Key Speakers / EUSUHM - European Union for School and University Health and Medicine

Keynote Speakers

Susanne Carai

Dr. Susanne Carai works for the WHO Office for Quality of Care and Patient Safety. She specializes in medicine and health economics, focusing on child and adolescent health and health systems strengthening. Currently, she is involved in implementing the WHO Pocket Book of Primary Health Care, developing a WHO/UNICEF European strategy for child health, and setting up a health facility in Manila’s largest slum. Dr. Carai advocates for child-centered school health services to reverse alarming trends in child health and create healthier futures.

Heidrun M. Thaiss

Prof. Dr. Heidrun M. Thaiss is a pediatrician, public health specialist, and honorary professor at TUM. She has extensive experience in child public health and health promotion. She served as the director of the BZgA and is President of the German Society of Social Pediatrics and Youth. Dr. Thaiss’s work focuses on prevention, health literacy, and health equity, with a strong emphasis on implementing national strategies like school nurses. Her approach requires confidence, perseverance, and creativity, believing in second chances in health policy.

Valentina Baltag

Dr. Valentina Baltag from WHO specializes in adolescent health, health systems, and public health, focusing on primary care and school health services. She advocates for placing a dedicated school nurse in every school to strengthen health services and ensure accessible care for students.

Silke Schwarz

Dr. Silke Schwarz is a kindergarten and school doctor affiliated with the University Witten/Herdecke, focusing on digitalization’s impact on childhood development. Her work includes a German-wide study on preventing dysregulated screen use and examining ADHD in a modern context. She suggests providing new schoolchildren with starter packs promoting mindful digital media use.

David Martin

Prof. Dr. David Martin from the University Witten/Herdecke specializes in pediatric endocrinology, diabetology, and integrative medicine. His research includes preventing negative impacts of digital media on children, advancing fever management, and exploring art-medicine synergy for holistic health.

Outi Linnaranta

Prof. Dr. Outi Linnaranta from the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare specializes in psychiatry, focusing on epidemiology and mental health care services. She is involved in implementing Finland’s Mental Health Strategy. She suggests providing short, evidence-based psychosocial interventions in schools to improve mental health support.

Stephanie Wagner

Dr. Stephanie Wagner from the Public Health Service South Limburg specializes in public health and epidemiology. She focuses on children’s mental health, loneliness, and substance use. She suggests programs promoting social inclusion, like group activities, mentorship, and peer groups, to improve school health services.

Catharina Maulbecker-Armstrong

Prof. Dr. Catharina Maulbecker-Armstrong from Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen specializes in med. management, public health, and school health-care. She advocates establishing school nurses within German public schools to enhance student well-being.

Stefan Bräunling

Stefan Bräunling, office manager for the German Collaborative Network for Equity in Health, focuses on the “Health in All Policies” approach.
He recommends implementing comprehensive school health services across Germany to ensure equitable access to health promotion and care.

Anne Högemann

Dr. Anne Högemann, affiliated with the Medical Society for Health Promotion, specializes in gynecology and obstetrics with a focus on school health promotion. She emphasizes integrating health professionals into school curricula and teacher training to improve school health services.