EEMCPDM 2024 Invited Speakers
Tarmo Areda
Dr Tarmo Areda is a neurosurgeon at Tallinn Childrens Hospital and Currently the Head of the department of Neurosurgery at North Estonian Medical Centre. Dr Areda has graduated from the Faculty of Medicine of Tartu University (2000), he has a PhD degree at neuroscience (2006), and he has specialized on neurosurgery at several hospitals in Estonia and Finland (2005-2010 – Tallinn, Tartu, Turku, Kuopio). Additionally, he has also passed a training program at European Association of Neurosurgical Societies (EANS) and additionally a training programm of European Society of Pediatric Neurosurgery (ESPN). Dr Areda is a board member of Estonian Society of Neurologists and Neurosurgeons and he constantly implements new treatment options for Estonian patients.
Besides general neurosurgery dr Areda is focused in depth into functional neurosurgery, pediatric neurosurgery and surgery of peripheral nerves.
Jeremy Bauer
Jeremy Bauer, MD is an associate professor at Oregon Health and Sciences University and practices at the Shriners Children’s – Portland. His care focuses on children with cerebral palsy, hip dysplasia and sports injuries. He serves as the medical director of the motion analysis center and clinical research, as well as the fellowship director and site director for the OHSU orthopedic residency. He attended medical school at Drexel University and completed his orthopedic residency at the University of Washington. His pediatric orthopedic fellowship was at the Shriners Children’s – Portland.
His research interests primarily center around the use of motion analysis in both cerebral palsy and sports. He has published multiple studies on outcomes and treatment of children with cerebral palsy and has co-authored a chapter on the orthopedic management of cerebral palsy. He was the scientific co-chair of the American Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine’s (AACPDM) 2020 annual meeting and serves on the AACPDM’s board of directors.
Marcin Bonikowski
Dr Marcin Bonikowski is currently the Head of the Neuro - Rehabilitation Department of the Mazovian Neuropsychiatry Center in Zagórze near Warsaw Poland has been working as an orthopaedic surgeon since 1997 as well as managed the Movement Analysis Lab at MNC in Zagórze since 2004. He graduated from the Medical University of Warsaw in 1995 and specialized in orthopaedics and traumatology (stage I in 1999, stage II in 2008). In 2005 he graduated as a MD, PhD in neuro-rehabilitation. In 2023 he received his habilitation. He is the organizer and chief of many courses in the field of rehabilitation for children with cerebral palsy, spasticity treatment, gait analysis, and orthotics. He is currently a member of ESMAC, EACD, AACPDM and has served as President of ISPO Poland since 2012 and since 2023 he is 2nd Vice President of the Polish Academy of Pediatric Disabilities (PANDa). He has devoted his work to introducing modern treatment methods of children with central nervous system disorders. He introduced multilevel botulinum toxin treatment based on movement analysis in Poland. He is a propagator of the integrated approach to neuro-rehabilitation
Marc Damerau
I am a certified "Meister" Prosthetists Orthotists (CPO) and started my training in 1996 at Gottinger Orthopädietechnik GmbH near Munich, Germany. Today I accompany the company as managing director and run the office in Berlin. In close cooperation with doctors and therapists, we treat patients with neurological disorders and are specialists in the treatment of children and adolescents. We have developed care concepts, including for spina bifida, in partnership with the Charité SPZ. With over 60 employees at four locations, we are constantly working on the further development of our orthopaedic technology products.
Julia Funk
“Ich bin ein Berliner“
Julia Funk is pediatric orthopedic surgeon and lecturer at the Charité – University Medicine Hospital in Berlin, Germany since 2009. She is head of the pediatric orthopedic department since 2013. She is an active member of the German and the European Pediatric Orthopedic Society (VKO and EPOS). During her fellowships in Beer Sheva, Tel Aviv, Nancy, Salford and Poznan she got connected to EEMCPDM and decided that with respect to history she can be an active member in this great group of people since Berlin is probably the most western eastern European city. Her main interest lies in treating
children and adolescents with disabilities – CP, MMC, DMD, MPS…
She is also interested in enhancing pediatric orthopedic training and knowledge and the adequate respect for this specialty and our patients. Her scientific interest lies in motion analysis and biomechanical analysis of neuroorthopaedic pathologies and hip dysplasia.
Uri Givon
Dr. Uri Givon is an attending pediatric orthopaedic surgeon at the Safra Hospital for Children, and is the director of the motion analysis laboratory at the Sheba Medical Center in Israel. His clinical work focuses on spasticity, cerebral palsy, spinal dysraphism, Rett syndromes and multiple sclerosis. He received his MD from the Tel Aviv University School of Medicine, finished an orthopaedic residency at the Sheba Medical Center and a pediatric orthopedic fellowship at the A. I. DuPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington DE. He is an associate professor of orthopedics at the Sackler School for Medicine, Tel Aviv University.
Dr. Givon has been active in the AACPDM for over 15 years, and served as the secretary of the academy. He is a founding member of the Eastern European and Mediterranean Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine Group (EEMCPDM) and was active in their meetings in Turkey, Greece, Poland, Israel and Russia. He served until recently as chair of the finance committee of the International Alliance of Academies for Childhood Disability (IAACD). He is an active member of the European Pediatric Orthopaedic Society (EPOS) and the Israeli Orthopedic Association.
Dafna Guttman
Dr. Dafna Guttman is a pediatrician and PMR physician at the Safra Hospital for Children, Sheba Medical Center in Israel. She is the deputy head of the pediatric rehabilitation array. Her clinical work focuses on neuromuscular rehab, cerebral palsy, Spinal Cord Injury, skeletal injuries and limb deficiency, Adolescent medicine and transition. She is a member of the AACPDM and was a co-chair of the EEMCPDM 2018 conference in Tel Aviv.
Shiomo Hayek
Shiomo Hayek is a Senior Orthopedic Surgeon and previous head of the neuromuscular service and gait lab in Pediatric orthopedic department, Tel Aviv Medical Center. He is also a senior lecturer in Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University.
Gunnar Hägglund
Gunnar Hägglund is Professor in Paediatric Orthopaedic Surgery at Lund University, Sweden, and serves as a Consultant in Paediatric Orthopaedic Surgery at Lund University Hospital. He was one of the creators of CPUP, the Swedish Follow-up Programme and Quality Register for Cerebral Palsy, and has held the position of Director with ultimate responsibility for the program since its inception in 1994.
Marek Jóźwiak
Marek Jóźwiak has been employed as pediatric orthopedic surgeon since 1992 just after orthopedic surgery training. He is educated as a rehabilitation specialist and he has held seaching position for medical and physiotherapy students since 1992. He is a Professor Orthopedic Surgery & Traumatology since 2012 in Karol Marcinkowski Medical University. He is a Head of Robotic Rehabilitation Center For Children Wiktor Dega Orthopedics and Rehabilitation Hospital. From 2014 he is also a Head of Pediatric Orthopedics and Traumatology Department.
His main scientific interest are cerebral palsy, spastic hip disease, gait pathology, lever arm deformity, spasticity, selectivity, functional development, congenital limb deformity. He was the President of Polish Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery Society from 2014 to 2016 and President of Polish Academy of Childhood Disability from 2022 to 2023.
Evrim Karadag Saygi
Prof. Dr. Evrim Karadag Saygi is a Professor in Marmara University School of Medicine, Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation. She is a President of European forum for Research in Rehabilitation (EFRR) and Vice President of Turkish Pediatric Rehabilitation Association.
Her main clinical and research ares of interest are Neuro-pediatric Rehabilitation and Electrodiagnostic Medicine. She is the author of multiple publications at national and international level more than 100 publications, with 1140 citations and index H 17.
Garen Koloyan
Garen Koloyan, MD, PhD graduated from the Medical School in city Tver, Russia. In 1993-1994 he had a one year fellowship at Shriner’s Hospital, Portland, OR with Dr. Michael Sussman. Later in 2000 underwent two months training in spine surgery at Hospital St. Vincent de Paul in Paris with Prof. Jean Dubousset. As a head of pediatric orthopedic services he established multidisciplinary clinics in Armenia for the treatment of children with disabilities. After the devastating earthquake in Armenia, he developed the sport camping program for disabled children and became one of the founders of “Pyunic” NGO to support this program. In 2000 he received Cathleen Lyle Murray Award from AACPDM (American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine) for his contribution in the treatment of disabled children in Armenia.
He has volunteered to work with different organizations in many countries, including Georgia, Honduras, Cambodia, and Ukraine. He is one of co-founders of EEMMCPDM and is a member of European and North American Pediatric Orthopedic Societies. He has published more than 90 original papers and abstracts and reviewed the book on Cerebral Palsy, published by Global HELP Foundation. His particular interests are the treatment of hip and foot problems in children as well as neuromuscular disorders in children.
Susanne Lebek
Susanne Lebek is Consultant in Paediatric orthopaedic surgery at Charité- Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany. Her clinical practice comprises the orthopaedic care for children with neurological, neuromuscular and storage diseases in the largest interdisciplinary institution for children with disabilities in Germany. She is one of the editors of a standard work about spina bifida and well connected with European colleagues in her field
Stephan Martin
Stephan Martin is a Head of Bruno-Valentin-Institute for severely impaired adults at the Orthopedic Clinic of Hannover Medical School.
Stephan Martin is a Vice President of the scientific board of the German Society for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus (ASBH) and a President of the Association for Manual Medicine in Children and Atlas Therapy (ÄMKA). He also serves as state officer for persons with impairments of the state of Lower Saxony. His main clinical and research areas of interests are Interdisciplinary care for persons with impairments and Manual Medicine.
Teele Meren
Hi! I am a child neurologist from Estonia. I am passionate about the spectrum of neuromuscular and neurodevelopmental diseases, whether genetic or acquired. I value family centered health care and multidisciplinary collaborations. See you soon at the conference!Pii Metsavas
Dr. Pii Metsavas is a dedicated sports physician based in Tallinn, serving at the Sports Medicine Foundation. She obtained her medical training from Tartu University and holds a degree in rehabilitation medicine with a specialization in sports medicine. Dr. Metsavas' daily responsibilities encompass the comprehensive care of youth, recreational athletes, and professional Team Estonia athletes. In recent years, she has extended her expertise to para-sports, providing invaluable support to Estonian para-athletes in managing their health concerns and navigating classification for competitive sports. Dr. Metsavas has also served as a team physician for Estonian Olympic Committee during international competitions and is poised to contribute as a volunteer physician at the Olympic Village during the upcoming Paris Olympic Games 2024. Freeman Miller
Dr Miller was Co-director of the Cerebral Palsy Program and the Clinical Director of the Gait Analysis Laboratory at the A.I. duPont Hospital for Children for 30 years. His clinical practice of pediatric orthopedics is limited to children with cerebral palsy.
His research interests include investigation of surgical outcomes of CP surgery through gait analysis; mathematical modeling of the hip joint in children with CP, hip monitoring and management for children with CP, and management of spinal deformity in CP. Dr. Miller has published more than 200 articles in peer reviewed journals, has published a book Cerebral Palsy: A Guide for Caregiving directed at families and is now in the 3rd edition. A medical textbook, Cerebral Palsy outlining musculoskeletal care of the child with cerebral palsy was published originally in 2005 by Springer-Verlag and the 2nd edition was published in 2020. He has been invited to give lectures in more then 40 different countries.
Antigone S. Papavasiliou
Dr Papavasiliou graduated from the University of Athens Medical School. She trained in Pediatrics (Mount Zion Hospital, CA, USA) and in Neurology with Special Competence in Child Neurology (Wayne State University School of Medicine, MI, USA). She was appointed as Assistant Professor in Child Neurology (1990, University of Crete, Greece), a post given up to serve the newly established Greek NHS where she served as Head of Department of Pediatric Neurology, at the Pendeli Children’s Hospital (NHS) in Athens for 27 years.
She is Head Pediatric Neurologist at IASO Private Children’s Hospital since 2017. She is a founding member of the Hellenic Society of Pediatric Neurology and she served as member of the Board and President. Her clinical and research activities focus around Cerebral Palsy and Neuromuscular Disorders, Epilepsy and Neurodevelopmental Disabilities. She is the leader of the Attica Cerebral Palsy Registry (Athens Metropolitan
area), member of the SCPE group. She has authored over 80 original papers in international peer-reviewed journals, as well as, review articles and book chapters in Greek. She is the editor of Greek medical books and information pamphlets for parents.
Beth Padder Schneiter
Beth Padden has been working in Pediatrics since 2004, specializing in neurorehabilitation. As a senior physician in the Department for Pediatric Rehabilitation at the University Children’s Hospital Zurich and part of the team at of the Swiss Children’s Rehab her clinical and research focus is on treating children with movement disorders. In addition she is the Co-Director of the Zurich Center for Spina Bifida and responsible for the postnatal care and coordination of a large population of children following prenatal repair for spina bifida.
Kirsti Pedak
Kirsti Pedak is currently working as a junior researcher at Tallinn University's Institute of Natural and Health Sciences where she focuses on movement sciences. She has dedicated 28 years of her professional life to physiotherapy for children and adults. Her experience and current research position underscore a lifelong commitment to advancing knowledge and practice in physical therapy.
Anna-Liisa Saare
Anna-Liisa Saare finished her physiotherapy Bachelor studies at the University of Tartu in 2014. Afterward, she started working at Haapsalu Neurological Rehabilitation Center (HNRK), mainly in the neurological pediatrics department with a focus on children. Moreover, she worked with robotics in neuro-rehabilitation and cerebral palsy children. She was also able to support at the gait analysis laboratory, where her interest in analyzing gait patterns and evidence-based rehabilitation started.
After almost two years at the HNRK she moved to Switzerland and started her master’s studies at the Bern University of Applied Sciences. The studies focused on neurological physiotherapy. Her master’s thesis was about the improvement of gait kinematics after the selective dorsal rhizotomy operation. She began working at the “Inselspital” Bern University Hospital in June 2019, where she still works. She is a part of the acute neurophysiotherapy team and is involved in various research projects.
Inga Talvik
Inga Talvik MD, PhD is pediatric neurologist at Tallinn Children's Hospital, she is the head of the department of pediatric neurology and rehabilitation since 2016. She is also the president of Estonian pediatric Neurology society and board member of European Pediatric Neurology society. She is involved with the team working with children with spasticity at Tallinn Children's Hospital.
Heide Elke Viehweger
Heide Elke Viehweger is a senior orthopedic surgeon and holds the professorship in Neuroorthopaedics at the University Childrens Hospital Basel (UKBB) and Basel university, with expertise in the care for children with cerebral palsy. She has a long and distinguished career in clinical and research activities, having worked in Paris and Marseille, France before joining UKBB in 2020.
She is head of the department of neuro-orthopedics and the gait lab and deputy chief physician of orthopaedics at UKBB. Her research activity as research group lead at the Department of Biomedical Engineering (DBE), mainly focuses on the biomechanical aspects of cerebral palsy like gait deviations, altered muscle and tendon properties and lever arm dysfunction. Furthermore, she is interested in the multidisciplinary care and the implementation of evidence- based guidelines for children with cerebral palsy. She has published many papers on topics such cerebral palsy, foot deformities, motion analysis and quality of life.
Besides that, she is a member of the European Paediatric Orthopaedic Society and the European Society of Motion Analysis in Adults and Children (ESMAC), local organizer of ESMAC 2025 in Basel, Switzerland, and is the actual president of the French speaking society of Motion Analysis in Children and Adults (SOFAMEA). Due to her international status in both the clinical field and clinical research, Prof. Dr. Heide Elke Viehweger is a respected and visionary leader in her field.
