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Dr. Sergiu-Ciprian Matei
Sergiu-Ciprian Matei is a General Surgery resident and doctor at the l’st Surgical Department, Pius Brînzeu” Emergency County Hospital, Timişoara, with over 500 surgeries performed, including general and venous procedures. He has extensive experience in phlebology, minimally invasive, and laparoscopic surgery. Since 2019, he has been an Assistant Professor at “Victor Babeş” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, contributing to research, publications, and conference presentations on venous diseases and surgical techniques. He completed specialized training programs in phlebology across Europe, including TRAPP (2019) and VIPP courses (2025). He has authored multiple peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, and courses on chronic venous disease and related surgical interventions. Matei has participated as an invited speaker and chairman at numerous national and international surgical and phlebology conferences. He holds a PhD in Medicine (Summa cum Laude) focused on chronic venous disease management. Additionally, he serves as General Secretary of the Romanian Society of Phlebology, President of the Balkan Venous Forum, and International Ambassador of the Egyptian Venous Forum. His work emphasizes evidence-based surgical care, venous disease management, and the integration of modern therapies, including compression therapy and cryostripping techniques.
Prof. Debora Karetová, MD, PhD
Debora Karetová, MD, Associated Professor of Medicine at Charles University in Prague, outpatient Dept. Head at IInd Dept if Internal Medicine (for Cardiology and Angiology), Charles University, General University Hospital in Prague.
She is involved in non-invasive angiology and cardiology diagnostic procedures. Her research topics are endothelial dysfunction, Fabry disease, epidemiology and pharmacotherapy of peripheral arterial disease, and diagnostics and treatment of thrombembolic disease. Dr. Karetová is the President of the Czech Angiology Society (since 2017), a member of the praesidium of the Czech Medical Association and of a board of the Czech Angiology Society (research secretary).
She is associate Prof., author or co-author of more than 300 professional publications, incl. peerreviewed journal articles, monographs and textbook chapters, editor (and author) of leading textbook: Vascular Medicine, coauthorship of the Czech version of guidelines based on 2017 a 2024 European Society of Cardiology Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of PAD, as well as the 2023 Guidelines of The Czech Angiology Society for the treatment of Chronic venous disorders Dr. Karetová serves as the chief investigator of a broad range of observational studies related to the prevention, treatment, and epidemiology of venous thromboembolism and peripheral arterial disease.
She has been the principal investigator for peripheral arterial treatment trials, in some of them in the role of national coordinator.
She has a busy practice of general angiology. Dr. Karetová is participating also in pre- and postgraduate education in internal medicine and angiology and presents lectures in English and chairs symposium at international congresses.
Dr. Andrea Lupascu
Born in Rome, he graduated in Medicine in 2001 with top marks at the “Catholic University of the Sacred Heart” and specialised in Internal Medicine in 2006 at the same Faculty. Since then, he has worked at the Department of Internal Medicine and Angiology and at the Angiology Service where he dealt with angiology and echocolordoppler; he is currently Medical Director at the “Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic’s Medical Angiology Service”. Over the years, his passion for vascular medicine has led him to carry out specialised courses in sclerotherapy and advanced medication for the treatment of ulcers. Constant updating has led him to the use of Varixio, a new device capable of producing a much more effective scleromousse than traditional methods. Lecturer in the training course on the use of vascular echocolordoppler at the “Policlinico Gemelli” and the “IAF”, he has constantly refined his knowledge of the method. Lecturer in the Level II Master of Angiology at “Policlinico Gemelli – Rome- Italy”.
Dr. Rodrigo Rial
Dr. Rodrigo Rial is a specialist in Angiology and Vascular Surgery. Clinical Head of the MD Vascular Care Clinics. University Hospitals HM Madrid and HM Torrelodones. Spain Top level Professional Career in the Angiology and Vascular Surgery Department at San Carlos University Hospital, Madrid. Vice President and Acting Treasurer of the International Union of Phlebology (UIP). President of the Scientific Committee of the Pan-American Society of Phlebology and Lymphology Past President of the Spanish Society of Phlebology and Lymphology (SCPL).
Member of the Board of Directors of the Endovascular Surgery Chapter and of the SEACV (Spanish Society of Vascular Surgery). 2018-2023.
Prof Cristiana Vitale, MD, PhD
Cristiana Vitale is Associate Professor of Internal Medicine at the Department of Human Sciences and Promotion of Quality of Life at San Raffaele Open University of Rome in Rome, Italy, and a Consultant Cardiologist at St George’s Hospital in London, UK.
After receiving her MD from the Catholic University of Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Professor Vitale specialised in geriatric medicine at University of Rome Tor Vergata in Rome.
She received her PhD in cardiovascular sciences from the University of Cagliari in Cagliari, Italy; she is Fellow of the HFA and Co-chair of the HFA working group in Cachexia and Frailty of the HFA.
She has a large experience in clinical trials and has been the Director of the Clinical Trial Centre at Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) San Raffaele in Rome. She has authored more than 170 manuscripts and five books.
Dr. Cătălin Mihai Popescu
Dr. Cătălin Mihai Popescu, MD, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Dermatology at the Universitatea de Medicină și Farmacie Carol Davila, Bucharest, Romania. He graduated in 1989 from the Universitatea de Medicină din București. He completed his dermatology residency training at Colentina Hospital, Bucharest. Since 1998, he has worked as a consultant dermatologist at Colentina Hospital. He has over three decades of clinical experience in academic and hospital-based dermatology. Dr. Popescu is deeply committed to evidence-based dermatology and clinical guidelines. He is actively involved in undergraduate and postgraduate medical education. His main clinical interests include psoriasis, chronic venous disease, and melanoma. Additional areas of expertise include acne and infectious skin diseases.
Professor Sergio Gianesini, MD, PhD, FACS
Sergio Gianesini is an Associate Professor at the University of Ferrara, Italy. Since 2023, he has served as President of the International Union of Phlebology (World Society of Phlebology) and is also the Emeritus President and Founder of the Venous-Lymphatic World International Network (v-WIN) foundation, ONLUS. He earned both his MD and PhD in Vascular System Molecular Pathophysiology from the University of Ferrara. In 2021, Prof. Gianesini was a member of the Guidelines Committee of the American Venous Forum. He is the author of three books and over 102 scientific manuscripts. Additionally, he serves as Associate Editor of the International Angiology Journal and holds editorial roles in several other scientific journals. His scientific interests focus primarily on venous and lymphatic conditions.
Dr. Catalin – Mihai POPESCU
Cătălin Mihai Popescu is Associate Professor of Dermatology at the Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Bucharest, Romania.
He is very much interested in evidence based dermatology and has served as assistant section editor of the Evidence-Based Dermatology section of JAMA Dermatology. He has a particular interest in skin cancer and melanoma and has published several articles relating to sentinel lymph node biopsy in melanoma.
He enjoys teaching students and residents in dermatology and he has co-authored several books chapters and dozens of publications in peer-reviewed journals.
He was certified in dermatology in 1994 and he works as a consultant dermatologist in the First Dermatology Department of the Colentina Hospital and in private practice in Bucharest.
He is a member of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology and has served as board member of this organization for six years. He has been an invited speaker at many national, regional and international dermatology meetings.