Prof. Dr. h.c. Ferid Agani MD PhD Minister of Health of Republic of Kosovo President of Justice Party Professor of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, UP Adjunct Professor at Clemson University, USA Dr. Agani was born in Prishtina in 1959, where he continued and finished elementary and high school. In 1978, he was registered in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Prishtina (UP). In 1984, he completed undergrad studies in medicine with an average grade of 9.86 and he was elected at the top five students of all times at the Faculty of Medicine, UP. Afterwards, he continued the specialization in the field of Neuropsychiatry at University Clinical Centre of Kosovo and completed the specialization in 1991 at the Clinical Hospital Centre "Rebro" in Zagreb, Republic of Croatia. In 1986, he started post-graduate studies in the field of psycho-therapy at the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Zagreb, and due to occupation of Kosovo institutions, he completed the studies in 2003, where he received the title of Master of Medical Sciences (MA) from UP. During the post-war period and afterwards he was engaged as a assistant professor at the Faculty of Medicine, as well as a lecturer in the Department of Psychology at UP. In early 2000, Dr. Agani was the leader of the reform on mental health services in Kosovo within the Ministry of Health (MoH) and during the period of 2002-2004, he served as director of Strategic Management at MoH. During this period, he served as chairman of the committee for drafting the law for health, rights, and responsibilities of citizens in health care, and inter-ministerial committee on the misuse of psycho-active substances. Also, he was a member of the committee for drafting the law of health insurance, emergency health care law, and the preparation of the draft for the private health sector law. From 2004 until 2007, he served as member of Parliament of Republic of Kosovo and during this mandate, he established and led the parliamentary group of "Integration", and was chairman of first and only parliamentary committee who has completed the work under the mandate of assembly of Republic of Kosovo. In 2005, he recieved "Max Hayman" award for humanitarian work from American Orthopsychiatric Association based in United States of America (USA). From 2008 to 2011, he served as chairman of psychiatry professional association, known as the "League of Psychiatry". In 2009, he defended doctoral thesis in the field of psychiatric system reform on "Quantitative and Qualitative Indicators of the Development of Mental Health Services in Kosovo in the period 1999-2004", and received the title of Doctor of Medical Sciences (PhD) from UP. Also, he is an assistant professor at the Facukty of Medicine at UP, where he lectures the subject of psychiatry and serves as a adjunct professor at Clemson University in South Carolina, USA. Dr. Agani is one of the founders of the Justice Party and was the chairman of the professional health committee within the party, as well as a member of the main board. He played a central leadership until the elections of 2008, where he was elected President of the Justice Party, a position that he still holds. On 22 February 2011, he was appointed as a Minister of Health of the Republic of Kosovo, and currently holds this post. On 2 October 2012, Dr. Agani was honored with the title "Doctor Honoris 1
Causa" for health system reform and building relations of friendship between Republic of Kosovo and Republic of Turkey from Nigde University. He was also honored with the award "Honorary Citizen" of Kale city of the Republic of Turkey. Dr. Agani lives in Prishtina with his wife Dr. Mr. Sci. Shpresa who is a gynecologist and obstetric specialist and is currently engaged as a assistant at the Faculty of Medicine at UP, and together have two children. Natyra holds a bachelor degree in psychology from UP, and a Master in International Family and Community Studies from Clemson University, USA, and currently holds the title of doctoral candidate (PhDc) at the same study field, while Nysret is a first year student at medical faculty. 2
EDUCATION Prof. Dr. h.c. Ferid Agani MD PhD 1984-Medical Doctor (MD), University of Prishtina; 1990-Neuropsychiatrist Specialist, University Clinical Center of Kosovo; 2003-Masters in Medical Sciences (Mr. Sci.), University of Prishtina; 2009-Doctor of Medical Sciences (PhD), University of Prishtina; 2000-Postgraduate Training on Refugee Mental Health, World Health Organization (WHO). Geneva Switzerland; 2000-Postgraduate Training for Leaders of Mental Health Services in Bosnia, Croatia, and Kosovo. Department of Human Resources, State Department, USA. 2000-2004-Postgraduate Training on Proffessional and Family Educative Collaboration between University of Prishtina, Institute for Recovery of Mental Health, and University of Illinois, Chicago. American Academy of Family Therapy, University of New York, and University of George Washington, Chicago, Illinois; 2001-Postgraduate Training on Data-based Medicine. University of Oxford, United Kingdom; 2001-Postgraduate Training on Leadership and Ethics. University of Illinois, Chicago, SHBA; 2001-2004-Postgraduate Training on Mind and Body Approach. University of Geroge Washington, Washington, USA; 2002-Postgraduate Training on Sustainable Financing Health. University of Harvard. Boston, USA. 2002-Postgraduate Training for High Mental Health Officials from Ministry of Health of Kosovo. Tokio, Japan; 2002-Postgraduate Training on Psychiatric Services. University of Saint Ettienne, France; 2002-Postgraduate Training for high Kosovo Goverment Officials on Public Administration. Prishtina, Kosovo; 2004-Postgraduate Training on Modern Teaching Methods. Prishtina. Kosovo; 2004-Postgraduate Training on the Organization of Medical Education. University of Hamburg, Federal Republic of Germany; 2004-Postgraduate Training for high Kosovo Goverment Officials in the field of European Integrations. Poland. EMPLOYMENT 1984-2002: Neuropsychiatric Specialist, University Clinical Center of Kosovo. Prishtina, Kosovo; 1991-2004: Assistant at the department of Neuropsychiatry and lecturing the course of Psychodynamics at UP. Prishtina, Kosovo. 1999-2001: Founder and Chairman of the Institute for the Recover of Mental Health. Prishtina, Kosovo. 2000-2002: Consultant for mental health issues for World Health Organization (WHO). Prishtina, Kosovo. 2000-2002: Mental Health Official for Ministry of Health, Prishtina, Kosovo. 2003: Consultant for Rehabilitation of Victims of Violence. Prishtina. Kosovo. 2002-2004: Director of the Department for Strategic Management at the Ministry of Health. Prishtina. Kosovo; 2005-2007: Member of the Parliament of Republic of Kosovo. Prishtina, Kosovo; 3
2005-2006: Consultant for Danish Refugee Council; Prishtina, Kosovo. 2007-Present: Psychiatrist at private Studio Agani, Prishtina, Kosovo; 2011-Present: Minister of Health of Republic of Kosovo. Prishtina, Kosovo. MEMBER of PROFFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS (selected) Member of International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies; Member of American Orthopsychiatric Association; Member of American Academy for Family Therapy; Member of European League of Psychiatry; Former president and current member of Albanian League of Psychiatry. AWARDS and PRIZES (selected) 2005- Max Hayman award for volunteer work from American Orthopsychiatric Association, USA; 2012-Honorary Citizen of Kale City from Republic of Turkey; 2012- Doctor Honoris Causa from Nigde University, Republic of Turkey. SPECIFIC EXPERIENCES Founder and Head of Institute for Recovery of Mental Health in Kosovo; Chairman of the working group and co-author of strategic plan for the reform of mental health services in Kosovo; Chairman of the committee for drafting the law for Kosovo health; Kryetar i komisionit për përpilimin e projektligjit për shëndetësinë e Kosovës; Chairman of the drafting committee of the law on rights and responsibilities of citizens in health care; Member of the committee for drafting the law on health insurance in Kosovo; Member of the committee for drafting the law on emergency health care in Kosovo; Member of the committee for drafting the law on private health sector in Kosovo; Chairman of the interministerial commission for the misuse of psychoactive substances in Kosovo; Chairman of the interministerial group for persons with disabilities in Kosovo. SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS (selected) Agani, F. N. & Urbina, L. (2000). Strategic Plan for the Reform of Mental Health in Kosovo. Cardozo, L. B, Agani, F., Vergara, A., & Gotway, C. (2000). Mental Health, Social Functioning, and Attitudes of Kosovar Albanians Following the War in Kosovo. JAMA. 284:569-577. Agani, F. N. (2000), Mental Health Care Reform in Kosovo-a great hope. Kaspar Hauser. WHO publication. Weine, S. M. & Agani, F. N. (2002). Local and International Responses to the Public Mental Health Crisis in Post-War Kosova. Royal Institute of Interfaith Studies. Amman, Jordan. vol. 5, no. 1, 2003. Cardozo, L. B., Agani, F., Kaiser, R., & Gotway, A. C. (2003). Mental Health, Social Functioning, and Feelings of Hatred and Revenge of Kosovar Albanians One Year after the War in Kosovo. Journal of Traumatic Stress, Vol. 16, No. 4, pp. 351-60. Sluzki, C. E. & Agani, F. N. (2003). Small steps and big leaps: A crisis in a traditional Kosovar family in an era of cultural transition. Family Process, 42(4): 479-84. 4
Weine, S. M., Agani, F., Cintron., R., Dresden, E., & Griffith, V. (2003). Lessons of Kosova on Humanitarian Intervention. Social Analysis, Forum series, 'First World Peoples, Consultancy and Anthropology. Agani, F., Landau, J., & Agani, N. (2010). Community-Building Before, During, and After Times of Trauma: The LINC Model of Community Resilience in Kosovo. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 80, 1, 143-149. Cintron, R.,Weine, S. M., & Agani, F. (2003). Genocide and Modernity in Kosova. Boston Review. Agani, F., Ulaj, J., & Blyta, A. (1994). Shqyrtim Statistikor Klinik i Frekuencës së Entiteteve Psikiatrike në Periudhën Katër-vjeçare, në Klinikën Neuropsikiatrike në Prishtinë. Praxis Medica. 37:97-100. Agani, F., Cakaj, M., Vranica, S., & Boshnjaku, S. (1988). Aspektet e Ndryshme të Problematikës Psikosociale të Epilepsisë në Sub-kulturën tonë (mjedisi urban krahasuar me atë rural). Neurologija. Suppl. 2, Vol. 37. SCIENTIFIC PRESENTATIONS (selected) 1991-EEG Evaluation of Posttraumatic Epilepsy at Children. Second Congress of Pan European Society of Neurology; 2000-A Special Conference, War and Reform: Rebuilding Systems of Mental Health Care in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Kosova. Department of Psychiatry University of Illinois at Chicago. SHBA; 2000-Mental Health Challenges in Post-War Kosova. International Trauma Studies Program New York University. NY, SHBA; 2000-International Trauma Training: Dialogue and Guidelines. Invited Symposium. 16 th Annual Meeting of ISTSS. San Antonio, Texas, SHBA; 2000-Family Work in Kosova After War. Invited Symposium. 16 th Annual Meeting of ISTSS. San Antonio, Texas, SHBA; 2000-Prevention in a Professional Community After War. Invited Symposium. 16 th Annual Meeting of ISTSS. San Antonio, Texas, SHBA; 2001-Kosovar Family Professional Educational Collaborative. Annual Conference of American Family Therapy Academy. New York, SHBA; 2001-Personal experience as psychiatrist in the country after war, CDC, Atlanta, SHBA; 2002-Mental Health in a Divided Society. WHO Symposium. 12 th Congress, European Psychiatric Association, Stockholm, Sweden; 2002-Mental Health Reform in a Post-war Kosova, WHO Conference, Tirana, Albania; 2003-International trauma training. Symposium. 19 th Annual Meeting of ISTSS. Chicago, Illinois, SHBA; 2003-Putting out the fires. Panel. 19 th Annual Meeting of ISTSS. Chicago, Illinois, SHBA; 2003-Guidelines for international trauma training in primary health care. RAND and ISTSS Academicals meeting. Santa Monica, Los Angeles, California, SHBA; 2004-Family Centred Mental Health Reform. XIV. IFTA World Congress. Istanbul; 2004-Development of Structured Systems and Curricula in Postgraduate Education in Kosova. IX Congress of the World Federation for Medical Education. Barcelona, Spain; 2004-Community Based Family Centred Mental Health Reform in a Post-war Country. San Juan, Puerto Rico; 5
2005-Psychosocial assistance for children and adolescents in Kosova. Conference of the Pact of Stability for South-Eastern Europe. Hamburg, Germany; 2005-Building community based mental health services in a post war Kosova process and outcomes. American Orthopsychiatric Association. Symposium at the American Psychiatric Association Institute of Psychiatric Services. San Diego, SHBA; 2005-Mental Health Reform in Kosova-Opening of new perspectives. International Trauma Studies Program. New York University. New York, SHBA; 2005-Building community based mental health services in post-war Kosova. 21st Annual Meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS). Toronto, Canada; 2005-Mental health reform in Kosovo-Momentum and Perspectives. International Center for University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, SHBA; 2006-Kosovo mental health reform. Case study presentation. International Society for Equity in Health. Regional meeting network of Turkey and Balkan s. ISEqH chapter. Istanbul, Turkey; 2006-Prevalence of suicidal preoccupations among Kosovar s 15 year and older. Conference of the Albanian Psychiatry League. Tirana, Albania; 2008-Psychiatry & religion. Conference of the Albanian Psychiatry League. Prishtina, Kosova; 2009-Community-Building Before, During, and After Times of Trauma: The LINC Model of Community Resilience. IFNL Clemson University Symposium, Greenwill, SC, SHBA; 2012- Rebuilding Medical Systems in a Post-Conflict Nation: Kosovo Mental Health Reform. Dickey Center for International Understanding, Dartmouth, NH, SHBA; 2012- Rebuilding Medical Systems in a Post-Conflict Nation: Kosovo Health Sector Reform. Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Dartmouth, NH, SHBA. PROFFESSIONAL MEETINGS (selected) 2004-Community Mental Health and War Trauma. Kosovo Psychiatrique Association. Pristina, Kosovar; 2006-Minority rights and Political status of Kosovo. Conference of Minority Rights International & European Commission. Brussels, Belgium; 2007-Political integration way to social peace. European Muslim Politicians Meeting. Amsterdam, Holland; 2007-NATO Parliamentary Assembly, Brussels, Belgium; 2007-Prevention of Suicide Behaviour Among Youth of Kosovo, International Scientific Conference. Pristine, Kosova; 2008-Psychiatry and Society. International Scientific Conference. Albanian Psychiatry League. Pristine, Kosova; 2006-Correlation of suicidal thoughts, PTSD, Emotional distress and depression. NATO Scientific Committee, Wounds of War. Südkämten, Austria; 2010-Psychiatric consequences and impact of military conflicts on the civilian population. National Défense Academy. Vienna; 2012- Health Care and Future Role of Physicians in Kosovo. German Medial Chambers annual meeting. Germany. 6