-to-date practice while maintaining a strong focus on compassionate, patient-centred care. She holds a PhD in Health Sciences from the School of Medicine at the University of Minho, where her doctoral research combined internet-delivered cognitive-behavioural interventions with functional magnetic resonance imaging to investigate predictors of treatment response and explore strategies for improving access to evidence-based psychological treatments.

Carolina Garcez

Patient Advocate | MD

EUPATI Portugal

Carolina Garcez is a medical doctor, international patient expert and healthcare advisor with lived experience of acute myeloid leukemia and allogeneic stem cell transplantation. She works at the intersection of medicine, research and patient advocacy, collaborating internationally with academia, healthcare organisations, regulators, scientific societies, patient organisations and industry. Her work focuses on meaningful patient involvement across clinical research, drug development, healthcare and medical education, with a particular interest in health communication, quality of life and survivorship.

Adrijana Svenšek

Assistant Professor

University of Maribor, Faculty of Health Sciences

Adrijana Svenšek is an Assistant Professor at the University of Maribor, where she is involved in teaching and research in the fields of nursing, health informatics, research methodology, digital health, and the use of innovative technologies in healthcare. Her teaching includes courses such as Informatics in Nursing and Research, with a focus on developing digital, analytical, and research competencies among future healthcare professionals. Her research interests include chronic disease management, primary healthcare, health informatics, digital health, AI and the integration of new technologies into clinical practice. Her phd research focused on chronic diseases and the implementation of innovative technologies in primary healthcare, particularly on how digital solutions can support patient care, improve healthcare processes, and contribute to more effective and person-centred management of chronic conditions. She is actively involved in various national and international research, educational, and networking projects and initiatives, including projects supported through ARIS, Horizon Europe, Erasmus+, and COST Actions ect. Through these activities, she collaborates with interdisciplinary and international teams in the fields of healthcare, education, research, digitalisation, and innovation. Her current interests also include the responsible integration of artificial intelligence and other emerging digital technologies into healthcare and education, with a particular focus on supporting healthcare professionals, improving quality of care, and strengthening evidence-based and person-centred practice.

Koen Goffings

Researcher

PXL Hogeschool

Experienced Teacher with a demonstrated history of working in the higher education industry. Skilled in Nursing Management, Emergency Medical Care, Disaster Management, Educational Assessment, Serious Gaming, and Coaching.

Lucija Gosak

Assistant Professor

University of Maribor, Faculty of Health Sciences

Lucija Gosak is an Assistant Professor and researcher at the University of Maribor, Faculty of Health Sciences, Slovenia. Her research focuses on health informatics, digital health, artificial intelligence in healthcare and nursing, evidence-based nursing, and digital and AI literacy among healthcare professionals and students. She is actively involved in national and international research projects, with a particular interest in the responsible integration of digital technologies and artificial intelligence into healthcare, nursing education, and research.

Dante Mulder

MD

PAP-Foundation

Sjim Romme

Researcher

PAP-Foundation

Sjim Romme co-founded the Patient As a Person Foundation, which develops and provides training on person-centred care for future and current professionals in health care. In all training programmes offered by the foundation, patients play a central role.

Charlotte Verbeke

PhD Student

KU Leuven

PhD Researcher in Pharmaceutical Sciences at KU Leuven

Catarina Lima

Invited Assistant Professor, Psychiatrist

University of Minho

Catarina Lima (MD, PhD) is a Psychiatrist and Invited Assistant Professor at School of Medicine of University of Minho, where she teaches Clinical Communication. Her PhD work focused on the role of stress as a pathophysiological factor in OCD. Her interests include animal behavior, compulsive behaviors, decision-making and the impact of environmental insults in mental health. She is also interested in Medical Education and Clinical Communication.

Barbara Kegl

Senior Lecturer

University of Maribor

Barbara Kegl is a Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Maribor, and Head of its undergraduate Nursing programme. Her clinical experience is in primary healthcare. Her research focuses is nursing in primary level, community nursing, chronic disease management, ergonomics, paediatric nursing, and healthcare-associated infections. She publishes and presents her work internationally.

Nadine Santos

Assistant Professor

University of Minho

Nadine C Santos, holds a PhD in Molecular Biosciences (Washington State University, USA), a Master of Forensic Science (Sam Houston State University, USA), and a Bachelor of Arts in Biochemistry (Austin College, USA). Is currently an Invited Assistant Professor at the School of Medicine of UMinho (EM/UMinho) in the Medical Humanities area, and a researcher at the Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS) at EM/UMinho. Was previously a researcher at the Association P5 Digital Medical Centre (Centro Medicina Digital P5, ACMP5), and a post-doctoral researcher at the Clinical Academic Center-Braga (2CA-B). The continued research goal of her work is to explore variables contributing to homeostasis and healthy brain ageing, as assessed by cognitive performance and mood state. Multidisciplinary approaches are applied in a cross-sectional and longitudinal fashion in population-based cohorts. Has supervised 5 doctoral students who have completed their PhD degree (4 in Health Sciences and 1 in Medicine), in ageing- and cognition-related studies. Is currently supervising 2 PhD students (1 in Health Sciences and 1 in Nursing), in ageing- and paliave care-related studies. Is an Associate Editor at Behavioural Brain Research, at Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, and at Revista de Medicina Interna, and an Editorial Board Member at Aging Brain. Is the Vice-President of the Life and Health Sciences Ethics Committee of UMinho. Has published over 80 peer-reviewed, international papers, with over 1300 citations, with a h-index of 21.

Cristina Baixinho

Adjunct Professor, PULPIT Scientific Co-Cordinator

Escola Superior de Enfermagem da Universidade de Lisboa (ESEUL/CIDNUR)

Coordinator Professor at School of Nursing, Universidade de Lisboa, Researcher at Nursing Research Innovation and Development Centre of Lisbon (CIDNUR), School of Nursing, Universidade de Lisboa. PhD in Nursing, with research interests in fall risk management in elderly residents in residential facilities and in the community, transition from hospital to community, and knowledge transfer to the clinic. She is the Editor of Anna Nery Escola de Enfermagem and Member of several Scientific Commission in nursing care and qualitative research.

Phaedra Locquet

PhD Student

EUPATI Belgium | KU Leuven

Phaedra Locquet holds a bachelor’s degree (2021) and master’s degree in Biomedical Sciences (2023) with a specialisation in Management and Communication from the Catholic University of Leuven. Currently, Phaedra has been a PhD candidate at the Centre for Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy and the Centre for Biomedical Ethics and Law and her Ph.D. focuses on the needs and preferences of patients with Rare Arrhythmogenic Cardiomyopathy and the value of a prospective gene therapy for these patients. Specifically, her research focuses on developing a patient-centred implementation roadmap for gene therapy within Arrhythmogenic Cardiomyopathy.

Mitchell Silva

Chair EUPATI Belgium

EUPATI Belgium

Mitchell Silva is a patient engagement and involvement professional focused on helping organisations navigate complexity while keeping value creation and patient needs at the centre of decision-making. His profile combines scientific training, strategic leadership and extensive experience in regulated, multi-stakeholder settings. His work spans patient engagement strategy, digital innovation, AI and automation in healthcare, collaborative frameworks and launch readiness. He supports teams in assessing pre-launch opportunities and barriers, shaping patient support initiatives and translating ambition into structured, actionable programmes.

Andreia Silva da Costa

CIDNUR coordinator and Full professor community care

Escola Superior de Enfermagem da Universidade de Lisboa (ESEUL/CIDNUR)

Full professor at ESEUL, PhD in Nursing and a public health specialist, with research interests in ageing, health literacy, social prescribing and noncommunicable diseases. She is a consultant to the Directorate-General of Health, WHO international focal point and coordinator of ESEUL’s Research Unit (CIDNUR). She is a scholar member of the European Academy of Nursing Sciences (EANS) and of several scientific and professional societies. She participated in several financed projects, namely Health Promotion and Disease Control Joint actions and EIT financed project: Increasing the entrepreneurial innovation capacity of higher education institutions in AI and data science in healthcare -InnovAId.

Bruno Gago

Board Member (Treasurer)

EUPATI Portugal

Bruno Gago finished his PhD in Pharmacy, in 2009, at the University of Coimbra. His research was developed in the Centre for Neurosciences and Cell Biology of the University of Coimbra and at the Karolinska Institute, in Sweden. Since 2018, he has been an assistant professor at the University of Aveiro, in the Department of Medical Sciences and is responsible for teaching pharmacy and R&D of medicines and medical devices, in several courses. He has worked for more than 10 years in the organization of training programmes in the field of pharmaceutical medicine and medical devices development. Since 2013, he has been involved in consultancy activities in the context of medical devices (research, development, and certification). In 2015, he started a collaboration with EUPATI to create the Portuguese EUPATI national platform, which was legally established in April 2017 as "Associação EUPATI Portugal". Since the foundation of the national platform, he is a member of the board in which he stands as an academic representative and father of a child with a rare disease.

Angela Towle

Associate Professor Emeritus, Co-Diretor of PCPE at UBC

University of British Columbia (UBC)

Dr. Towle's expertise, especially in the management of change, builds on her past experience in health services development and change in medical education with the King's Fund, London, UK. She is currently Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine, Senior Scholar in the Centre for Health Education Scholarship at UBC, and Academic Director of the UBC Learning Exchange in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. Between 2002 and 2010, she was Associate Dean, MD Undergraduate Education in the Faculty of Medicine.

Maria João Poiares

Nurse

Escola Superior de Enfermagem da Universidade de Lisboa (ESEUL/CIDNUR)

Maria João Poiares is a nurse who participated in the PULPIT project while completing her nursing degree. As a student participant, she brought the learner perspective to the project and contributed to its work on strengthening patient and public involvement in healthcare education. She has since completed her degree and is currently working as a nurse.

Rodrigo Santos

Nurse

Escola Superior de Enfermagem da Universidade de Lisboa (ESEUL/CIDNUR)

Recently graduated nurse from the Nursing School of the University of Lisbon, with a strong interest in emergency and intensive care nursing. Passionate about healthcare research, with the belief that patient-centred and multidisciplinary education can contribute to transforming healthcare and developing better healthcare professionals.

Isabelle Huys

Assistant Professor, Vice Rector of Research Policy

KU Leuven

Professor Isabelle Huys (*1976) has been head of the Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy since 2020. She is a pharmacist and obtained her doctoral degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences (toxicology) in 2004. She completed a postdoctoral fellowship and specialised in intellectual property law in Munich. In 2023–2024, she served as an advisor in the cabinet of Public Health. She has been a board member of the Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences since 2020. She was appointed full professor in 2023.

Mariana Carvalho

Physiotherapist and Patient Research Partner

Portuguese League Against Rheumatic Diseases

Physiotherapist, Master’s degree in Physiotherapy for Musculoskeletal Conditions, guest lecturer at ESSAlcoitão, PhD student. Patient Research Partner (EULAR-certified) and volunteer at LPCDR (Portuguese League Against Rheumatic Diseases), member and former leader of EULAR Young PARE (EULAR’s working group for young people).

Veerle De Pourcq

Project coordinator Patient Expertise

ReumaNet

Living in Mechelen, Belgium. Diagnosed with lupus in 2004 after searching for several years. Project coordinator Patient Expertise since 2022 at ReumaNet. ReumaNet vzw unites 6 Flemish patient associations that raise awareness of rheumatic diseases.