Department of Epidemiology and Disaster Medicine

Academic Staff

Prof. Dr. Ani Kevorkian, MD, PhD – Head of department – Responsible for Postgraduate Education

Academic staff – Epidemiology

Prof. Dr. Nikolay Vatev, MD, PhD – honorary lecturer

Assoc. Prof. Vanya Rangelova, MD, PhD – Responsible for Academic Activities and E-Learning

Assoc. Prof. Hristiana Batselova, MD, PhD

Chief assistant professor Velina Stoeva, PhD, DMD – Responsible for Scientific Research Activity

Chief assistant professor Meri Hristamyan, PhD, DMD – Responsible for Department WEB Page Update, Responsible for Fire Safety

Assistant professor Stefan Stefanov, MD- Responsible for International Cooperation and Project Activities,

Assistant professor Radina Kostadinova, MD- Responsible for Occupational Health and Safety

Academic staff – Disaster medicine

Prof. Dr. Rostislav Kostadinov, PhD, DSc, MD

Assoc. Prof. Kiril Atliev, MD, PhD

Chief administrative assistant professor Rumyana Etova, PhD, MD – Responsible for Quality and Accreditation, Responsible for Academic Activities and E-Learning

Chief assistant professor Mariya Georgieva, MD, PhD – Responsible for Department WEB Page Update

Chief assistant professor Elena Valkanova, MD, PhD – Responsible for Scientific Research Activity, Responsible for International Cooperation and Project Activities

Assistant professor Vasil Topalov, MD -Responsible for Fire Safety

Assistant professor Svetoslav Georgiev, MD – Responsible for Occupational Health and Safety

Assistant professor Anastas Palavurov, MD

Penka Stoyanova, technical assistant

Research

The strategic areas of research activity in epidemiology are diverse:

• Quantative epidemiology – dynamic changes and specific features of the epidemic processes of socially significant infectious diseases and those with high epidemiological risk and changing epidemiology.
• Studies on the epidemiology of viral hepatitis A, B, C, E.
• Vaccine prevention and vaccine-preventable infections.
• Studies on the clinical epidemiology/healthcare associated infections – indicator infections, economic costs, prevention, surveillance and control.
• Prevention and control of infections associated with dental medicine.
• Investigations of acute infectious diseases outbreaks and healthcare associated infections.
• Disinfection and sterilization problems in infection prevention and control.
• Emerging and recurrent infectious diseases.
• Regional identity of transmissible infections.
• Studies on the epidemiology of highly prevalent non-communicable diseases of infectious etiology

Scientific main research directions:

• Disaster medical intelligence
• Disaster information exchange
• Interactive disaster medicine training
• Disaster medical support in case of flood or earthquake
• Coordination and interaction with the elements of the Unified Rescue System in the Plovdiv Region
• Healthcare system disaster resilience
• Disaster medical support in case of terrorism – vulnerability and medical risk assessment
• Disaster medical support in the use of weapons of mass destruction – vulnerability and medical risk assessment

Textbooks

Epidemiology Section

• Infectious diseases-clinical cases and more.Authors: R.Komitova, A.Kevorkyan, M.Atanasova, O.Boykinova, 2018, Publisher: Medical University- Plovdiv (Editor: prof.Yordanka Stoilova) (ISBN 978-619-237-019-0)
• Epidemiology of infectious diseases. -учебник по Епидемиология на инфекциозните болести (на английски език), под. редакиця на Н.Ватев; Автори: Ani Kevork Kevorkyan, Hristiana Momchilova Batselova,  Krikor Onnik Indjian, Meri Arman Hristamyan,  Nikolay Todorov Vatev, Vanya Rangelova Rangelova, Velina Stoyanova Stoeva, Yordanka Dimitrova Stoilova. Медицинско издателство Райков, 2024

Disaster Medicine Section

• Kostadinov R. 600 simple steps to disaster medicine exam success, Plovdiv, Medical publishing VAP, 2012, 179 pp., ISBN 978-954-8326-56-8
• Kostadinov R. Disaster Medicine Highlights, Plovdiv, Lax book, 2018, ISBN 978-619-189-110-8

Publications

For the time period from 1985 to 2018, all members of “Epidemiology” section presented more than 300 papers on national and international scientific conferences and published more than 400 publications. For the period between 2015 – 2018, 82 publications are published. During 2019 tutors from “Epidemiology” section have published a total of 25 scientific articles, 2 of which in journals with impact factor.
From 2007 to 2019 members of “Disaster Medicine” section have more than 140 publications

	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020
1. Number of scientific publications of lecturers for the period in indexed publications – WoS, Scopus	29	16	22	21	11	9
2. Number of publications of lecturers in publications indexed and referenced in specific databases Specific databases are: ACM Digital Library, AIS eLibrary, CEEOL, DOAJ, Earthdoc, EBSCO, EBSCO-SPORTDiscus, EconLIT, eLIBRARY.RU, EMBASE, ERIH +, IEEE Xplore, Index Copernicus, JSTOR, MathSciNet, ProQuest, PubMed/MedLine, SAO/NASA Astrophysics Data System, Science Direct, Zentralblatt. Other world databases with a proven source are also acceptable.	4	10	9	11	5	9
3. Number of scientific publications per lecturer in publications from the national reference list	5	2	13	10	8	8
4. Number of scientific publications by lecturers for the period in non-refereed publications	5	1	3	3	2	4
5. Number of peer-reviewed monographs by lecturers	1	–	4	1	–	–
6. Number of published textbooks for a university or for the school network, including on electronic media (with ISBN)	–	1	1	2	1	–

Monographs

Disaster Medicine Section

• Tonev St., K. Katsarov, E. Belokonski, K. Kanev, R. Kostadinov and al., Handbook medical assessment, Editors major-general assoc. prof. Stoian Tonev, MD, PhD and major-general dr. Zuhair Rasmi A. Ghani Al-haj Mohhamed, Irita Publishing house, 2008, Sofia, ISBN 978-954-9993-77-6
• Kanev K., E. Belokonski, K. Katsarov, R. Kostadinov and al., Medical support principles and current military missions medical assessment, Editor major-general assoc. prof. Stoian Tonev, MD, PhD, Irita Publishing house, 2008, Sofia, ISBN 978-954-9993-83-7

Dissertations

Vasil Topalov, MD publically defended PhD thesis entitled “Pandemic challenges to general practitioners – How to increase resilience to biological threats” in 2026, Plovdiv, Medical University of Plovdiv
Epidemiology Section

• Dr. L. Angelov -1982 – Organization and prevention management and the fight against nosocomial infections
• Dr. J. Stoilova – 1994 – Studies on the epidemiology of some acute respiratory infections and the associated nonbacterial pneumonia in children from the Plovdiv region (Assoc. Prof. since 2001);
• In 2009 Assoc. Prof. J. Stoilova successfully defended a thesis entitled: A study on the dynamics of epidemic processes, resulting from infectious diseases prevention in Bulgaria for a 30-year period (1977-2007) and she became a full professor in the same year.
• Dr. N. Vatev – 2010 – An epidemiologic study on viral hepatitis A for improving prevention and anti-epidemic measures (Assoc. Prof. since 2013);
• Dr. A. Kevorkian – 2012 – A study on the dynamics of the epidemic process in viral hepatitis B in the Plovdiv region, at the present stage (Assoc. Prof. since 2014) .
• In May 2017 Dr. Velina Stoeva successfully defended a thesis entitled “Dental infections: prevention and control”
• In 2019 Dr. Meri Hristamyan successfully defended a thesis entitled “Bisphosphonate-associated Osteonecrosis of the Jaws- Epidemiological and Clinical Research”
• In 2020 Dr. Vanya Rangelova successfully defended a PhD thesis entitled “Clinical, epidemiological, microbiological and financial aspects of hospital-acquired infections in the neonate”

Disaster Medicine Section

• Rostislav Kostadinov, MD publically defended PhD thesis entitled “Contemporary Model for Medical Intelligence in Missions Abroad” in 2010, Sofia, Military Medical Academy
• Assoc. Prof. Rostislav Kostadinov publically defended DSc thesis entitled “Optimization of Medical Information Exchange in Disasters’ Situation” in 2018, Varna, Medical University of Varna
• Rumyana Etova, MD publically defended PhD thesis entitled “Population medical care management and flood relief efforts in the middle course of the Maritza River” in 2016, Sofia, Medical University of Sofia
• Mariya Georgieva, MD publically defended PhD thesis entitled “Optimizing hospital disaster resilience” in 2022, Plovdiv, Medical University of Plovdiv
• Elena Valkanova, MD publically defended PhD thesis entitled “Predicaments and prospects for disaster medicine education” in 2022, Plovdiv, Medical University of Plovdiv

Books

Disaster Medicine Section

Epidemiology Section

• Komitova R., Kevorkyan A., Boykinova O., Golkocheva-Markova E., Kalchev Y., Atanasova M., Rangelova V. Beyond the clinical cases in the field of Infectology. 2022, Publisher: Medical university of Plovdiv, ISBN 978-619-237-106-7
• Argyro Pavlidou, Jeliazko Arabadijev,Radka Argirova, Maria Dimitrova,Ani Kevorkian, Michail Okoliyski, Urška Košir. From cervical cancer to HPV elimination in Bulgaria: Building robust data systems and infrastructure. IHE REPORT 2026:4, e-ISSN:1651-8187; ISSN:1651-7628

News and events

Disaster Medicine Section

Round Table on “The Impact of Climate Change on the Frequency of Disaster Situations and Our Preparedness for Response” – 27 May 2025

Round Table on “Public Awareness of Actions in Disasters, Emergencies, and Crises” – 10 June 2025

The Disaster Medicine Section within the Department of Epidemiology and Disaster Medicine, Medical University of Plovdiv, organized two round tables as part of the events marking the 80th anniversary of the Medical University of Plovdiv. The round table entitled “The Impact of Climate Change on the Frequency of Disaster Situations and Our Preparedness for Response” was held on 27 May 2025, while the round table entitled “Public Awareness of Actions in Disasters, Emergencies, and Crises” took place on 10 June 2025. The events were conducted in a hybrid format—online via the Zoom platform and onsite in Hall 512, 5th Floor, Educational Building 2, Medical University of Plovdiv, 26 Lyuben Karavelov Street. Participants included representatives of Disaster Medicine Sections from medical universities across the country, the Fire Safety and Civil Protection Directorate, NATO CMDR COE, Regional Health Inspectorates, the Bulgarian Red Cross, the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, volunteer formations, and specialists working in the fields of population protection, medical support of the population during disasters, disaster management, emergencies and crises, as well as activities related to mitigating and eliminating the consequences of disaster situations.

Participation of Medical University of Plovdiv Students in NATO Emergency Management Exercise BULGARIA 2025
Students from the Medical University of Plovdiv participated in the international disaster response exercise NATO Emergency Management Exercise, organized by NATO’s Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre (EADRCC) and the General Directorate Fire Safety and Civil Protection of the Ministry of Interior. The event, one of the largest and most complex emergency management exercises in the world, was held from 7 to 12 September 2025 at the Ministry of Interior Professional Training Centre in Montana, Bulgaria. The students had the opportunity to act as “simulated casualties” and observe the entire process of conducting complex rescue operations. Guided by the medical specialists participating in the exercise (Bulgarian military medical teams and Romanian emergency response teams), they became acquainted with operational protocols and the specifics of medical support activities for casualties in the field and took part in role-playing scenarios. On the final day of the exercise, they visited the base camp located at Erden Airport, where they learned about and tested modern achievements in the use of virtual reality in medical education.

Medical Students Conducted Training at Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant
International medical students enrolled in the elective course “First Aid in Emergency and Disaster Situations” conducted a training visit to Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant. The initiative was organized by the Disaster Medicine Section within the Department of Epidemiology and Disaster Medicine at the Medical University of Plovdiv. The students, guided by Dr. Maria Georgieva and Dr. Vasil Topalov, met with specialists from the nuclear power plant and visited the full-scale simulator for VVER-1000 nuclear power units and the demonstration hall at the Training and Qualification Centre. Experts from the company introduced them to the technological process and the safety and reliability measures implemented at the facility. The students also visited the Occupational Health Service of the largest electricity producer in the country.

Screening of the Documentary Film “Mud” and Subsequent Lecture on “Flooding – Where Does the Human Being Remain After the Disaster?”
A joint initiative of lecturers from Burgas State University, the Medical University of Plovdiv, and colleagues from the Faculty of Screen Arts at NATFA celebrated the European Public Health Week (EUPHW) 2026. Students and lecturers from the three academic institutions were invited to a hybrid film screening accompanied by a lecture entitled “Flooding – Where Does the Human Being Remain After the Disaster?”. As part of the initiative, the documentary film “Mud” was screened, and the film’s director, Katya Simeonova, shared her motivation for choosing this particular topic. Associate Professor Dr. Bilyana Velikova-Tsonkova, psychologist, presented an analysis of the effects of disaster situations on the human psyche and the path toward recovery after such events.

“Mud” is a documentary film, 23 minutes in length, produced in Bulgaria in 2023, directed by Katya Simeonova and produced by NATFA “Krastyo Sarafov”. The film presents the flood that devastated the villages of Bogdan and Karavelovo in the Karlovo region and the challenges faced by residents who, years later, are still trying to restore their lives to normality.
The organizers of the event were: Chief Assistant Professor Dr. Sabina Nedkova and Chief Assistant Professor Dr. Plamena Atanasova – lecturers in Technical Safety and Disaster Protection, Department of Technologies, Materials and Materials Science, Faculty of Technical Sciences, Burgas State University; Katya Simeonova – NATFA “Krastyo Sarafov”, Sofia; Associate Professor Dr. Bilyana Velikova-Tsonkova – Department of Neurology, Psychiatry and Psychology, Faculty of Medicine, Burgas State University; Chief Assistant Professor Dr. Maria Georgieva, PhD, and Chief Assistant Professor Dr. Elena Valkanova, PhD – lecturers in Disaster Medicine, Department of Epidemiology and Disaster Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, Medical University of Plovdiv.
Screening of the Documentary Film “A Very Sad Fairy Tale” and Subsequent Discussion – 4 May 2026

On 4 May 2026 at 13:00, a screening of the documentary film “A Very Sad Fairy Tale” was held for students, followed by an in-depth discussion with the film’s director, Martin Georgiev. The documentary presents the true stories of volunteers who participated in rescue operations following the devastating earthquake in Türkiye in 2023 and has already received two awards at international film festivals. Future healthcare professionals had a unique opportunity to look beyond protocols and witness the human side of disaster response.
The event was included in the calendar of the European Public Health Week 2026. It was organized by the Disaster Medicine Section within the Department of Epidemiology and Disaster Medicine at the Medical University of Plovdiv, the Department of Technologies, Materials and Materials Science, Faculty of Technological Sciences, Burgas State University “Prof. Dr. Asen Zlatarov”, and the National Association of Volunteers in the Republic of Bulgaria.

Visit of English-Taught Students from the Elective Course “First Aid in Emergency and Disaster Situations” to the Specialized Operational Activities Sector of the Regional Directorate Fire Safety and Civil Protection – Plovdiv
On 7 May 2026, as part of the events of the European Public Health Week 2026, a visit to the Specialized Operational Activities Sector was organized for English-language students enrolled in the elective course “First Aid in Emergency and Disaster Situations”. This event brought together medical students and search-and-rescue teams to build mutual understanding, strengthen cooperation, and develop trust, all of which are essential for effective disaster response. Through shared experiences and dialogue, participants learned how to work together in order to better support communities during times of crisis.

The organizers of the event were: Chief Assistant Professor Dr. Maria Georgieva, PhD, and Chief Assistant Professor Dr. Elena Valkanova, PhD – lecturers in Disaster Medicine, Department of Epidemiology and Disaster Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, Medical University of Plovdiv; Chief Inspector Petar Petrov – Head of the Specialized Operational Activities Sector, Regional Directorate Fire Safety and Civil Protection – Plovdiv; Eng. Stoyan Kyurkchiev – Centre for Hydrology and Water Management, National Institute of Geophysics, Geodesy and Geography, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.

Epidemiology Section

Open Day – “Chickenpox: What Else Do We Not Know and How Can We Protect Ourselves?”, 25 April 2025

Seminar “European Immunization Week”, 7 May 2025, Auditorium Complex, Lecture Hall 3

Open Day – “Cervical Cancer, but Not Only: What Else Do We Know and How Can We Protect Ourselves?”, 16 May 2025

Seminar on the Occasion of European Immunization Week 2026

The Department of Epidemiology and Disaster Medicine organized a seminar on the occasion of European Immunization Week on 28 April at 4:00 p.m. in Lecture Hall 2 of the Auditorium Complex. The event was supported by the Association of Medical Students and the Student Council of the Medical University of Plovdiv. Dr. Savina Stoytsova, PhD, an epidemiologist with extensive international experience in public health and emergency situations, was invited as a guest speaker. Her presentation was entitled “Vaccine Hesitancy in Bulgaria.”Dr. Stoytsova has worked at the National Centre of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases and as an expert for the World Health Organization in the fields of risk assessment and public health surveillance. The second speaker, Dr. Valeri Tsekov, PhD, Chairman of the Bulgarian Association for Innovative Medicine, presented a new approach to influenza prevention among people over 65 years of age. He is a specialist in internal medicine, nephrology, and hemodialysis and one of the initiators of the development of the National Programme for Improving Seasonal Influenza and Pneumococcal Vaccination Prevention for people aged 65 years and older. Hristiyana Valkova, a sixth-year medical student, presented the topic “Conquering Viruses – RSV.” The seminar concluded with a quiz and an interactive “Treasure Hunt” game. The Department organized this seminar for the first time in 2016 as part of the global initiative aimed at increasing awareness among students studying medical specialties.